hen Emil Jellinek sold Daimler�s cars under the Mercedes name, he might have never dreamt about the kind of products that would carry his daughter�s name. Last month, DaimlerChrysler launched Mercedes-Benz bicycles in Mumbai. Some other premium auto brands sell bicycles as well and the game isn�t money but prestige and the creation of collector�s items for the rich.

The bikes come in three versions � Fitness, Mountain and Automatic. Priced between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh, they are imported from Germany. DaimlerChrysler has sold 810 of these recently introduced bikes worldwide and expects to sell about a dozen bikes a year in India. Made from aluminium brass and featuring 27 gears, the bikes are available at Auto Hangar, a Mercedes dealership in Mumbai.... more