Mercedes-Benz to begin a new unit in Pune by 2011

Mercedes-Benz India has stated that by second half of next year, it will begin the bus body-building. The company will set up a new unit at its plant in Pune for the same purpose. Wilfried Aulbur, Mercedes-Benz India CEO and Managing Director commented that the company is already building a bus chassis at its Pune plant. He further added that the company is setting up a bus body-building unit at the facility. He also said that the unit will tentatively become operational by second half of the next year. The upcoming bus body-building unit will have the capacity of 700-900 units every year.

Aulbur further stated that the company will be manufacturing the bodies for low-floor city buses. He also added that in future the company may also seek some other categories. Presently, Mercedes-Benz India is producing around 1,200 bus chassis every year and that too on only one shift basis at its Pune plant. Aulbur denied to provide any fixed figure about the proposed investment for the new unit. Aulbur commented that with more plans being carried out for the Actros truck of Mercedes-Benz, the Pune facility will concentrate on buses as the Daimler group's Chennai plant is looking after Actros.

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) is investing a sum of Rs 4,400 crore for starting a truck manufacturing plant in Chennai. Since July 2010, DICV has taken the responsibility of the post production business for Actros trucks. DICV hopes to strengthen its position in the commercial vehicle segment of India.

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