Growth — with a spirit of consistency, conservatism and conscience.
From a modest general store in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in the early 1920s to a diversified group spanning automobiles, real estate, industrial gases, and engineering, the M. K. Sanghi Group stands as a testament to vision, integrity, and enterprise. Founded by the late Seth Motilal Sanghi, a pioneer who introduced global automobile brands to princely India, the group has grown through the leadership of successive generations who combined entrepreneurial foresight with enduring values. Over a century later, the M. K. Sanghi Group continues to evolve, blending tradition with innovation across every venture, while upholding a singular commitment to quality, trust, and long-term relationships.
History & Legacy
The M. K. Sanghi Group had an extremely humble beginning. In the early 1920s, a young man from Jodhpur, Motilal Sanghi, decided to start a general merchandise shop after taking a loan of five thousand rupees. Driven by enthusiasm and a burning desire to be successful, he soon became the largest retailer in the state of Jodhpur and figured that if he could sell food and garments, he could also sell cars.
It was the era of the British Raj, and the only buyers of cars were the Maharajas and the Princes of the Royal States. Motilal not only established strong personal relations with these potential buyers but also obtained dealerships from General Motors, USA, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, England. He also began to sell a new car produced by Sir Herbert Austin in England called the Austin Seven.
By the 1940s, Seth Motilal Sanghi—as he had come to be known by then—had established a vast network for the sales, service and spare parts of cars. His network was spread over Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Mount Abu, Indore and Delhi.
Seth Motilal Sanghi also diversified into the nascent cinema business and was soon operating over ten movie theatres in North India. The aim was to use the cinema business as the bedrock for profitable real estate investments. During his lifetime, Motilal Sanghi also ventured into manufacturing industrial gases by setting up one of the first oxygen gas plants in Jaipur.
The legacy of Seth Motilal Sanghi was nurtured by his eldest son, Narendra Sanghi, who remained an active member of the Indian Parliament—the Lok Sabha—for over sixteen years. The business was further expanded and strengthened by Mahendra Sanghi, Seth Motilal Sanghi's youngest son.
In 1952, the Government of India asked all car manufacturers that did not have plans to manufacture cars in India to shut their operations. This resulted in the exit of auto manufacturers such as General Motors from India. Motilal had to virtually restart his operations and take on dealerships of the new Indian vehicle manufacturers such as Tata Motors (then known as Telco), Hindustan Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. In 1962, Mahendra Sanghi relocated from Jodhpur to Mumbai to establish the group’s presence in India’s commercial capital.
Over the ensuing years, the group took on new dealerships such as Mercedes-Benz and Maruti-Suzuki, expanded its real estate interests, consolidated its industrial gas business and diversified into manufacturing and engineering of industrial gas plants and power generation.
Business Portfolio
The M. K. Sanghi Group has five principal lines of business:
• Industrial Gas Manufacturing
• Engineering & Exports
• Automobile Distribution
• Real Estate & Hospitality
• Power Generation
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
The Gas Manufacturing division operates industrial gas plants in Maharashtra and Rajasthan, supplying oxygen, nitrogen, acetylene and other gases to various industries. Some of the group's industrial units supply oxygen to the flourishing steel industry and nitrogen to the packaging and pharmaceutical sectors. The group also operates dissolved acetylene plants for the steel cutting and welding industries.
Being a manufacturer of not only the gas but also the plant and machinery that produces such gases, Sanghi plants are some of the most efficiently run units in the country. The group has established a strong brand name which is synonymous with credibility, reliability and quality.
Engineering & Exports
The Engineering & Exports Division designs, builds and maintains industrial gas plants of varying capacities on a turnkey basis to customers within India as well as abroad. Sanghi Organization is a leading manufacturer of industrial gas plants such as oxygen plants, nitrogen plants, air separation plants and allied equipment.
Sanghi Organization's research, engineering and fabrication division is located in Taloja, Maharashtra. The sprawling complex has a line-up of modern facilities, including machinery, tooling and assembly. Sanghi Organization and its sister firm, Sanghi Overseas, have established over 400 such projects within India and at various locations overseas.
In 1991, Sanghi Overseas, started exporting projects on turnkey basis and has already setup projects in over 60 countries worldwide including Malaysia, Indonesia, Mauritius, Gambia, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Nigeria, Dubai, Uganda, Tanzania, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Sultanate of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Egypt, Honduras, Kenya, Chile, Cyprus, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, Portugal, Romania, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Libya, Zambia, Morocco etc. For more information about our Engineering & Exports business, please visit www.sanghioverseas.com.
Automobile Distribution
The Automobile Division operates dealerships in Mumbai. This includes sales, service, spares, car finance and insurance. Vitesse is a group company that is one of the oldest distributors for Maruti Suzuki India Limited. Vitesse has sold over 150,000 vehicles and operates showrooms and automobile workshops for this business in Mumbai.
In 1986, the group ran the first pilot program for providing car loans in India on behalf of Citibank. The program was a runaway success and resulted in the group becoming one of the largest brokers of personal finance products, including automobile loans and automobile insurance. For more information about Vitesse, please visit www.vitesseltd.com.
Real Estate & Hospitality
The Real Estate division builds, owns and leases a substantial portfolio of residential and commercial properties in Mumbai. The group has always had a strong presence in the hospitality business because of Seth Motilal Sanghi's forays into the cinema business and the auto distribution business, both of which required customer focus coupled with prime real estate.
From 1985 onwards, the group began to commercially build its hospitality investments by developing a prime residential apartment complex in the extremely high-priced South Mumbai area. This project consisted of 45,000 square feet of luxurious extended-stay suites and apartments in Malabar Hill, Mumbai’s most exclusive residential locality.
