Mercedes-Benz forays into Bus business in India

Mercedes-Benz forays into Bus business in India with launch of Mercedes-Benz Intercity Luxury Coach.

Mercedes-Benz invented the first Bus in the world in 1895. Daimler continues to be the largest bus manufacturer in the world today.

Mercedes-Benz Buses in India will be built on chassis O 500 R / RF 1830. Body will be built by Sutlej Motors as per technical specifications from Mercedes-Benz.

M/S Sharma Transports in Bangalore, Neeta Tours and Travels in Mumbai, Konduskar Travels in Kolhapur were the first customers of the Mercedes-Benz buses in India and were handed keys of their vehicles during the launch.

Initial offering launched on specific routes for Western and Southern India with adequate service and after-sales support; footprint to be increased with time.

Mumbai–Mercedes-Benz today announced its foray in the luxury bus segment in India with the launch of its Intercity Coach. The coach sports the versatile O 500 R / RF chassis from the Mercedes-Benz stable while the bus body will be built by Jalandhar based Sutlej Motors. Mr. Harald Landman, Head of Daimler Buses and Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, CEO of Mercedes-Benz India presented the key to the first customers: Mr.Suresh and Mr.Sunil Sharma from Sharma Transports in Bangalore, Mr.Anil and Mr. Sunil Sawla from Neeta Tours and Travels in Mumbai and Mr. Prabhakar Konduskar from Konduskar Travels in Kolhapur.

Mr. Harald Landman, Head of Daimler Buses commented: “As the oldest bus maker in the world and market leader in the bus segment, Mercedes-Benz buses will enable people in India to ‘Travel with the Star’. The Mercedes-Benz O 500 R / RF is a versatile chassis and has been proven across markets, the world over. Its legendary suspension, reliability and safety will be complemented by the superior dynamics offered by the bus body created locally by Sutlej. We are bullish about the bus business and see this as the beginning of Mercedes’ bus business in India”.

Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India further added: “Our footprint in the Commercial Vehicles segment now widens with the introduction of Mercedes-Benz buses. The Mercedes-Benz coaches stand for the latest and best of technology, design, comfort, reliability and performance- aspects that have received enthusiastic response from our customers. M/S Sharma Transports from Bangalore, M/S Neeta Tours and Travels from Mumbai and M/S Konduskar Travels from Kolhapur will be our brand ambassadors in the market, as our first customers. We shall start with pre-selected routes in Western and Southern India and look forward to expand our network significantly in the times ahead.”

Mr. Daljit Singh Wilkhu, Managing Director of Sutlej Motors commented: "It is indeed a great honour to be associated with Mercedes-Benz India, to bring to the Indian market the best quality Luxury Intercity Coaches. For Sutlej Motors, this is a long awaited dream come true and we along with Mercedes-Benz India and Daimler Buses take pride in launching a truly world class product for the Indian market."

The bus market in India is witnessing a tremendous change– a revolution aided by government driven infrastructure projects which are dedicated to redefine the mass transportation industry in India. Large scale projects like the NSEW corridor and the Golden Quadrilateral are already underway and close to completion. As links between far-flung places strengthen, there is an increased demand for mass transit systems to move the people with solutions that are reliabile, robust, and passenger oriented. It is this need that the Mercedes-Benz buses will fulfill.

Pic: Ravi Gogia – Head Commercial Vehicles India - Mercedes Benz India Ltd, Deepak Konduskar – Konduskar Travels, Michael Doktor – Project Leader Buses, Indrajeet Konduskar – Konduskar Travels, Suresh Sharma – Sharma Transports, Harald Landmann – Head Daimler Buses, Dr. Wilfried Aulbur – MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India Ltd, Anil Sawla – Neeta Tours & Travels, Sunil Sawla – Neeta Tours & Travels, (extreme right) Kulwant Singh Wilkhu – Head Sutlej Motors.

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