Force Motors’ new plant at Chakan was inaugurated today by Chief Minster Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, in the presence of Shri.Prakash Javadekar; Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Mr. Frank Deiss, Global Head Power train Mercedes Benz, and Shri. Girish Bapat; Guardian Minster for Pune district.
This state of the art plant located in Chakan carries forward the 45 year long tradition of cooperation between Force Motors and Mercedes Benz. Force Motors has been the preferred partner for producing engines for all Mercedes Benz Cars and SUV’s made in India since 1997. This portfolio has grown to include the front and rear axles for all Mercedes Benz Cars and SUVs as well. The new plant has a current annual capacity of 20,000 engines and 20,000 front and rear axles. This capacity can be further enhanced, should there be a requirement from Mercedes Benz India.
Till date Force Motors has supplied over 60,000 engines and over 50,000 axles to Mercedes Benz India Ltd. This plant is the next step in the localization and “Make in India” success story. This project was conceptualized in June 2015 and the first engines rolled out in February 2016.
The Force Motors Chakan plant is spread over 130,000 sqft with eight lines that produce and test up to 14 engine variants. This includes the 4 cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, 6 cylinder V-type gasoline and diesel engines, powering the complete range of Cars and SUVs made by Mercedes Benz India.It employs around 200 people and works in two shifts.
Made with an investment of Rs. 100 Crores this plant is a part of the Rs. 700 crore investments pledged by Force Motors over the next two years, across its value chain for multiple products / business verticals. This technologically modern plant is temperature and dust controlled to ensure best in class build quality. It has the modern technology needed for ensuring the production process with computer controlled precision equipment. The two modern hot test beds test 100% of the engines produced for quality and performance.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prasan Firodia said, “The inauguration of this plant marks a significant step in our 45 year long association with Mercedes Benz. The association with Mercedes Benz India Car Plant alone spans over 19 years and has helped establish Force Motors’ strength as a preferred supplier of critical and high precision aggregates to leading European Luxury Brands. This new plant will help Force Motors be more flexible in terms of the production capacity demands and will enable us to continue to produce engines and axles to the exacting standards expected by Mercedes Benz globally”.
