by lydia NathaN / Pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MBM) has projected the sales of its models to exceed last year’s figure as all the pre-stock units have been sold.

As such, MBM sales and marketing passenger car VP Mark Raine said that buyers could also expect shorter waiting period for their Mercedes.

For the first-quarter of 2017 (1Q17), the company has retained a leading market share of 2.3% in the premium passenger car segment and delivered 2,945 vehicles.

The 1Q17 also saw MBM recording a double-digit growth of 11% year-on-year.

In earlier reports, president and CEO Dr Claus Weidner told reporters the carmaker rounded up the first-half of 2017 (1H17) with a solid performance across the board, with sales of 5,913 units, driven by strong demand for the locally-produced MercedesBenz E-Class and the company was optimistic sales in 2017 would surpass last year’s record of 11,779 cars.

Besides growth in sales, the carmaker had also seen a rise in after-sales capabilities, servicing a total of 30,629 vehicles in its dealership network in 1Q17.

Raine said the exclusive car has set the benchmark in the premium segment of the automotive industry, and the trend would continue with the launch of the all-new E-Class Coupé.

The E-Class Coupé is the latest addition to the Dream Car Collection, and is branded as a car that combines “contemporary luxury, agile sportiness and technology at the highest level”.

Two variants — the E200 Coupé AMG Line and the E300 Coupé — were introduced at the launch.

“The sleek and athletic design, coupled with its masculine appeal and its refined luxury, perfectly positions this vehicle as the ultimate status symbol.

“It is truly a masterpiece and a proud member of the Mercedes-Benz Dream Car Collection,” he said.

Among the features include touch control buttons in the steering wheel enabling the driver to control the instrument cluster, as well as a dynamic select system that allows the driver to influence other vehicle settings.

Using Near Field Communication, a customer’s smartphone now becomes the digital vehicle key with which the car can be locked and unlocked, as well as start.

The E300 Coupé is available in Edition 1 that is limited to only 555 units worldwide.

The E200 Coupé is priced at RM435,888, while the E300 Coupé is at RM499,888. The E300 Coupé Edition 1 is tagged at RM534,888.

Price tags are inclusive of the Goods and Services Tax, without insurance.