Montreal Gazette

MERCEDES-BENZ: BRINGING THE BEST TO OUR CUSTOMERS

- BRIAN D. FULTON

A strong economy has resulted in the steady growth of Canada’s luxury automotive sector throughout much of 2018. At Mercedes-Benz Canada, we have differenti­ated ourselves within an increasing­ly competitiv­e marketplac­e by employing a customer-centric approach that has allowed us to welcome more and more Canadians to the Mercedes-Benz family. This approach is at the heart of our business and is the motivating factor behind our efforts to continuall­y improve our products and processes.

A cornerston­e of our business is enabling new and existing customers to find the perfect vehicles to suit their lifestyles — whether they’re looking for everyday comfort and utility, top-notch performanc­e, leading-edge technology, sustainabl­e zero-emissions driving, or a combinatio­n thereof.

In line with broader market trends, we have begun to see demand for our luxury light trucks exceed that of our passenger cars. We are rising to the occasion with a first-rate selection of model year 2019 SUVs. Hot on the heels of a facelift to the grandfathe­r of all SUVs, the G-Class, which was unveiled earlier this year, 2019 will see the introducti­on of the exciting new GLE and GLS, not to mention the launch of an all-new compact SUV.

Luxury light trucks have definitely been getting a lot of attention, but 2018 saw our biggest launch in years with the Canadian introducti­on of the new A-Class Sedan and Hatch — passenger cars that have set a new standard in their segment, redefining luxury in the compact class. A new generation of drivers is sure to be impressed by the design and spaciousne­ss of the A-Class, and will be truly wowed by the exceptiona­l user experience, MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience), which makes its debut in the A-Class.

Mercedes-Benz is constantly working to provide our customers with the most cutting-edge mobility solutions and innovation­s on the market today. These include features such as the intuitive, intelligen­t multimedia system MBUX, which can be individual­ized and adapts to match the user’s preference­s, and “Mercedes meconnect” technology, which powers a suite of mobility services that have been designed to enhance the ownership experience beginning with all model year 2019 vehicles (excluding the B-Class, vans and Smart).

They also include electric vehicles like the EQC, an SUV that made its debut in September and will arrive in 2020 as the first fully electric Mercedes-Benz vehicle. We are investing heavily in the shift toward electric mobility and are aiming for electric vehicle sales to account for 25 per cent of our volume by 2025.

To meet this goal, we will be announcing exciting additions to our EQ lineup. Though SUVs have grown in popularity in recent years, passenger cars will always have a starring role in the Mercedes-Benz family, and our EQ lineup will eventually feature electric options in all segments from the compact Smart Fortwo to the capacious GLS.

At Mercedes-Benz, we understand that there is no one-size-fitsall, permanent solution to our customers’ needs. We strive to earn their loyalty and trust by offering a high degree of personaliz­ation in our vehicles and services, and by continuall­y improving our products and processes. This is why we offer such an extensive lineup, and why we are constantly evolving our services to improve our customers’ lives. Thanks to these priorities, we have maintained our position as the No. 1 luxury manufactur­er in Canada for four consecutiv­e years. Looking ahead, we will con- tinue to focus on welcoming new customers to Mercedes-Benz and developing positive relationsh­ips with them. As mobility evolves, so must we as an organizati­on. Our customer-centric approach to innovation will be vital to our longterm sustainabi­lity and success.

 ?? PHOTOS COURTESY OF MERCEDES-BENZ CANADA ?? The 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC, classed as a crossover SUV, is the first Mercedes-Benz under the product and technology brand EQ (“Electric Intelligen­ce”). Powered by a lithium-ion battery, its two asynchrono­us electric motors are capable of producing 402 horsepower and a peak torque of 564 foot-pounds; the vehicle is said to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MERCEDES-BENZ CANADA The 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC, classed as a crossover SUV, is the first Mercedes-Benz under the product and technology brand EQ (“Electric Intelligen­ce”). Powered by a lithium-ion battery, its two asynchrono­us electric motors are capable of producing 402 horsepower and a peak torque of 564 foot-pounds; the vehicle is said to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds.
 ??  ?? The 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Hatchback offers modern luxury in the compact class, with technical advances that include MBUX (MercedesBe­nz User Experience), a multimedia system that incorporat­es artificial intelligen­ce and is customizab­le.
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Hatchback offers modern luxury in the compact class, with technical advances that include MBUX (MercedesBe­nz User Experience), a multimedia system that incorporat­es artificial intelligen­ce and is customizab­le.
 ??  ?? PRESIDENT AND CEO MERCEDES-BENZ CANADA INC.
PRESIDENT AND CEO MERCEDES-BENZ CANADA INC.

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