Daimler AG is investing Rs 250 crore in subsidiary Mercedes-Benz India’s plant at Chakan to set up new assembly lines.
The company has already invested Rs 600 crore to set up the manufacturing plant, existing assembly lines as well as a new paint shop capable of water-based painting. This is expected to become operational by October and will have an annual capacity of 20,000 units that can be scaled up to 40,000 units annually.
The investment earmarked for new assembly lines will be made till 2014. MBIL had earlier said it plans to make the ML and GL-Class SUVs, and B and A-Class sedans here amongst other products in the future.
Peter T. Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, MBI, said, “The total investment of Rs 850 crore will help us strengthen our production and operational capabilities with regard to our existing products and the product offensive we are readying for the Indian market.”
Currently Mercedes-Benz India locally manufactures the C, E and S-Class sedans at its plant in Chakan near Pune. It will be amongst the first markets to start assembling the new M-Class outside Daimler AG’s parent SUV plant in Alabama, USA.
In addition to the proposed increase in investment through its dealer partners, MBIL has invested over Rs 480 crore across its 31 showroom and 41 service outlets in 31 Indian cities.