Mercedes Benz Now Made In India

The German auto manufacturer, Mercedes Benz, has taken yet another leap in the Indian market share race by introducing the new C220 CDI – the diesel variant, assembled using the CKD (completely knocked down) method with 60% localisation.



This seems to be a jab on the face of BMW who recently showcased their ability to produce cars with 50% localisation.All said and done, the recent declaration by both the manufacturers to manufacture products locally is a proof that they are committed to working toward the 'Make in India' programme initiated by the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi.



The C220 CDI is now priced at Rs 37.90 Lacs for the base variant (Style) and Rs 39.90 Lacs for the high end version (Avantgarde). With the prices reduced, Mercedes aims to maintain its position as the leading premium car manufacturer and seller in the Indian market and also a brand that the Indian customer favors. The C220 CDI has been given the tag 'World Car of The Year', it runs on a 4-cylinder diesel engine, the major highlight of this engine is that it produces a fuel efficiency of a respectable 20kmpl (approx), which is quite a figure for a premium car in this segment. The new engine developed by Mercedes also features the ECO function, a start-stop feature, that allows the vehicle to save on fuel and thereby reduce emissions. The new C-Class also features a drive mode selector that has several driving modes to choose from.



The new C-Class will now be manufactured at the company's Chakan plant in Pune and will be looking to increase localisation in the years to come. Although Mercedes and BMW have begun to produce cars locally, the manufacturers will be adhering to strict international quality standards while acquiring various components of its products.