Mumbai: Mukesh Ambani has become the third Indian to acquie an armoured Mercedes Benz S600. The first was ordered for then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by the Union government and the second was bought by actor Aamir Khan.
The Reliance Industries Limited chairman's 2015-model S600 VR 9 - said to be the most advanced armoured vehicle in the world - is the first in India. The other two cars are the 2014 version.
"Mr Ambani's Merc is fitted with more luxury items. It was especially fitted for him in Germany," said a Mercedes Benz official.
The car was registered at Mumbai's regional transport office this afternoon, an RTO source said.
"MDA (Mukesh Ambani) is a Z-category protectee since the past two years and an armoured car like this complies with advice of the security establishment for protectees of this level," a RIL source said.
The showroom version of the car - S600 Guard - was launched in Delhi last year.
The basic price of the car is about Rs 1.5 crore. Sources at RIL said the company had paid over Rs 10 crore for the specially fitted vehicle for which Ambani waited eight months.
"Mercedes also offers armoured vehicles in E-class and ML-class but their protection level is substantially lower than the S600 Guard, which has armour to protect the vehicle from assault rifles, grenades, IEDs and even a single hit from a sniper rifle," the Mercedes Benz official said.
"Super-thick doors and mirrors, fire and security alarm systems, special tyres on which the vehicle can be driven for upto 80km even after they are deflated come with a twin turbo 530PS V12 petrol engine."
After the government of India first acquired a Mercedes S600 for Singh, Aamir bought one fitted with about 1.7 tonne worth of armour in March 2014. That was after the actor began receiving threats following the first season of his TV show, Satyamev Jayate.
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