How do Mercedes-Benz customers manage to avoid high taxes in China?

Mercedes-Benz is luxury car brand number one in China, outpacing all-time rivals in terms of sales. The company especially designs and builds models and variants for the Chinese market. The Mercedes-Benz G350 is the latest demonstration of loyalty to the customers.

Mercedes-Benz helps customers in China avoid high taxes. Thus those who dream of a G-Class can now go for the new entry-level four-cylinder variant. It is called the G350 and will only be available in China for start.

The fans of the off-roader may be familiar with the designation. Elsewhere in the world though, the G350 indicative is accompanied by the letter “d”, as a reference to the diesel power of the variant. But the Mercedes-Benz G350 that Chinese customers will be able to order soon features a gasoline engine. But the premium car maker does not sell the G350d in China.

Therefore the Mercedes-Benz G350 for China will come with an M264 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine in China. The unit develops 300 horsepower and a peak torque of 400 Nm, that go straight to the front axle via a nine-speed automatic transmission, CarNewsChina.com reports.

Why does Mercedes-Benz launch this entry-level G-Class in China?

Large capacity engines in China come with very high taxes for the owners. A 4.0-liter V8, for example, would be a setback for those willing to own a G-Class. Thus a downsized G would be a local solution.

The G350 is all the more attractive for the Chinese customers as only few visual differences come between this variant and the V8-powered ones. One thing is for sure. The variant comes with smaller wheels, but larger ones will most likely be available as option.

The car company has not announced any pricing details yet, but will communicate them in September, when the new variant will be officially launched.