NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Luxury car Mercedes Benz sales in Goa grew fastest among all other states in India during 2015-16, said Aakash Khaunte, managing director, Counto Motors. Mining closure slowed down the local economy but the emergence of new buyers made demand for luxury cars grow in Goa.
Thanks to robust market his dealership of Mercedes Benz in Porvorim saw sales zooming 60 per cent, said Khaunte. The Goa centre was the best performing among all dealerships in the country and strong sales was on the heels of an equally good 2014-15 when sales grew 52 per cent, he added. New buyers of luxury cars are entrepreneurs and professionals such as doctors, lawyers, etc. Corporate heads, real estate players, hoteliers are also recent entrants to clientele along with women entrepreneurs, he said.
Most of the latest owners of Mercedes in the state are around the age group of 37 years revealing a young ownership profile. The trend is changing in luxury cars. While earlier business men purchased luxury vehicles only after they made it big, new buyers are going in for a Mercedes as soon as they start doing well, he explained. Goan buyers are keen to purchase the upper-segment, S-class, Mercedes, said Khaunte.
New generation Mercedes, the launch of SUV models and the availability of auto finance are the reasons for strong sales, according to Khaunte. About 70 per cent of the Mercedes buyers tend to go in for auto finance in Goa.
Khaunte was speaking to the press to exhibit the jazzed up showroom. He spoke in the presence of a company official. In 2015-16, all-India sales of Mercedes cars were 13,558 vehicles, which is about 30 per cent higher than in the previous year, said the official from Mercedes- Benz.
In 2016 we will be pushing Mercedes through test rides, SUV off-roading drives and series of events, said Khaunte.
The Mercedes showroom in Porvorim opened in 2010. It is spread over 3300 sq. ft. and displays five cars. The workshop is located in Taleigao-Tiswadi and spread across 4000 sq. ft. It has three service bays facilitating 100+ cars which can be serviced in a month. Facilities at the showroom include a plush customer lounge- Mercedes Café amongst a host of other facilities that are aimed at providing a superlative luxury car ownership experience for the patrons.