Mercedes-Benz Launches B-Class Car in Indonesia

Tito Summa Siahaan

German automotive manufacturer Mercedes-Benz introduced the latest generation of its B-class compact car model on Thursday for the Indonesian market.

Priced at Rp 439 million ($47,000), the five-seater car is the least-expensive among other Mercedes-Benz models. It was first launched last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

“Without a doubt, the new B-Class is the frontrunner in its class on various important aspects and is fuel efficient,” Mercedes-Benz Indonesia president director Claus Weidner said.

The manufacturer claimed the model consumed 5.9 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers, making it 12 percent more efficient than its predecessor.

Claus said the car was designed to cater to the increasing demand for a family car in Indonesia.

Typically, private consumption accounts for two-thirds of Indonesia’s $813 billion economy. Such private consumption, including the purchasing of cars, mobile phone and TV sets, has helped international companies tap Indonesians’ rising purchasing power.

The car is also a good fit for active Indonesian women, MBI product manager Yahya said. “It has a spacious cabin, good handling and is relatively small compared with our other model.”

He said around 60 percent of Mercedes-Benz drivers in the country were women.

MBI public relations manager Dwi Parileksono said Jakarta was the center of its market. “Eighty percent of our 22 dealerships are located here and 50 percent of our consumers are Jakartans,” he said.

Around 4,000 new Mercedes-Benz cars were sold in the country last year. The company, whose policy is to disclose its sales figures to the public, will soon announce its most recent data. “The issue has been settled. Starting next month, our sales data will be available for the public,” Dwi said.

The company is a member of the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo).