BMW Overtakes Audi in India | Mercedes Retains No.1 Position
BMW has shown a growth rate of 14% in the financial year 2016-17, while Audi has witnessed a declining trend of about 30% in the same period. This concludes that BMW is now the No. 2 luxury car brand in terms of overall sales in India and Audi has slipped down to the 3rd position. Also this does not make any difference to Mercedes, which retains the No.1 spot in the luxury car market in India. As per a report by Economic Times, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 13,231 units in 2016, BMW sold 7,861 units, and Audi sold 7,742 cars last year.
Also the head of Audi India, Rahil Ansari admitted that 2016 was a tough year for the company. This is also evident from the fact that Audi had witnessed a 22% decline in growth by the first quarter of 2016 also. Which means that on an yearly base comparison also the company only sold 2,131 units as compared to 2,378 units in the 1st quarter of last year.
Ansari also further clarified that their company does not discuss their matters publicly but they also clarified that they have been consolidating their India operations lately and they have started with a good note in 2017.
Meanwhile, BMW has been heading towards a revival phase in the Indian market and the German car brand has shown a slow but steady growth in the country over the recent time. 2016 in general was considered a tough phase for whole of the industry and the President of BMW India Operations, Frank Schloeder has been credited for this breakthrough.
This comes as a good thing given that BMW was struggling at the 3rd sport form the past few years. While also the head of Audi credits India as being a strategic but small market with several challenges such as high duties, taxes and the introduction of GST norms. Despite all the upheaval and changes, Mercedes remains the market leader, taking the biggest slice of the cake.
Mercedes Benz had registered the best quarterly sales of 3,650 units in the months January-March 2017 showing a growth even over the past year (sold 3,622 units in 2016 first quarter). Audi, BMW and Mercedes, these three brands cater to a very niche Indian segment and remain the most popular luxury car brands in the country.
Source: Economic Times
