MUNICH, June 11 (Reuters) - Discount levels in China have been flat over the past 12 months despite increasing price competition in the country's car market, Ola Kaellenius, head of marketing and sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars, said on Thursday.
"Some of our competitors have moved in the other direction. But we have been there before and it is not a happy place," Kaellenius said, adding that Mercedes was still chasing the prize of trying to beat BMW to become the world's best-selling premium carmaker in the world.
Since May 2014, Mercedes-Benz has significantly reduced the gap to competitors, Kaellenius told analysts at the company's investor day.
Mercedes-Benz still lags Audi and BMW in China.
"If you take out China, Mercedes-Benz is the leading premium brand. The last time that was the case was more than 10 years ago," Kaellenius said. (Reporting by Edward Taylor; Editing by Maria Sheahan)