Mumbai,The 61st edition of the Mahindra Great Escape, one of Indias most loved off-roading adventures, concluded successfully in Chikmagalur with over 70 vehicles from the Mahindra stable manoeuvring the challenging route. Mahindra customers from Chikmagalur and its neighbouring areas, including Bangalore and Mangalore, participated in the rally. The Chikmagalur event received an overwhelming response from offroading enthusiasts, leaving everyone asking for more.

The rally was flagged off at 10:00 am from The Gateway Hotel, K.M. Road, Opposite Pavitravana
Jyothinagar Post, Chikmagalur. Iconic Mahindra SUVs such as the Scorpio, Bolero, Getaway, Legend, Major and Classic negotiated an arduous route of over 70 km. The convoy of vehicles negotiated rocky terrain, slush, canals and streams, passing through Vasant Cool Estate, Karemane, the paddy fields and forests of Hukkunda, Kodal and Aladagudde before returning to the hotel.

We are delighted to be in Chikmagalur, for the 61st edition of the Mahindra Great Escape. The scenic yet challenging route was an off roaders delight and gave Mahindra customers an idea of the tough and enduring nature of Mahindra vehicles. The adrenaline rush was palpable and the atmosphere was charged. Real time tweets and updates on various social networking sites by participants further added to the overall excitement of the rally. We plan to return with yet another fun-filled edition of the Great Escape, shortly, said Mr. Vivek Nayer, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

This edition of the Mahindra Great Escape was conducted in association with JK Tyres, Bosch and Servo Lubricants. The Mahindra Great Escape route was chalked out by the Mahindra team, while the With You Hamesha service team ensured that participants could enjoy the rally unhindered.

The Mahindra Great Escape - a customer-centric initiative from Mahindra

In essence, Mahindra Great Escapes are meant to be pure off-roading events in a convoy, designed to provide maximum thrill to Mahindra owners. They are organised to give customers the opportunity to explore the full off-roading capabilities of their vehicles, safely and with a lot of fun. First initiated in 1996, the Mahindra Great Escapes initially used to be small one-day events, but now they have evolved into spectacular weekend events. The routes are meticulously chosen to ensure excitement without compromising on safety. All through the route, there are rescue vehicles to help those in need. In addition, there are experts along the route who are ready to guide the drivers through difficult terrain that may require skilful driving.

Through the years, the Great Escape has acquired a reputation as one of Indias premier off-roading events with each edition seeing eager participation from die-hard Mahindra fans and customers alike. From the hills of Coorg and the tea estates of Munnar to the undulating sand dunes of Mandawa in Rajasthan, the Great Escape has blazed a unique trail across the length and breadth of India. The Mahindra Great Escape was recently held in Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Munnar in Kerala, Coorg in Karnataka, Goa and also at Panvel near Mumbai.

Notes to Editor

About The Mahindra Group

Mahindra embarked on its journey in 1945 by assembling the Willys Jeep in India and is now a US $7.1 billion Indian multinational. It employs over 1,00,000 people across the globe and enjoys a leadership position in utility vehicles, tractors and information technology, with a significant and growing presence in financial services, tourism, infrastructure development, trade and logistics. The Mahindra Group today is an embodiment of global excellence and enjoys a strong corporate brand image.

Mahindra is the only Indian company among the top tractor brands in the world. It is today a full-range player with a presence in almost every segment of the automobile industry, from two-wheelers to CVs, UVs, SUVs and sedan. Mahindra recently acquired a majority stake in REVA Electric Car Co Ltd. (now called Mahindra REVA), strengthening its position in the Electric Vehicles domain.

The Mahindra Group expanded its IT portfolio when Tech Mahindra acquired the leading global business and information technology services company, Satyam Computer Services. The company is now known as Mahindra Satyam.

Mahindra is also one of the few Indian companies to receive an A+ GRI checked rating for its first Sustainability Report for the year 2007-08 and has also received the A+ GRI rating for the year 2008- 09