The year 2009 proved to be a bad phase for Mercedes-Benz as its sale is pathetically low as on the date. The reasons cited for this sorry state are lower availability of credit and the global economic crisis. So far the company could sell just 2650 cars this year against 3625 cars in the same period last year.The sale in luxury sector is a relief, said the MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz.

Of the last ten months, the first six months were crucial when the credit facility was struck a lot but the coming months seem to bring some solace, he said. The company’s R&D wing has some 300 people in Bangalore and Pune and the next year would bring in more people as the result of expansion scheme.Yet there were no official information about anything from him. The CEO was here on the occasion of the launch of E350 CDI Blue-Efficiency model, powered by diesel engine. This was preceded by the petrol variant which the company has sold 130 units in 45 days.