Benelli India Under New Ownership

The move comes in the light of DSK Group declaring bankruptcy. Sales and service of existing Benelli bikes will continue as usual

Hyderabad-based Mahavir Group has announced that it has taken over Benelli’s operations in the country after DSK Group declared bankruptcy due to its real-estate arm. Benelli, the daughter company of Chinese automaker QianJiang Group, entered India way back in 2014 with DSK Motowheels. With motorcycles ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 13 lakh, the brand was doing relatively well in the Indian premium motorcycle segment, with 25 dealerships across the country. The latest announcement should bring to an end the cloud of uncertainty in the minds of the enthusiasts and shareholders alike, and we may finally get the Leoncino and the TRK 502, which were in the pipeline, soon.

Mahavir Group opened up its business in 1998 with Hyderabad’s first-ever Mercedes-Benz dealership. The group also sold Benelli motorcycles in the city. Other clients include Isuzu, Skoda and Indian Motorcycles. The Italian manufacturer’s headquarters will now be moved from Pune to Hyderabad.

Currently, the Mahavir Group is in the process of setting up a manufacturing plant in Hyderabad and will be taking over Benelli’s sales, service and procuring spare parts in India. Existing sales and service operations are going on as usual, but it remains to be seen whether Benelli’s existing dealers are willing to accept the change in ownership or if Mahavir Group has to hunt for a new group of dealers for India. Benelli’s future plans of launching the Imperiale 400, Leoncino and the TRK 502, however, is still on track. Watch this space for more updates.