Mercedes GLS, S-class SUV, has been launched in India at Rs 99.90 lakh. Both the petrol and diesel variants have the same price tag, Santosh Iyer, VP, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India said during an exclusive interview with Swati Khandelwal, Zee Business. The petrol variant of the all-new Mercedes GLS, comes with an integrated EQ Boost functionality. It is a new technology that enables facilities like power and torque on demand, the specific need that was made available to customers in the diesel engine. The chat was live on Zee Business Facebook page today.

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Speaking about the new launch, Iyer said, Mercedes-Benz India had plans to launch the third-generation of GLS SUV in April but it was delayed due to COVID-19 shutdown. Its absence created a vacuum in the market and this is the reason that people went gaga after we announced that the vehicle will be launched in India on June 17. They started reaching showrooms and were ready to look at the car and know its price. It is very unique because we don’t see sensitivity on the demand side in the cars priced at Rs 1 crore and above, like GLS and AMG that was launched earlier. After all, customers need new vehicles and were waiting for this car and they are going ahead and buying it. Of course in the Rs 1 crore segment, we are also seeing the same issue that any other automotive manufacturer or the industry is seeing and that there is a slowdown in demand. New products generally excite the market as customers want new cars and that is a very positive side.

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Talking about the reason behind the availability of both petrol and diesel variants at the same price, Iyer said, it is the first time both variants are priced same. Historically, the diesel variants are costlier than the petrol variant. The price has been kept the same because EQ Boost technology has been integrated into the engine of the petrol-variant. It is a new technology that enables facilities like power and torque on demand, the specific need that customers expected from the diesel engines. However, this is an introductory price and in the next two-three months, a price increase may be looked at.

On the features front, the vehicle has been termed as an S-class SUV because of the comfort that is available in the car. Describing the features, Iyer said, in terms of dimensions, the GLS has grown bigger and the wheelbase has been increased, which has increased the leg space in the middle row by 77 millimetres. An Android tablet has been provided that can help you in controlling the air conditioning as well as the ambient lighting. It comes with a 5-zone air conditioning - 2 in front and middle row each and one in the third row - with a charcoal filter and 11 USB ports and two wireless charging options.

The car is equipped with a COVID-19 testing app which can allow a person in need to find the nearest testing centre - after asking it to take it to the nearest testing centre, the car will show the available location. You can drive there and get yourself, family and friends tested. 

Watch full interview below:

Iyer also revealed that attempts are on to try and Indianise the car by trying to see how technology can be used in the context of the contactless era through gesture control facility. For the purpose, a contactless Mercedes Benz interior assessment feature has been provided under which you can to change options through the gestures.

#ShiftingGearsWithSwatiK is a Zee Business exclusive series that has been created to reveal the extent of COVID-19 impact on the world’s leading auto brands, their pivot strategies in the New Normal and much beyond that.