Killing two birds with one stone, Mercedes-Benz India commence production at their new manufacturing plant in Pune. The other feather in the cap for Mercedes was rolling out of the first new-generation of cars in their global assembly – the GLA compact crossover.
The new assembly-line in Pune has an installed capacity of rolling out 20,000 cars annually. This new project carried an investment of over Rs 1000 crore, the highest for any car brand in India. To do the honours, Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, inaugurated the plant and also drove out in the first-ever locally-assembled Mercedes-Benz GLA200 CDI.
The GLA 200 CDI Style will now cost Rs 31.31 lakh, while the Sport trim will cost Rs 34.25 lakh, both ex-showroom, Pune.
Commenting on the occasion, Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “Rolling out our first-ever locally-manufactured GLA and commencing production from India’s largest installed luxury car production facility are two very significant accomplishments for Mercedes-Benz in India. These accomplishments are a result of our long-term vision for the Indian market and our relentless efforts towards creating a strong foundation for our business in India. Our endeavours are all driven by our customer centric approach, as we believe in creating enhanced value for them.
“The GLA has been a sensation in the compact luxury SUV segment in India and has witnessed an increasing demand from across the markets. Buoyed by this rising demand for the GLA, we took the decision to commence its local production and cater to even more customers wanting to own this stylish vehicle. The GLA would be the first of the new generation cars to be rolling out of our plant. The local manufacturing of the GLA and the commencement of production from our new facility, not only makes us ‘future ready’ but also gives us a competitive advantage in the dynamic Indian luxury car market. Mercedes-Benz India is on the right growth path and we are confident that we are creating a better future for the brand in India.”
