Force Motors rolls out 200,000th Mercedes-Benz engine, marks major manufacturing milestone
The milestone engine, a six-cylinder M256 powertrain, has been fitted into a Mercedes-Benz GLS 450.
- Jun 18, 2026,
- Updated Jun 18, 2026 11:20 AM IST
Force Motors has rolled out its 200,000th Mercedes-Benz engine from its Chakan manufacturing facility in Pune, marking a significant milestone in its nearly three-decade-long engine manufacturing partnership with the German luxury carmaker.
The milestone engine, a six-cylinder M256 powertrain, has been fitted into a Mercedes-Benz GLS 450. The partnership between Force Motors and Mercedes-Benz in engine manufacturing began in 1997 and has since expanded to include the production of engines and axles for all Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs manufactured in India.
The event was attended by senior executives from both companies, including Prasan Firodia, Managing Director of Force Motors, and members of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG -- Dr. Joerg Burzer, Chief Technology Officer for Development & Procurement; Michael Schiebe, responsible for Production, Quality and Supply Chain Management; and Mathias Geisen, responsible for Sales & Customer Experience. Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer was also present.
Commenting on the achievement, Firodia said the milestone reflects the strength of a long-standing partnership built on trust, precision engineering and manufacturing excellence. He noted that the Chakan facility was purpose-built to meet Mercedes-Benz’s global standards and that every engine produced there represents Force Motors’ commitment to quality and operational excellence.
The company described the relationship as one of the most notable examples of Indo-German industrial collaboration in the automotive sector, highlighting Force Motors’ role in delivering German-quality engineering from India under the government’s Make in India initiative.
Force Motors currently manufactures and tests engines for all Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles produced in India. The company also builds engines for BMW’s locally manufactured vehicles at its Chennai facility.
Force Motors has rolled out its 200,000th Mercedes-Benz engine from its Chakan manufacturing facility in Pune, marking a significant milestone in its nearly three-decade-long engine manufacturing partnership with the German luxury carmaker.
The milestone engine, a six-cylinder M256 powertrain, has been fitted into a Mercedes-Benz GLS 450. The partnership between Force Motors and Mercedes-Benz in engine manufacturing began in 1997 and has since expanded to include the production of engines and axles for all Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs manufactured in India.
The event was attended by senior executives from both companies, including Prasan Firodia, Managing Director of Force Motors, and members of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG -- Dr. Joerg Burzer, Chief Technology Officer for Development & Procurement; Michael Schiebe, responsible for Production, Quality and Supply Chain Management; and Mathias Geisen, responsible for Sales & Customer Experience. Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer was also present.
Commenting on the achievement, Firodia said the milestone reflects the strength of a long-standing partnership built on trust, precision engineering and manufacturing excellence. He noted that the Chakan facility was purpose-built to meet Mercedes-Benz’s global standards and that every engine produced there represents Force Motors’ commitment to quality and operational excellence.
The company described the relationship as one of the most notable examples of Indo-German industrial collaboration in the automotive sector, highlighting Force Motors’ role in delivering German-quality engineering from India under the government’s Make in India initiative.
Force Motors currently manufactures and tests engines for all Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles produced in India. The company also builds engines for BMW’s locally manufactured vehicles at its Chennai facility.