Force Motors has reached a major milestone in its collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, announcing the production of its 200,000th. engine at the company’s manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune. The achievement marks another chapter in a partnership that has been steadily expanding in India for nearly three decades. The engine marking this milestone is the M256 six-cylinder petrol unit, which is installed in the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450. The occasion was celebrated in the presence of high-ranking representatives of both organizations, including the top management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Force Motors.The relationship between the two companies in the production area of ​​power units began in 1997. Since then, the collaboration has grown significantly, with Force Motors producing not only engines but also axles for the complete range of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and SUVs assembled in India. Today, the Chakan plant serves as a key manufacturing hub, supplying components built to Mercedes-Benz’s global specifications while supporting the luxury carmaker’s operations in the country.Commenting on the achievement, Force Motors CEO Prasan Firodia said the production milestone represents years of mutual trust, engineering expertise and shared commitment to quality. He noted that the Chakan facility was established specifically to align with Mercedes-Benz’s global manufacturing standards and that every engine produced there reflects the company’s focus on precision and consistency. Among those present were dr. Joerg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Chief Technology Officer for Development and Procurement; Michael Schiebe, responsible for production, quality and supply chain management; and Mathias Geisen, who heads Sales & Customer Experience. They were joined by Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer, CEO and Head of Operations Vyankatesh Kulkarni, and senior officials from both the companies.More than just a numerical achievement, the milestone highlights the successful Indo-German industrial partnership that has contributed to raising manufacturing standards in the Indian automotive sector. At a time when global automakers are increasingly focusing on resilient and high-quality local supply chains, the collaboration between Force Motors and Mercedes-Benz demonstrates India’s ability to deliver world-class engineering and manufacturing standards.Having now produced 200,000 Mercedes-Benz engines, Force Motors continues to strengthen its position as a trusted manufacturing partner, highlighting the progress of advanced automotive manufacturing in India.
