The confidence in the used-car market is growing, and all that is largely possible due to efforts by carmakers. Take Mercedes-Benz for instance. The German carmaker also happens to run a pre-owned-car business called Mercedes-Benz Certified. Through which, it promises to offer thoroughly checked pre-owned examples, complete with the satisfaction of buying a premium product.
It’s completed three years, and has managed to sell more than 12,000 vehicles, through its 18 outlets. Earlier called Proven Exclusivity and later renamed to Mercedes-Benz Certified, the business has seen a growth of 60 per cent in the last three years, and Tier II and III cities have shown substantial demand, confirms the official press announcement. Looking ahead, the used-car market is expected to grow by 20 per cent next year. Which is unsurprising, given that with a model like MB Certified, you get a 1-year/20,000-km warranty, easy documentation, and even finance offers.
Any car which comes to MB Certified is put through a 139-point check-list, has to be less than 5-year old, with a mileage less than 100,000 km, no accident history, and owners equal to or fewer than 2. And it’s not just the Mercedes Benz products you can get at the MB Certified outlets, if you’re in for some performance-orientated cars, they also list AMGs, too.
Mercedes-Benz India’s MD and CEO, Roland Folger said, ““We have witnessed strong demand for our ‘Mercedes-Benz Certified’ cars and customers have appreciated our entry into the organised Pre-Owned Car business. The market size of Pre-Owned cars has grown significantly and Tier II and III cities contribute significantly to this. ‘Mercedes-Benz Certified’ products offer a complete peace-of-mind and a hassle-free ownership experience to our customers. There is a strong demand for Mercedes-Benz products due to their superior build quality, tested reliability and impeccable craftsmanship leading to their high re-sale value. The Indian Pre-Owned car market has a huge growth potential and it is estimated to grow by 20 per cent in 2018. We expect ‘Mercedes-Benz Certified’ business to grow significantly in the foreseeable future and contribute to the brand’s growth in India.”
