Here is the opportunity for the luxury car lovers to turn green. Mercedes-Benz, the leading luxury car makers are rolling out the CNG version to India. This eco-friendly version will be more fuel efficient than efficient than the India's cheapest car Maruti 800, which runs only on petrol.
The CNG version of Mercedes-Benz will run over 20 km on a kg of CNG against its petrol variant, which gives 12 km per liter. In terms of price the CNG is cheaper than petrol that is Rs 19 (CNG) against Rs 45.52 (Petrol). Besides this fuel is eco- friendly.
With the increase in fuel price Mercedes plans to concentrate on CNG-compatible cars for India. Mercedes also plans to roll out its globally-successful CNG sedans to India.
?The company is also working on the bio-diesel option on the E Class saloon here and if the cars run successfully, the company will introduce these cars to India too.
?Benz sales in India are booming up. In the year 2007, the company had sold 2,491 cars and in the first four months of the year 2008 saw an increase of 50% increase in sales both locally made and imported.
B class B170 NGT and the E 200 CNG sedans which was launched in the US and Europe is also expected to hit the Indian market very soon. Currently Mercedes is banking on institutional sales where vehicles ply largely on CNG technology.
?It is not just Mercedes who is thinking big for India, another leader in luxury BMW is also not behind in thinking green. They are planning to bring its clean hydrogen technology, which runs on water and emits only steam. An expensive technology but there is a good potential for alternative fuels in future with rapid expansion of the luxury car market in India.
