Mercedes supports SIAM view of excluding auto sector from FTA
The company further said it may consider making its facility at Chakan as an export destination if FTA comes into effect for the auto sector.
"We are completely in line with SIAM position. If FTA comes in, we will discuss how to utilise our plant for optimum output. Exports from our Chakan plant could be one option at that time," Mercedes Benz India Managing Director and CEO Eberhard H Kern told reporters here.
Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has been opposing inclusion of the auto sector in the proposed Indo-EU FTA and is saying that bringing down duties for cheap imports will devastate the domestic players, risking jobs.
Asked about its stand along with with SIAM contradicting with that of EU and other German auto major, Kern said: "EU is not a homogeneous situation.
"We are quite flexible having our own factory here and having factories around the world. We believe in India and believe in our production here. The Chakan factory is a 100 per cent Daimler entity and we will find solutions for its optimum usage (if and) when FTA is implemented."
He said the company's Rs 850 crore investment plan till 2014 for expanding the production capacity and introducing new models is on track.
Talking about Mercedes Benz slipping in to third position in the Indian luxury car market, Kern said: "It was not so normal situation
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