Thaindian News

Aurangabad, Oct 15 (IANS) This sleepy Maharashtra town showed its massive spending power Friday as 150 gleaming new Mercedes-Benz cars purred out of the company premises with all the paperwork in order.

The buyers, known as the “Aurangabad Group”, included top industrialists, businessmen and professionals.

“We wanted to put Aurangabad on the world map by this,” commented Rishi Darda, managing director, Lokmat (newspaper) Group and one of the proud buyers of a Merc.

The customers started trooping in since Thursday for the deliveries of the vehicles of their choice and the entire programme ended Friday afternoon on the auspicious Navaratri ashthami day.

The 150 cars which were lovingly grabbed included 13 S-Class, 74 E-Class, 39 C-lass, and the imported variants — six GL-Class and 18 ML-Class.

An elated Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director Wilfried Aulbur said there is tremendous economic power in tier-two and tier-three cities of India. “Today, it came to the fore in a bold, aggressive and dynamic manner with the sale of 150 Mercedes-Benz cars at one stroke.”

The total sales figure for the day came to Rs.650 million (Rs.65 crore), making it the single biggest deal of its kind in a day for the company in the country, said Manas Dewan, deputy general manager, product management and corporate communications.

“All of us have worked very hard to reach where we are today. We all felt we deserved to satisfy ourselves - and to realize a long cherished dream. It could only have been the best - the Mercedes-Benz brand,” said Rahul Mishrikotkar of RHS Ventures, who bought an E-Class.

Aulbur said that Friday’s record sale showcases Aurangabad as the “new face of India”.

The deal has created significantly high interest from investors many of whom are now actively contemplating entry into this city, besides several large brands which are now aggressively eyeing Aurangabad as “a preferred destination”.

Situated in the backward region of Marathwada, Aurangabad is world-renowned for the world heritage Ajanta-Ellora caves, the Bibi Ka Maqbara, Daulatabad Fort and the grave of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.