BMW has leapfrogged global arch rival Mercedes Benz in India. BMW, the world’s largest luxury car maker has displaced Mercedes Benz as the largest luxury car maker in India for the first two months of the year 2009.

Mercedes Benz India has sold just 315 units in the country in the Jan-Feb period while BMW has moved 514 cars from the showrooms in the same period, ending Mercedes Benz’s more than 10 year rein as being  No. 1 in the Indian luxury car market. The other one from the ‘big three’ from Germany, Audi, sold 222 cars in the same period to emerge as the third largest player in the luxury car market.

While Audi and BMW have been proactive in launching their latest models with latest technology in India, Mercedes has been slow to react and quite a lot of old models with now dated technology in their portfolio. The profile of new car buyers is also changing with younger professionals and entrepreneur preferring the sportier Audi’s and BMW’s.

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To make the numero uno spot its own BMW will be even more aggressive this year and will launch five new cars this year.  The company has already introduced the all new 7-Series and the latest 3-Series sedan.  BMW will also launch the X6, the X3 diesel and a new sports model this year. BMW India president Peter Kronschnabl said, “With our proposed launches we were hopeful of becoming the segment leader sometime this year in India. But we have got the top slot in advance.”

Mercedes Benz isnt likely to give up so easily and is likely to bring the recently launched new generation E-Class to the Indian shores in the shortest time possible. The company has launched the first offensive by launching the latest M-Class SUV in the Indian market yesterday. With new models expected from Audi too, the luxury car market in India never looked so good. Just wait and watch!