On World Environment Day 2022, we spoke with Shekhar Bhide, Vice President – Customer Services & Corporate Affairs, Mercedes-Benz India about the initiatives Mercedes-Benz India has taken with respect to preserving our environment and cultivating sustainable alternatives that would help protect the climate as well as improve air quality. He also spoke about Mercedes-Benz's commitment to reducing emissions throughout its vehicle range and a glimpse at the timeline, in which the German carmaker would become carbon-neutral in India.
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Shekhar Bhide, Vice President – Customer Services & Corporate Affairs, Mercedes-Benz India.
carandbike: Sustainability and e-mobility must be taking an ever-greater role in your plans. What are the targets for India here?
Shekhar Bhide (SB): As per our global commitment, Mercedes-Benz is committed to reducing emissions throughout the whole vehicle lifecycle across the entire portfolio, developing an entirely carbon-neutral passenger car fleet by 2039. In India, we aim to Reduce, Reuse & Recycle, leading to a reduction in CO2 footprints through the design of our processes and initiatives. Additionally, there is a host of green initiatives being undertaken in our Pune plant. We are expanding our EV portfolio by adding one more EV model, EQS that will be locally produced. We aim to further expand our EV portfolio in India.
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Mercedes-Benz designs its vehicles to be as resource-conserving and environmentally friendly as possible over their entire life cycle.
carandbike: How is Mercedes-Benz India redefining luxury with the planet in mind?
SB: As per our global commitments, Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to go all-electric by the end of the decade, where market conditions allow. From 2025 onwards, all newly launched vehicle architectures will be electric-only and customers will be able to choose an all-electric alternative for every model the company makes. All our vehicles are a minimum of 85 per cent recyclable. We design our vehicles to be as resource-conserving and environmentally friendly as possible over their entire life cycle. At Mercedes-Benz, we have therefore set the goal of increasing the use of recycled materials to 40 per cent by 2030 with our aim to conserve valuable resources.
All Mercedes-Benz vehicles are a minimum of 85 per cent recyclable.
carandbike: Can you shed some light on expanding the EQ range in India and how it would fit in with the company's global EV strategy?
SB: We will expand the EQ range by adding our top-end luxury EV, the EQS. The EQ range will be further expanded in India as more global EVs make their debut, depending on market demand and feasibility.
Mercedes-Benz India generates 3.6 MW of electricity through solar panels installed at the Chakan plant.
carandbike: Are there MBI employees that practice sustainability by integrating green practicing into their day-to-day life?
SB: Our employees are the core of our sustainability practices. They are active participants in our initiatives such as resource conversation, correct disposal of E-waste, and composting among others. They play a pivotal role in preserving the ecological balance of our plant premises which house 125 species of plants and animals. To nurture care in them, we regularly arrange for ‘Eco Walks' with forest experts who help them understand the flora and fauna species in the plant.
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The Mercedes-Benz EQS will be introduced in India this year.
carandbike: Could you share some insight on developing green concepts, globally and locally?
SB: MB India aligns its goals of sustainable developments and adopting sustainable solutions based on our parent company Mercedes-Benz AG. We practice zero discharge of wastewater to public drains. We generate 3.6 MW of electricity through solar panels installed at the Chakan plant. We maintain the ecological balance of our plant premises which house 125 species of plants and animals. We are striving to expand the Electric Vehicle portfolio, and lastly, afforestation within the Pune district is a key part of our CSR initiatives.
