Force Motors’ partnership with Mercedes-Benz has reached a major milestone with the announcement of the production of the 200,000th engine at the company’s manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune. This achievement marks the next chapter in a partnership that has been steadily expanding in India for nearly three decades. The engine that marks this milestone is the six-cylinder M256 petrol unit, already installed in the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450. The event was attended by senior representatives from both organizations, including senior leadership from Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Force Motors.The partnership between the two companies in powertrain manufacturing began in 1997. Since then, the partnership has grown significantly, with Force Motors producing not only engines but also axles for the entire range of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and SUVs assembled in India. Today, the Chakan plant has become an important manufacturing hub, supplying parts that meet Mercedes-Benz’s global specifications while supporting the luxury carmaker’s operations in the country.Commenting on the achievement, Force Motors Managing Director Prasan Firodia said this production milestone represents years of mutual trust, engineering expertise and shared commitment to quality. He noted that the Chakan plant was built specifically to comply with Mercedes-Benz’s global manufacturing standards and that every engine produced there reflects the company’s focus on precision and consistency. Guests present included Dr. Joerg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of the Mercedes-Benz Group and Chief Technology Officer Development and Purchasing; Michael Schiebe, responsible for production, quality and supply chain management; and Mathias Geisen, responsible for sales and customer experience. Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer, Executive Director and Head of Operations Vyankatesh Kulkarni and senior officials of both companies also participated in the event.This milestone is not just a numerical achievement but also highlights the success of the Indo-German industrial partnership, contributing to raising the manufacturing benchmark of the Indian automotive industry. At a time when global automakers are increasingly focusing on resilient and high-quality local supply chains, the partnership between Force Motors and Mercedes-Benz is a testament to India’s ability to deliver world-class engineering and production standards.Force Motors, which has now produced 200,000 Mercedes-Benz engines, continues to strengthen its position as a trusted manufacturing partner while highlighting the advancement of advanced automotive manufacturing in India.
