The roads of Ludhiana, choc-a-bloc with a 700-strong fleet of the iconic luxury on wheels, a fine array of Mercedes Benz models.
Ludhiana, Feb 16 : The roads of Ludhiana, choc-a-bloc with a 700-strong fleet of the iconic luxury on wheels, a fine array of Mercedes Benz models.
Of the nearly 1,500 Mercedes cars in the Punjab, Ludhiana stands out as the city having the highest density of the iconic Mercedes cars.
"Ludhiana is the most progressive area because first of all industry is here and industrialists here are very competitive. They want to work hard and they also want to reward themselves. Ludhiana has always been considered the Mecca of automobiles," said Manjit Singh Bala, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Dealer Tai-Pan Traders Ltd.
Steering a luxury car is the supercool style statement that the affluent in Punjab flaunt today.
Occupying the prestige ladder means driving a Porsche, a BMW, an Audi, or Volkswagen or better still, the ultimate luxury-on-wheels, a Mercedes Benz.
Ownership of a Mercedes Benz tops the popularity stakes in the rarefied league of ultra-luxury automobiles.
Maninder Singh, a farmer by profession, enjoys a comfort ride in a 75,000 dollars price tag C-class Mercedes Benz, unveiled in India just two months back.
"Ludhiana is basically a business hub. So both, from the business point of view as well as a matter of status symbol, people prefer Mercedes. And of course, people's purchasing power is another factor behind the huge purchase," said Maninder Singh.
Vishal Oswal, an entrepreneur displays immense faith in the vehicle rather than regarding it as a mere style statement.
"This car is very good as far as comfort is concerned and safety wise also. Most of the time, I have to travel on a highway. So, I personally feel very comfortable in this car," said Oswal.
A look at the sales figures in 2007 is indicative of the huge popularity the Merc enjoys. A total of 176 Mercedes cars of various models were sold in Ludhiana and the target for 2008 is 150.
And the younger generation is increasingly opting for this classy beauty.arlier the average buyer of a Merc was in his mid forties, but now it is those in their mid thirties who are keen to buy the luxury car.
Punjab is a real hot selling market for the German manufacturer. After elhi and Mumbai, Ludhiana has maximum number of Mercedes aficionados.
The Stuttgart manufacturer is now tapping Punjab's prosperous farm sector and has worked out a client list, enticing them with fabulous finance facilities and cashing in on the Merc craze.
ANI