Mercedes-Benz India Limited (MBIL) was set up as a joint venture between Daimler Chrysler (86%) and Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (14%). The aim was to set up the production of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars both for the Indian and export markets.

An important priority for the company was to have a world-class production facility in the country that would produce quality cars, comparable to those produced anywhere else in the world. The cars manufactured in its factory in Chikhali village in Pune are under the technical and organizational standards emulate those prevailing in the Daimler Chrysler plants in Germany.

The company was  launched in India in January 1998, with its E range of cars. In January 2000 Mercedes-Benz expanded the product range with two top-of-the-line E-Class models in both E240- petrol and E220 CDI diesel versions.

To epitomize the  harmony of top-class values, Mercedes Benz India has introduced the S class in India. The S 320L Automatic introduced in India costs approximately Rs. 55 lakh.

The company has further introduced the MB100 van (2.9 liters diesel), which is the first genuine multipurpose vehicle, available in 12 seater and 15 seater variants.

Lastly, the company has taken a large number of measures to guarantee that the quality of the vehicles from the Pune plant are as per the Mercedes standard. MBIL carries out quality checks which are similar to those in Germany.

By Rahul Surkund