Mercedes-Benz Korea on Wednesday said it expects a double-digit growth in sales this year, retaining its market dominance in the premium segment.

“We aim for a double-digit growth this year, outperforming the imported auto market which is forecast to grow by 8.5 percent according to Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association,” said Dimitris Psillakis, CEO of the German premium carmaker, at a press briefing Wednesday.

“We are planning to introduce at least 11 highlights (models) this year, including the New E-Class, the 10th generation of the most intelligent business saloon, in the early second quarter of the year.

“We will also have the biggest and youngest SUVs. We will have the GLE-Coupe, the 7-seater GLS, and the S-Class of the SUVs and more. And we will double the sales of SUVs,” he added.

Psillakis said the company will aggressively invest 190 billion won ($156 million) into creating eight aftersales service centers and three showrooms, while overhauling some existing facilities, thus having 41 showrooms and 48 service centers as well as 13 “preowned car“ sales room nationwide by the end of the year.

A total of 46,994 Mercedes-Benz cars were newly registered here in 2015, up 33.5 percent from the previous year. The sales figure is the highest among luxury car brands such as BMW and Audi.

Such a record has made Korea the world’s 8th-largest market for Mercedes-Benz, Psillakis said. Korea is also its global No.2 market for Mercedes-Maybach sales, and No.3 in the S-class and E-class sedan sales, ahead of Japan and Germany.

By Bae Ji-sook  (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)