German car maker Mercedes-Benz is reportedly planning to manufacture electric cars in India at its factory at Chakan in Pune.
The German auto major is already betting big globally on electric vehicles and believes that electric cars will play a significant role in India as the country gears up to adapt to future of mobility.
According TOI Mercedes-Benz feels that the country will emerge as one of the key market for electrics in the coming years as government’s focus in reducing oil import bill and reduce the pollution will further advance the rollout of eco-friendly vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz India VP (sales & marketing) Michael Jopp speaking to the publication said “As the Indian market moves towards electrics, we will be investigating local manufacturing here. As part of our long-term perspective (on India), we want to manufacture here,” he added “When it happens, we would certainly manufacture them at our plant in Chakan, alongside the combustion engine vehicles.”
Jopp noted that there are “challenges” like eco-system and robust charging infrastructure for EVs which need to be sorted out before local manufacturing can begin.
The company also says that import duty for hybrid and electric cars in India should be ‘lenient’ to achieve sufficient volumes to encourage companies invest in local manufacturing.
Early this year Daimler AG Member of Board of Management Britta Seeger said India’s push for electric mobility by 2030 is something that has to be considered to decide the right Mercedes-Benz products for the market in future but infrastructure is a key prerequisite to enter the EV space.
Mercedes-Benz is a part of the Daimler Group, which is among the leading manufacturers of premium cars globally and the world’s biggest commercial vehicles maker.