Force Motors has rolled out the 200,000th engine from its engine manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, marking a significant milestone in its long-standing partnership with Mercedes-Benz. The association between the two companies in engine manufacturing dates back to 1997 and has since evolved into a comprehensive partnership covering the manufacturing of engines and axles for all Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs produced in India. The special 200,000th engine — a 6-cylinder M256 unit — has gone into a Mercedes-Benz GLS 450.
The milestone was commemorated in the presence of Mr. Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors Limited, along with a senior delegation from Mercedes-Benz, including Board of Management members Dr. Joerg Burzer, Michael Schiebe, and Mr. Mathias Geisen, alongside Mr. Santosh Iyer, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, and other senior leaders from both organisations.
Mr. Firodia said, “As Mercedes-Benz continues to expand its presence in India, Force Motors remains committed to supporting its growth through best-in-class manufacturing, operational excellence and by contributing to the production of world-class automotive components in India. The 200,000th engine is more than a production milestone; it is the living story of a half-century-long partnership built on trust, precision and shared purpose. The Force Motors Chakan facility was purpose-built to meet Mercedes-Benz’s exacting global standards, and every engine that has rolled out of it reflects Force Motors’ unwavering commitment to engineering excellence and manufacturing precision. To have honoured that commitment 200,000 times is a moment of profound pride for us.”
The Force Motors-Mercedes-Benz relationship is regarded as one of the most significant examples of Indo-German industrial collaboration, with the company’s Chakan facility producing the engine for every Mercedes-Benz car and SUV manufactured in India. Force Motors holds a similar role with BMW, with its Chennai facility powering every BMW car and SUV made in the country. Founded in 1958, Force Motors operates five manufacturing units across India, employs over 10,000 people, and exports to more than 25 countries. The company also runs Force MTU Power Systems, a joint venture with Rolls-Royce Power Systems, producing high-horsepower engines for power generation and rail applications globally.
