To say the least, the year 2020 was challenging for everyone. Carmakers, for instance, had to shut their shop as nothing besides essential services was allowed to do business as usual. As a result, sales plummeted to record low levels. However, the resilience to adapt to drastically changed circumstances have helped them come back into the game.

Mercedes-Benz India is one fine example. In the first nine months of 2021, the German brand has already surpassed sales numbers for 2020 as a whole. Part of the credit goes to its performance in the third quarter, which was the best for this year. It sold 4,101 units between July and September 2021. That means it outgrew the sales of the same period from last year, which were 2,060, by 99 per cent.

With quarter four still to go, Mercedes-Benz has already clocked 8,958 for 2021. Compare that figure to 5,007, and correct math will pop out a 79 per cent growth. That latter number, by the way, is for the same period of 2020. All in all, Mercedes-Benz India has witnessed an impressive recovery in sales.

The long-wheelbase E-Class, followed by the GLC, bagged the top two positions in terms of sales. Besides them, Mercedes reports that the introduction of new products has boosted demand and created excitement amongst buyers. For instance, the A-Class and the GLA posted good numbers. Furthermore, the carmaker received “high customer interest” for models at the other end of the scale, such as the GLS 600 Maybach, new S-Class and the AMGs.

Mercedes-Benz India says there are “more exciting products in the pipeline for market introductions in Q4 2021”. Besides landing the second batch of the EQC later this month, bookings for which opened last month, it will also launch the locally-assembled S-Class. That’ll happen tomorrow in the first half. As things stand, there are over 43,000 connected cars from Mercedes-Benz on the road.