Mercedes-Benz India managing director Peter Honegg in New Delhi on Tuesday. Picture by Ramakant Kushwaha

New Delhi, May 3: Mercedes Benz plans to bring its A and B Class cars into India within the next three to four years and assemble them locally to make them price competitive.

The German car maker today launched two premium cars, SL-350 and GL-500, priced at Rs 98.5 lakh and Rs 80.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), respectively.

The sports car SL 350 is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, while sports utility vehicle GL 500 will run on a 5.4-litre V6 engine.

“The SL 350 and the GL 500 are two of the most popular offerings in our portfolio. I am confident that both the vehicles will woo auto enthusiasts, critics, customers and the media alike,” Mercedes-Benz India managing director Peter Honegg told reporters here.

Honegg said the firm planned to assemble the A and B Class cars locally to make the vehicles price competitive in order to regain its number one position in the country.

“If I do not produce these cars locally, I can’t get the numbers. We will be able to compete (with BMW) only when we produce (the cars) locally...the decision to produce them locally will be taken by Germany,” he said.

Mercedes has started assembling the engines and transmissions of the C and E Class sedans at its Chakan facility in Maharashtra to escape the higher 30 per cent customs duty following the new norms on completely knocked down units in this budget.