RIL buys Rs.11-crore armoured Merc for 'Z' security chairman

Mumbai: India's largest private company Reliance Industries has bought what is touted as the most sophisticated armoured vehicle for chairman Mukesh Ambani -- a fortified Mercedes Benz mounted on an S600.

The base price, according to sources familiar with the development, is around Rs.1.5 crore. But with security features -- at the top 'Level-9' in this case -- and levies such as import duty, road tax and insurance, it works out to over Rs.11 crore, the sources added.

The vehicle was registered here on Saturday, the sources confirmed.

Reactions sought from the Reliance Industries spokesman did not elicit any response.

But sources said the valuable purchase was made in accordance with Ambani listed under the top 'Z' category in terms of security for the past couple of years.

While the word fortified evokes interest on how the car looks, available information suggests it is not quite different from any other Mercedes Benz S600 -- one of which is owned by actor Aamir Khan.

But the car has 'Level-9' (VR9) resistance which is apparently the highest available currently. The RIL car was also customised at Benz's Sindelingen plant in Germany.

Sources said the acquisition of the car was debated at length, especial after Ambani was placed under the "Z" category of security and was advised as much to upgrade the features of the car he would drive into to his office at Maker Chamber.

It took a waiting of eight months for delivery.