‘Aurangabad group’ buys 115 Mercs at one go

MUMBAI: Aurangabad, the city in the backward region of Marathwada represented by chief minister Ashok Chavan and heavy industries minister Vilasrao Deshmukh , is known for its poverty, acute water shortage and lack of industrial development. Last week, however , it achieved a different kind of distinction, when a group of its prominent denizens made what was possibly the single largest bulk booking of Mercedes Benz cars in India— an astounding 115 of them.

The feat was initiated and achieved when 115 industrialists, mediapersons, exporters, developers , medical professionals and lawyers, led by industrialists Rishi Darda and Rahul Dhoot, joined hands, set up what they called the ‘Aurangabad group’ and booked the swanky Mercs. ‘‘ We have promised to deliver them in October, preferably before Dussera,’’ Pune-based Mercedes dealer Chandravadan Bhandari told TOI.

Bhandari said the Aurangabad group had set up a seven-member team to negotiate with the manufacturers . ‘‘ Since it was the highest ever bulk booking, their plea was considered and they were given a good offer,’’ he said. ‘‘ They accepted it and booked 115 cars.’’

Currently, there are five brands of Mercedes Benz available — C, E, M, S and GL — ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 95 lakh. While the C-Classic costs Rs 25 lakh, the S-Classic sells for well over Rs 95 lakh.

Although not named as such, the Aurangabad group was active in the city in social work, organising medical camps, religious pilgrimages and so on. The proposal to acquire high-end cars was mooted a month ago. Several brands were discussed and ultimately, it was decided to go in for the Mercedes Benz. Initially, fewer than 15 persons were willing but later the figure shot up to a whopping 115.

(With inputs from Nikhil Deshmukh and Syed Rizwanullah)