Mercedes-Benz India is not only a leading vehicle manufacturer, but also an important participant in society in general.

We have a social commitment in all the communities we operate.

With 'The Jatropha Biodiesel Project', we address the issues of rural income and employment, indigenous as well as environment-friendly biodiesel and reclamation of wasteland- in other words, 'Sustainable Mobility' for the future. Our automotive training programmes are aimed at developing local technical competence in India.

We also have a Mobile Kids programme running in various schools across India that takes internationally relevant traffic safety issues and brings them across through information, motivation and training. The Mercedes-Benz International School meets educational requirements for internationally minded families.

We are convinced that social responsibility is an important factor in the longterm success of our company. Only then can we contribute towards world peace and prosperity in the future.

n April 2002, the company introduced the first of its kind, a comprehensive one year 'Mechatronics Programme'. The program is aimed at developing local technical competence in India and the sub-continent for Mercedes-Benz cars Automotive diagnostic skills as well as electronic and electrical networking systems. The concept is a joint initiative of Mercedes-Benz India and the Government Polytechnic in Pune and is supported by CIM (Germany). . The program involves concepts like discovery learning and task-based teaching at the Automotive Mechatronics School.

Advanced Automotive Technology Course Mercedes-Benz India, in collaboration with the Government Polytechnic, Pune, has introduced a Post-Diploma course on Advanced Automotive Technology. This One-year Post-Diploma course enables students to be trained as per the highest standards of modern automotive technology. The course offers first-of-its-kind syllabus aimed to bridge the gap between technological demand and automotive education. The curriculum incorporates key elements of automobile & electronics technology as well as insights about advanced automobile systems, diagnostics and hands-on training. These learnings are reinforced with student visits to the MercedesBenz factory and its Mechatronics School. We additionally offer training for the faculty and further provide teaching resources to the Government Polytechnic institute. The curriculum also imbibes soft skills such as written and oral communication as well as behavioral skills.

The Mercedes-Benz Mobile Kids is a road safety program that teaches children the basics of road safety in a fun and entertaining manner. The Mobile Kids initiative takes internationally relevant traffic safety topics and brings them across through information, motivation, and training. Young boys and girls are taught to act responsibly and react safely in various traffic situations. To make Mobile Kids as relevant and entertaining as possible, Mercedes-Benz developed the concept together with international experts.

The Mobile Kids project has been implemented in:

Pune Delhi Chennai Kolkata Highlights The main features of the programme are:

-A specially created picture book Smartys World is being utilized for classroom education on road safety. -The book, specially designed for Indian implementation, chronicles the adventures of Smarty and his friends -It is colourful and fun to browse. -Program coordinators train teachers to implement the program in their respective schools. -A school-level event is held mid-way into the program. -The students engage in activities and contests pertaining to roadsafety and environmental awareness.

-At the end of the program, there is a final Inter-School event among all participating schools. -At the valedictory function, the winner of the inter-school contest is awarded a day in a chauffer driven Mercedes-Benz with his family. -The implementations have received wide support and encouragement from the community as well as positive feedback from schools, participants and parents of children and also media and social organizations.