Our recent visit to the Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facility in Pune’s Chakan Industrial Area offered rare insight into the brand’s assembly prowess, leadership philosophy, and the technological leap driving luxury motoring in India.
Nestled on a 100-acre campus in Chakan, the Mercedes-Benz India plant is the nerve centre for both production and assembly of cutting-edge vehicles, including luxury sedans, SUVs, and electric cars. The site has a unique position within Mercedes-Benz’s global manufacturing map, delivering both Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and locally developed models for the Indian market and select international locations. Since its inception, the facility has seen over ₹3,000 crore of investment, reflecting strong long-term confidence in Indian operations.
We experienced the full size SUV, the GLS taking on a thrilling off-road section, and the Electric G580 demonstrating the G-Turn. Both testaments to the brand’s engineering. The plant tour offered close-up exposure to state-of-the-art body shops, quality control, and the intricacies involved in manufacturing and also assembling CKD kits, which enabled price competitiveness in India’s luxury market.
During the visit, interviews with Managing Director & CEO Santosh Iyer and Executive Director & Head of Operations Vyankatesh Kulkarni revealed the company’s local and global ambitions. Iyer shared that the brand’s commitment extends well beyond sales statistics: “We are just custodians of the brand… our job is to protect it and pass it on stronger,” highlighting a culture of inclusive leadership, evident even in shared staff canteens at the plant.
Kulkarni detailed the plant’s transition to smart manufacturing and electric vehicle (EV) technology. Having played a role in digital manufacturing transformation since joining, his focus now includes localisation, workforce diversity, and a robust supplier ecosystem to future-proof operations.
The Pune factory boasts advanced flexible assembly lines, allowing it to manufacture everything from the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class to the fully electric EQS. The plant’s manufacturing excellence has set benchmarks for quality, even earning accolades within Daimler’s global network. Indian talent and R&D also play a growing role in shaping global Mercedes-Benz products.
In today’s market, even non-luxury brands are offering advanced features like ventilated seats and rear window blinds at aggressive price points. When we asked about this, Iyer explained that Mercedes-Benz’s entry-level models, such as the A-Class, are engineered for self-driving owners who prize dynamic driving and innovation over rear-passenger amenities. He said, “Dynamism and the feeling behind the wheel outweigh creature comforts for our target customer.” Still, Mercedes-Benz has responded to evolution in customer demand, introducing wireless Apple CarPlay and the keyless entry ‘Keyless Go’ package, first on the A-Class in 2023.
The Pune plant has already surpassed the milestone of 200,000 vehicles produced and continues to expand, especially in electric mobility. With strong leadership, international-grade facilities, local R&D, and an adaptive approach to luxury, Mercedes-Benz India stands poised to lead the country’s automotive future.
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