Mercedes-Benz R&D India plans to expand its base

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India is in the process of expanding its base in the country. The German company is setting up an additional building in Bangalore for logistics and operations. This new facility can house more than 2,000 people spread across 2,50,000 sq ft.

The company currently employs 1,400 people and will see the number go upto 2,000 by December. It plans to focus a lot on hiring new engineers from Indian colleges. To accomplish this, the company will -tie-up with two colleges – one in Bangalore and the other one in Tamil Nadu. It will be bringing in the German technical engineering systems, and in which German universities will sponsor courses, laboratories and short-term trips abroad. 

“We are a long-term player and are hopeful that the Indian market will grow like other emerging markets such as China’s. It is a younger market in China than ours. It is hot and demanding change. We work with them so it is local for global. We are working in the electric car development in the south of China for our joint partner with the Chinese firm BYD; this centre has contributed to the Denza electric car. In addition, there is a lot of R&D work going on in conventional cars for diesel and petrol. The way our global network is envisioned, it does not matter if the competency is in India, or Germany or China, it can go wherever it is needed. If I may give you an example, we have 180-200 people working here for Fuso of Japan and Daimler India CV. There are areas of competency that are best done in Bangalore and this is the centre what would be contacted, be it for a particular part, embedded software or simulation. India is a trusted location which, in our parlance, means that we have access to what is happening in Germany. We are seamlessly connected to HQ and that makes collaboration and working environment all the better and productive," said Manu Saale, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India.