DCAvanti2008

The seed of the Avanti was sown with the DC ‘S’ showcased at the 2008 Auto Expo at Delhi. The huge interest and response propelled us to think of developing a Sports car.

DCAvanti2011

Effective ground work, market research and feasibility studies lead to a drawing board version of the envisaged sports car.

DCAvanti2012

DC Design showcased the ‘AVANTI’ a brand new avatar. This car, christened the ‘Avanti’, was shown to a rapturous audience and was critically acclaimed. This response further convinced DC Design to launch this product in a niche segment.

DCAvanti2013

Through the year 2013, the focus was on finalizing the design and engineering aspects of the Avanti. All vendor components were finalized and design and engineering was being calibrated around these components.

DCAvanti2014

As per plan, the first pre–production Avanti was showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo as the final designed, engineered and produced version of the original 2012 concept. While this version was unmistakably identifiable as the 2012 Avanti concept, in effect there are no two parts in common with the original concept.

DCAvanti2015

The DC Avanti finally hit the Indian roads in 2015, after it successfully cleared all safety tests prescribed by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

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About Avanti

DC Avanti Story

At launch, the DC Avanti drew a lot of attention for its bold looks and the pride of being a ‘Made in India’ sports car. While many praised its design, others felt it lacked the refinement and features expected from a car in its price range.

 

DC Avanti is arguably the biggest scam in the history of the Indian automobile industry. It was orchestrated by the mastermind and owner of DC, Dilip Chhabria. Chhabria is a well-known and accomplished name in the Indian automobile industry. After completing his degree, Chhabria began customizing cars, attracting many renowned celebrities as his clients. He is also credited with designing the famous ‘Tarzan’ car for a movie released in 2004.

 

After years in automobile design, Dilip Chhabria ventured into car manufacturing. In 2015, DC launched India’s first sports car, the DC Avanti. This two-door, two-seater model was offered in a single trim with a range of optional extras. Its body was made of carbon composite material and was based on a high-strength steel chassis." However, the DC Avanti wasn’t a luxurious offering, and its standard features were limited to comforts like air conditioning, power windows, electrically adjustable outside rear-view mirrors, and faux leather upholstery. In terms of safety features, the Avanti offers disc brakes on all four wheels with ABS and a 3-point seatbelt. However, the car did not have airbags.

The Avanti Scam (Controversy)

In 2020, Mumbai Police began investigating a DC Avanti found with suspicious registration details. They discovered that the same engine and chassis number were registered to another car in Haryana, raising serious concerns.

 

Further investigation revealed that DC Design had allegedly taken multiple car loans - averaging ₹42 lakh per vehicle—by posing as customers for their own cars. It was reported that around 90 of the 120 Avantis sold were financed in this way. This was reportedly done to avoid high taxes on premium cars.

 

On December 28, 2020, Dilip Chhabria was arrested by Mumbai Police’s CIU (Crime Intelligence Unit) for his alleged involvement in the fraud. His arrest marked the downfall of the DC brand, and production of the Avanti was stopped.

 

Apart from the scam, another major reason for discontinuing the production of the DC Avanti was its failure to comply with strict automotive safety regulations. To illustrate, the car lacked basic safety features, such as airbags.