Mahindra will announce the price for its newest SUV-Thar on October 2. The car as its parent Mahindra claims comes with a choice of engines- a 152hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol along with a 132hp, 2.2-litre diesel.

Mahindra held an open online auction for the first unit of the Thar, raising funds for COVID-19 relief work.

As the auction progressed, the demand escalated and unexpectedly touched the Rs 1 crore mark on Tuesday morning. Being the last day of the auction, the bidders jumped at the #1 vehicle calling for numbers one after the other. Akash Minda from New Delhi started the Rs 1crore trend, hitting past the landmark number. However, his competitor from Medinapur, Abhishek Datta bid for Rs 1.07 crore. Arun from Chennai took the number to Rs 1.09 crore only to see Minda back into the contest with a Rs 1.11 crore figure.

The top bidder, hence the winner of the auction will be announced on October 2, when Mahindra announces the official price of the vehicle. The Mahindra Thar #1 has already garnered interest from more than 5,444 registered individuals, while the number of bids made have not yet been disclosed. 

The money from the auction will go to a COVID-19 related relief cause, the #GetToGive message of Mahindra says. The winner can choose the charitable organisation from the following list: Naandi Foundation, which is working to create sustainable livelihoods in the food and agriculture sectors in a post COVID-19 world through upskilling, Swades Foundation, which is building rural life and livelihoods as part of its COVID-19 relief & recovery programme and PM Cares Fund. Mahindra will match the amount raised at the auction and the entire proceeds will be donated to a charitable organization supporting COVID-19 relief.