Thaindian News

Chennai, July 19 (IANS) German auto major Daimler plans to launch a compact car in the Indian market towards the end of 2012, said a company official Tuesday.

“It will first be launched in Europe and later here. The car will be brought here in a knocked down position,” Peter Honegg, managing director and CEO of Daimler’s Indian subsidiary Mercedes Benz India Pvt Ltd, told reporters here.

He said the compact car rolled out of Daimler’s plants in Germany and Hungary will be launched in Europe later this year.

According to Honegg, the company is expected to close this year with sales of over 7,000 cars and around 140 buses, up from 5,820 cars and around 90 buses sold in 2010.

Mercedes Benz also makes around 100 Actros trucks, which are sold by its sister company.

Honegg said during the first half of 2011, the company has sold 3,800 cars.

Speaking about buses, he said the company was in talks with state transport companies but the main buyers now were the private operators.

“For the current year, the targeted bus sales is around 125, however we may close the year with a sales of around 140 units. During the first half of the current year we have sold around 70 buses,” he said.