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German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz India said on Thursday that it is planning to introduce eight new products in CY2025. “The roadmap for 2025 is clear. We will focus on our product portfolio… and increase our luxury touch points across India,” says Santosh Iyer, MD, Mercedes-Benz India. 

Of the eight new launches, the company will launch its much-awaited model AMG GLE 53 Coupe by Q2 of 2025. The German automobile manufacturer plans to invest Rs 450 crore in India over the next three years. As part of its expansion plan, the company will have 20 new touchpoints by the end of 2025. Of these, 18 are getting upgraded in Q1 of 2025. 

In 2024, the company registered its highest-ever sales, with 19,565 units sold in the domestic market, marking a 12.4% year-on-year growth. “It is truly a historic moment because we always had the best quarter. All four quarters were really strong,” says Iyer. 

According to Iyer, both the luxury car market as well as Mercedes-Benz India grew by 9% in calendar year 2024. “When you look at the second half of the year, it was not as strong. The market grew by 3% we grew by 16%,” Iyer said. He also said that one in every two German luxury cars sold in India was Mercedes-Benz. 

“The strong growth in H2 was possible due to the long-wheelbase E-class, the new launches in our electric car portfolio,” says Iyer. The EV share of Mercedes-Benz India’s overall car portfolio has exceeded 6%, representing a 94% year-on-year growth in penetration.

In 2024, Mercedes-Benz India's biggest growth came from the Top-End Vehicles category. According to Iyer, one out of every four Mercedes-Benz cars sold in India was a Top-End Vehicle. The company has witnessed 30% year-on-year growth in this segment. “This also shows and reflects in a lot of ways the growing maturity of the luxury car market in India,” Iyer said.

Notably, the company also launched its highly anticipated Electric G Wagon G580 in Edition one specification at Rs 3 crore. The deliveries would take place between the months of October and December this year.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has achieved a significant milestone by securing a spot in the global top 10 list of transportation and transportation infrastructure companies in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) rankings for 2024.

As the only Indian company featured in the rankings, APSEZ has demonstrated its commitment to corporate sustainability on a global scale. With a score of 68 out of 100, the company has seen a notable improvement of three points compared to the previous year. APSEZ now stands in the 97th percentile within its sector, showcasing its continuous efforts towards sustainability and responsible business practices.

The company has reported achieving the highest scores in various criteria within the social, governance, and economic dimensions, such as transparency and reporting, materiality, supply chain management, information security, cybersecurity and system availability, and customer relations. Additionally, the company maintained its top position in the environmental dimension for the second year in a row.

As of December 31, 2024, 60 per cent of 318 companies in the transport and transport infrastructure sector were assessed for CSA 2024.

“We firmly believe responsible business practices drive innovation and long-term success. The latest recognition reflects our commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility. Our team’s dedication to integrating sustainability across all our operations has been key to this achievement. We remain committed to our Net Zero by 2040 goal,” said Ashwini Gupta, whole-time director and chief executive officer of APSEZ.

APSEZ, the largest private port operator in India, currently has a cargo handling capacity of 633 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) and aims to expand this to 1 billion mtpa by 2030. The company operates at 13 Indian ports and terminals, commanding 24% of the nation's total port capacity.

On a global scale, APSEZ is actively involved in developing a transshipment port in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and oversees operations at the Haifa Port in Israel and Container Terminal 2 at Dar Es Salaam Port, Tanzania. It has set a target to increase its international cargo volumes from 29 mtpa in 2025 to 150 mtpa by 2030.

As per forecasts by Elara Capital, APSEZ is anticipated to expand its market share in India to 33% by FY30. The company is also focusing on bolstering its logistics business.