Ahmedabad: A consumer commission has directed authorised Mercedes-Benz dealers in Ahmedabad and Surat to pay ₹3 lakh in compensation to a buyer for misrepresenting an older car as a new model and failing to disclose its manufacturing year.

The case relates to Surat resident Nilesh Davariya, who purchased a Mercedes-Benz C-Class (C 220 CDI) in October 2015 from Landmark Car Pvt Ltd for ₹41.51 lakh. After delivery, he found that the registration certificate showed the vehicle was manufactured in December 2014.

Davariya alleged that the dealer did not inform him of the manufacturing year and that the non-disclosure affected the car’s resale value. He later approached the Gujarat State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission seeking compensation for depreciation and mental agony.

Mercedes-Benz India said dealers are independently responsible for sales and argued that there was no manufacturing defect. The dealers claimed the buyer knowingly chose the 2014 model after being offered a discount.

The commission held the two dealers guilty of misrepresentation and unfair trade practice, while absolving the manufacturer of liability. It ordered the dealers to pay ₹3 lakh in compensation, along with ₹25,000 for mental agony and ₹10,000 towards legal costs.