Post by Prasan Firodia

We at Force Motors had the honour of welcoming the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) President- Hildegard Müller along with Marius Ochel, Head – Cluster International Association Partnerships (Africa & India), and Eckart von Klaeden, Vice President – External Affairs, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, to our Corporate Office at Akurdi in Pune. For close to seven decades, Force Motors’ journey has been closely intertwined with Germany’s automotive ecosystem, built on long-standing partnerships, shared engineering values, and a strong belief in long-term collaboration. Our continuing association with leading German OEMs such as the BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, and Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG reflects the continuity and trust built over generations. The conversation with our esteemed guests offered an opportunity to reflect on how Indian manufacturing has evolved from licensed production to globally benchmarked engineering and system integration, and on how Indo-German cooperation continues to play a vital role in strengthening industrial capabilities, supply-chain resilience, and sustainable mobility solutions. In my role as a Board Member of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, I firmly believe that industry-led engagement remains central to deepening Indo-German cooperation. Visits like these reinforce the importance of aligning capabilities, values, and long-term vision as we work together to build a future-ready automotive ecosystem. At a time of increasing global uncertainty, I also believe it is important to maintain a strong focus on frameworks that enable open, balanced, and mutually beneficial partnerships. In this context, the relevance of a free and fair EU–India Free Trade Agreement becomes even more pronounced, as businesses and economies navigate an increasingly complex global landscape. Inamdar Prashant