In 2002, the group developed another long-stay complex in Prabhadevi, the most central location of Mumbai. Located on a quiet, leafy and secluded road, this property consists of 12 super-deluxe apartments, each measuring 3,000 square feet. The group continues to be one of the large lessors of commercial space in Mumbai, over and above its residential portfolio.
The group is not a traditional develop-and-sell real estate player. We provide customers with extended-stay options ranging from twelve months to thirty-six. Our portfolio is well-managed, and customers get excellent housekeeping, engineering services, security, easy documentation and moving services. All our developments are solely for the purpose of earning long-term rentals through value addition. Each of our properties is exclusive, well-maintained and well-managed.
Power Generation
The Power Generation division is engaged in the production of renewable energy through the operation of wind turbines in the state of Rajasthan. The division’s current focus is on harnessing wind power in and around Jaisalmer, a region known for its exceptional wind potential and consistent wind speeds throughout the year. Strategically located to maximize energy yield, these turbines contribute to the generation of clean electricity that is supplied to the state grid. The initiative not only supports sustainable energy objectives but also aligns with India’s broader commitment to increasing the share of renewables in its overall energy mix.
Operating Entities
Although the M. K. Sanghi Group consists of companies and firms that are entirely privately held by the Sanghi family, the operational style is one of immense accountability and professionalism. Each business unit is headed by a CEO or Vice-President who reports to a specific member of the board of directors. The focus is on customer service and fiscal discipline.
Geographical markets served: India + 57 countries
Locations & Offices in India: 13 locations
Employees: 600+
Headquarters: Mumbai
Group Companies, Firms, Trusts:
- Vitesse Private Limited
- Sanghi Motors (Bombay) Private Limited
- Sanghi Organization
- Sarayu Investments Private Limited
- Kota Oxygen Private Limited
- Sanghi Udyog India Private Limited
- Sanghi Overseas
- Motilal G. Sanghi Charitable Trust
Directors
Mahendra Sanghi: Mahendra Sanghi is the Group Chairman. Born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Earlier education at Mayo College and graduated from Jodhpur University. He came to Mumbai in 1962 to establish the Group's presence in the commercial capital. Besides having been the President of the Indian Merchant's Chamber (one of Mumbai’s premier trade and industry associations), Rotary Club of Bombay (Main), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and the International Chamber of Commerce India Chapter, he has also been the President of The Associated Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM), which is the leading apex Chamber body in India and as Chairman of Bombay City Red Cross Society. At the International level, he has served as Executive Board Member of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris and Vice Chair of ICC World Chambers Federation, Paris, which is a leading World Organisation. He is currently a Committee Member of ICC World Chambers Federation Chair’s Circle, having its Headquarters in Paris, France. He is also a Member of Governing Body of Honorary Consular Corps Diplomatique (HCCD) – India, HCCD-Mumbai and Consular Corps Association Mumbai (CCAM) and a Member of IMC Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and other organisations. Besides these, he devotes substantial time to philanthropic work. He is also Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Mumbai, India.
Vaibhav Sanghi: Vaibhav Sanghi holds an MBA in Marketing from Boston College, Massachusetts, USA. As a key member of the leadership team, he oversees the group’s engineering and international trading divisions. Under his stewardship, these businesses have diversified into multiple sectors and expanded their footprint across global markets. A former President of the All-India Industrial Gas Manufacturers Association (AIIGMA), Vaibhav has played a pivotal role in shaping industry standards and advocating for innovation and sustainability within the gas sector. He has also spearheaded the group’s foray into turnkey project execution, enabling the company to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end engineering solutions. His vision and strategic acumen continue to drive the organization’s growth, efficiency, and technological advancement.
Ashwin Sanghi: Ashwin Sanghi holds an MBA in Finance from Yale University, Connecticut, USA. He oversees the group’s overseas ventures and real estate initiatives, guiding strategic investments and expansion in these verticals. His financial expertise and global outlook have been instrumental in diversifying the group’s portfolio building financial streams that align with long-term growth objectives. In addition to his business pursuits, Ashwin is counted among India’s highest-selling authors of English fiction. His dual engagement in enterprise and literature reflects a rare combination of analytical acumen and creative vision.
Manju Sanghi: Manju Sanghi, wife of Mahendra Sanghi, plays an active role in the family’s business enterprises and social initiatives. Over the years, she has contributed significantly to the strategic and philanthropic dimensions of the group’s activities. As a past President of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber Ladies’ Wing, she has been instrumental in promoting women’s entrepreneurship, professional development, and community welfare initiatives. Within the group, she primarily oversees its charitable and social responsibility efforts, ensuring that business success is matched by meaningful contributions to society. Her leadership in various philanthropic endeavours reflects a deep commitment to education and healthcare.
Social Commitment
In the 1960s, the M. K. Sanghi Group established the Motilal Sanghi Charitable Trust. The main objective of this trust is to contribute to society in part as the group progresses. The trust contributes funds to worthy causes in the fields of education, health care and sports.
Some of the projects undertaken and financed by the group include the complete renovation and refurbishment of several wings of the Breach Candy Hospital of Mumbai, as also the sponsorship of an entire wing of the Shanti Avedna Centre that looks after terminally ill cancer patients. In addition, the trust is one of the largest contributors to Annamrita which provides hot meals to children across public schools in India. India is a country of tremendous opportunities accompanied by many social problems. The group hopes to leverage its opportunities while contributing to solving some of the nation's problems.
Contact Information
We are headquartered in Mumbai at:
M. K. Sanghi Group
1 Turf View
Seth Motilal Sanghi Marg, Worli
Mumbai, Maharashtra 400018, India
Phone +91 22 2494 5464