Mercedes-Benz cuts spare-part prices on anti-monopoly probe

The new Mercedes-Benz 2015 C-Class is displayed during a private preview for media at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, Michigan Jan 12, 2014, on the eve of the 2014 North American International Auto Show. [Photo/Agencies]

German automaker Mercedes-Benz will cut the prices of spare parts by an average of 15 percent in after-sales maintenance for all models as of Sept 1 in China in response to the country's antitrust regulator's anti-monopoly investigation, the Economic Information Daily newspaper reported Monday.

According to Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co Ltd, as much as 10,000 types of spare parts covering all Mercedes-Benz models will see a price reduction starting next month. Among the spare parts set for price cuts, prices of windshields will be reduced by 29 percent, those of power steering pumps 24 percent and radiators by 16 percent.

Average spare-part prices will be cut by 15 percent amid this round of adjustment, said Marc-Oliver Nandy, executive vice-president of after-sales at Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co Ltd.

Earlier China Daily report said the carmaker on July cut the cost of maintenance by 20 percent on average covering both smart cars and Mercedes-Benz models, including the A-, B-, C-, E-, GLK-, M-, R-, and S-Class. And the reduction for some specific models could be as much as 50 percent.

The company was the first major international car manufacturer to cut after-sales cost amid China's anti-monopoly probe followed by Jaguar Land Rover and Audi, which are reducing the prices of their vehicles, parts and after-sales service as of Aug 1.

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