Mercedes-Benz India goes local

By Swati Sanyal Tarafdar,

Added 12 June 2015

It is starting production of the GLA SUV at its manufacturing facility in Pune, marking the first time it will locally produce compact cars in its global assembly network along with sedans and SUVs

Mercedes-Benz will be producing the GLA in the 200 CDI variant from the Chakan production facility

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Mercedes-Benz India accomplished a double feat celebrating the start of production of the GLA SUV at its manufacturing facility in Pune, as this milestone also marks the first time Mercedes-Benz is locally producing compact cars in its global assembly network along with sedans and SUVs.

Beyond the Mercedes-Benz plant in India, this network comprises further locations in Thailand, Vietnam, Malayasia, Indonesia, and will be joined by Brazil in 2016 where a new assembly plant is currently under construction. The brand's Pune production facility has an installed capacity of producing 20,000 units annually, and also carries an investment of over INR 1000 crores, both largest for any luxury car brand in India.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, inaugurated the new production facility of Mercedes-Benz and drove out the first-ever GLA "made by Mercedes-Benz in Pune". Present on the occasion were Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change; Subhash Desai, Industry Minister, Maharashtra; Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Piyush Arora, Executive Director, Operations, Mercedes-Benz India.

The GLA

Mercedes-Benz will be producing the GLA in the 200 CDI variant from the Chakan production facility. The GLA remains one of Mercedes-Benz India's highly successful models and a key product in Mercedes-Benz India's product offensive. With the launch of the GLA, Mercedes-Benz bolstered its dominant position in the Indian luxury SUV market, offering the widest product range for its customers.

The GLA redefined the segment and created a whole new customer group who preferred a stylish SUV that reflects their personality. Progressive in design, serene in day-to-day motoring and with good off road capability: the Mercedes-Benz GLA reinterprets the luxury SUV segment in a very convincing style. The vehicle exudes self-confidence and revels in its sporty dynamic design, cutting edge drive systems and unparalleled standard of luxury as well as safety which is unique in the segment.

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