Mercedes-Benz to launch pre-owned car business

Kolkata: Luxury auto major Mercedes-Benz India is actively working to launch an organised pre-owned car business.

The company is currently working on a plan for standardised globally used car business model for pre-owned Mercedes.

Though the company did not divulge the timeframe by when Mercedes-Benz would launch the business, officials indicated it would be within 2009. The company was also carrying out surveys to tap the city bus transport segment.

Currently, the company has buses suited for long distance inter-state routes. The company aims to tap the Centre's scheme that aims to modernise the city transport segment.

The company is in talks with private bus operators and the state government to understand their need.

As per the sources, the company had invested Rs 250 crore in a new plant near Pune which would have a capacity of 5,000 passenger cars and 1,200 commercial vehicles. Another Rs 150 crore was lined in upgrading infrastructure.