Mercedes-Benz strengthens its footprint in the important Kerala market; inaugurates ‘Coastal Star’ in Kochi: Mercedes-Benz’s first ‘Integrated MAR20X 3S’Sales and Service Experience Centerin India
Kochi / February 2, 2023
Kochi: India’s largest luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz today, inaugurated its first integrated 3S MAR20X Sales and Service Experience Center in Kochi. The world-class 50,000 sq. ft Mercedes-Benz Coastal Star ‘MAR20X Experience Center’ with its dedicated EQ Display, AMG Performance Center and Exclusive Corner for Top End Vehicle (TEV) Display, is strategically located in Kochi’s automotive hub with proximity to south and central Kerala. The exclusive new car delivery area of Coastal Star with its sound, light and visual show creates a personalized and celebratory experience for Mercedes-Benz customers.
Providing a luxurious and immersive brand experience to customers, the new integrated experience center of Coastal Star underpins Mercedes-Benz’s modern retail format, MAR20X, highlighting the four pillars of Design, Architecture, and Customer-oriented processes and Digital enhancements.
Inaugurating Kochi’s new luxury destination, Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “We are highly excited to inaugurate Mercedes-Benz India’s first-ever integrated 3S MAR20X Experience Center in Kochi. This state-of-the-art luxury center is equipped with world-class technology and a dedicated workforce with global expertise, underlining the importance of the Kerala market and Mercedes-Benz India’s long-term commitment to our customers here. Mercedes-Benz is highly invested in Kerala, and we have the most experienced Franchise Partners with unmatched experience in the automotive domain. We are thrilled with the robust growth of Mercedes-Benz brand in Kerala, especially in the Top End Vehicle and AMG segment. The emergence of successful enterprises and businesses fueled by the rising aspiration among young clientele for a Mercedes-Benz, have firmly driven the brand’s growth trajectory in this market. We are confident Coastal Star will leverage Kerala’s luxury car market potential and create an unparalleled luxury experience for our customers.”
“In line with our vision of achieving ‘sustainable luxury’ across our network, Coastal Star’s operations are powered by renewable energy through solar panels. The dealership also houses the first 180 kW Ultra-Fast DC Charger for a luxury carmaker in Kerala, offering an ultra-fast charging convenience for our EV customers. Coastal Star promises an immersive modern luxury brand experience to our discerning customers in Kochi and the nearby markets.” He added.
Yashwant Jhabakh, Chairman, Mahavir Group, said, “We are extremely proud of our association with Mercedes-Benz, the most aspirational automotive brand across the globe. The brand enjoys immense trust and love in Kerala. Our sales & service experience center in Nettoor, Kochi, will cater to the aspirations of our customers across the State by providing an end-to-end hub for sales, service, spares, pre-owned cars and luxury EV ecosystem all under one roof. We are excited to play our role in the growth of the luxury car market in Kerala.”
Thomas Alex, MD & CEO, Coastal Star, commented, “Coastal Star is India’s first integrated 3S MAR20X sales & service experience center for Mercedes-Benz and a testimony to our ‘Service First’ Approach. The experience center underlines our commitment to offer the best of products, world-class service and an unparalleled ownership experience to our patrons in Kerala. Coastal Star strives to provide the famed ‘Star Experience’ under a single umbrella with the best manpower at luxury retail. We also actively imbibe the Mercedes-Benz global motto ‘There is no luxury without Sustainability’ by using renewable solar energy for most of our operations. This exclusive experience centre underpins Mercedes-Benz’s faith in our customers and reiterates the market’s growth potential.”
Innovative Vertical Service Facility
The vertical service facility of Coastal Star boasts of 27 service bays and has a capacity to service 10,000+ cars in a year. It is equipped to provide end-to-end service offerings including preventive maintenance, general repair, body & paint services and integrated digital customer service journey. To further provide a seamless customer journey, the facility has an integrated customer contact center for all inbound and outbound customer needs and digital diagnostic capabilities with technical assistance from Mercedes-Benz India, as well as from Stuttgart. In addition, the facility comes with an integrated spare parts area of 10,000 sq. ft.
Sustainability
Aligned to Mercedes-Benz’s sustainable vision and electrification, the experience center boasts of 180kw DC ultra-fast charger, a first for the luxury segment in Kerala. It also runs on solar panel powered sustainable energy to minimize the impact on the environment.
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Media Contact Mercedes-Benz India Pvt. Ltd.:
Shekhar Das Chowdhury | shekhar.daschowdhury@mercedes-benz.com |+91 98508 36477
Surabhi Udas | surabhi.udas@mercedes-benz.com | +91 8452957507
Fleishman Hillard:
Soumi Sriram | soumi.sriram@fleishman.com | +91 98195 45378
Prateek Sharma | prateek.sharma@fleishman.com | +91 99714 76254
About Mercedes-Benz India
Mercedes-Benz India pioneered the luxury car market in India. Set up in 2009, Mercedes-Benz India’s world-class production facility is spread over 100 acres in Chakan near Pune. Since June 2015, Mercedes-Benz India also commenced production from its new expanded production facility located in the same premises. Mercedes-Benz India is part of Mercedes-Benz’s Global Production Network and plays an important role in the CKD/MVP production network in Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
At these locations, Mercedes-Benz produces vehicles in various extension levels for domestic markets. The production facility carries an investment of more than INR 2700 crores and has the largest installed production capacity for any luxury carmaker in India. Mercedes- Benz India also has the largest network spread amongst any luxury carmaker, with presence in 47 Indian cities with over 123 touchpoints. Through the exclusive AMG Performance Centres, the AMG performance sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz also boasts of a strong retail presence in the country.
Mercedes-Benz India boasts of having the highest number of ‘connected cars’ in the luxury segment. The company has a robust product portfolio comprising the locally produced A-Class Limousine, New C-Class, E-Class Long Wheelbase, S-Class and Mercedes Maybach S 580 limousine. Mercedes-Benz also manufactures the GLA, GLC, GLC Coupé, GLE and GLS luxury SUVs. Mercedes-Benz pioneered local manufacturing of high-performance AMG vehicles and produces three AMG models: the AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupe, the AMG A 35 4MATIC+ saloon, AMG GLA 35 4MATIC+ SUV. In 2022, India became the first market for Mercedes-Benz outside of Germany to locally manufacture the sophisticated flagship luxury EV- the EQS 580. Company’s Completely Built imported (CBU) portfolio includes the GLB, EQB, EQC, GLS Maybach and AMG G 63 SUVs. Mercedes-Benz India delivered 15,822 new cars in CY 2022, creating historic sales record by achieving its highest ever sales in India and also remaining one of Mercedes-Benz’s fastest growing markets worldwide. The company now leads the luxury car market for the eighth consecutive year.
For 2023, Mercedes-Benz’s motto is ‘DESIRE for the Extraordinaire’. The company is committed to enhance the desirability of products and services by introducing a host of customer centric initiatives in 2023 and weaving extraordinaire element across every facet of the customer journey.02
