German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is preparing to export cars manufactured at its Pune plant to global markets, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced.
Speaking at an industry event, Gadkari said the company has conveyed its plans to scale up its operations in India so that locally built vehicles will not only meet domestic demand but also be shipped overseas. “Mercedes-Benz wants to make India a production hub for global supply,” he noted.
The Pune facility, which already produces a range of Mercedes-Benz models for the Indian market, is expected to see its role expand significantly as the brand strengthens its export strategy. Industry experts believe this move highlights India’s emergence as an attractive manufacturing destination for premium automobiles, thanks to cost advantages and growing trade opportunities.
Gadkari stressed that India’s automobile industry must target exports as a key driver of future growth. He urged companies to focus on improving production quality and ramping up capacity so that Indian-made vehicles can compete at the highest international standards.
For Mercedes-Benz, India is already a “priority market.” The company has been investing steadily in its Indian operations and is exploring how best to align its production with global supply chains. Its export plan comes at a time when India is working to enhance free trade agreements and boost incentives for automobile manufacturers.
Analysts say that if Mercedes-Benz begins large-scale exports from India, it will set a precedent for other luxury automakers to follow, further cementing India’s position as a global automotive hub.
This step not only strengthens Mercedes-Benz’s footprint in India but also reinforces the government’s vision of turning the country into a world-class manufacturing and export powerhouse.
