Taipei, Nov. 14, 2012 (CENS)--To boost sales volume, Mercedes-Benz Taiwan recently introduced the entry-level A-Class, priced about NT$1.45 million (US$48,333) or the lowest among all Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Mercedes-Benz Taiwan has taken 150 firm orders for the new A-Class before price publication and delivery to showrooms, gaining attention amid the local agents of BMW, Volvo and Audi.

Industry sources said that all major imported brands have been trying to target younger buyers by introducing smaller models.

In the global luxury-car market, Audi and BMW are striving to win the annual championship this year, industry sources said, and Mercedes-Benz is also trying very hard to rank higher globally by launching more "affordable" models.

Mercedes-Benz has an effective small-car strategy, the sources said. The German automaker has won orders for over 100,000 B-Class cars and more than 70,000 A-Class models soon after demonstration. Mercedes-Benz also plans to promote the CLA and smaller sport utility vehicle (SUV) soon.

Automobile market analysts said that, amid cold economic climate, introducing smaller and more affordable models is the best policy for imported luxury car brands to maintain sales volumes.

All major imported luxury-car brands as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Volvo are seeing clear sales gains in Taiwan this year, which are encroaching on market shares of locally assembled brands (mainly Japanese cars).

(by Quincy Liang)