German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India (MBI) launched a commemorative edition of its best-selling mid-size luxury sedan, the E-Class, to mark 20 years of production in India.

The Edition E has three variants, priced at Rs 48.60 lakh (ex-showroom Pune) for the lowest variant, while the topmost variant, called E 350 CDI, is Rs 60.61 lakh.

Mercedes-Benz, in a joint venture with Tata Motors (then Telco), started manufacturing the E-Class in India in 1995, and since then, the car has evolved to its current form through four generations. The Edition E is the last of the fourth generation, and will be phased out once its replacement is finalised.

The E-Class, the first ever ‘Made in India’ luxury sedan, has been the highest selling luxury car in India, with over 32,000 sold in the country.

The second generation of the E-Class, the W210, was introduced in 1997 when it was still produced by the joint venture company.

In 2000-2001, the Tatas sold their stake in MBI, and the German company took 100 per cent ownership.

The third generation, the W211, still produced at Pimpri, was unveiled in 2002.

In 2009, when MBI shifted to its new manufacturing facility at Chakan in Pune, it rolled out the fourth generation, W212, followed, in 2013, with a facelift of this model.

The Edition E is the ‘refreshed version’ of the W212, company officials said. “It is a moment of immense pride for us that the E-Class, which is the highest-selling luxury sedan in India, completes 20 glorious years of production in India,” said Roland Folger, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, in a statement.

“Twenty years of E-Class in India also reiterates the influence of the brand Mercedes-Benz on customers, and its contribution towards the evolution of luxury motoring in India.”

Twenty years of

E-Class reiterates the influence of the brand on customers

Roland Folger,MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz

The evolution

1995 — 1st generation

1997 — 2nd generation

2002 — 3rd generation

2009 — 4th generation

2013 — Facelift of 4th gen

2016 — Refreshed version

Source Link : thehindu.com