Following the ‘Make in India’ campaign, Mercedes rolled out the GLA entry SUV in India yesterday. ‘Make in India’ aims at creating manufacturing firms within India to create more job opportunities and enhance the skills of the people of India across different sectors like automobiles, aviation, biotechnology, etc. Coincidently, today also marks the inauguration of Phase 2 of the company’s production facility in Chakan, Pune. India will also be the first market to receive the GLA entry SUV outside of Germany. Mercedes-Benz will be doubling its annual capacity in India to 20,000 units, thanks to the Make in India project. The Mercedes Phase 2 facility was inaugurated by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA Class comes with two engine options- a 2-litre petrol variant and a 2.1-litre diesel variant. But, for now, only the diesel variant is being manufactured in the Indian facility. The inline, 4-cylinder diesel engine with turbocharging and direct injection is mated to a 7-speed ducal clutch transmission. The GLA 200 CDI gives a claimed mileage of 17.9Km/l, thus making it one of the most fuel-efficient SUV in the segment. It is capable of reaching 0-100kmph in 9.9 seconds with a top speed of 205kmph. Its torque is 300Nm @ 1600-3000rpm.
Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 CDI Style is available for Rs. 31.31 lakh and Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 CDI Sport for Rs. 34.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune). With the addition of the GLA Class SUV, the company locally manufactures six models, which include C-, E-, S-Class sedans and the ML- and GL-Class SUVs. The CLA entry sedan will be added to the local assembly list later this year while the A- and B-Class models come in after that.