From importing Chrysler and GM cars to bringing Maruti Suzuki to Belagavi, the Deshpande family’s automobile journey enters its fourth generation as Kapil Deshpande joins the business.
Belagavi: For the Deshpande family, automobiles have been more than just a business. They have been a four-generation family legacy, evolving with changing times, brands, and customer expectations.
The latest chapter in that journey begins on Monday with the inauguration of the new Mangesh Motors Maruti Suzuki Arena showroom at Devrajya, Khanapur Road, Camp, Belagavi. More than just an expansion of the dealership business, the move also marks the formal entry of the family’s fourth generation, with Kapil Deshpande joining the business.
The development reflects how a family-run enterprise, built over decades, is adapting to a new automobile market while bringing in the next generation to take the business forward.
The family’s association with automobiles dates back to when owning a car was rare in this region. It began with Shri G.C. Deshpande, who imported Chrysler and General Motors cars into the region. The next generation, led by Shri Rajabhau Deshpande and his brothers, expanded the business through Lambretta scooters, Suvega mopeds and Standard cars.
The business evolved further when Rohit Deshpande took up the Kinetic Honda two-wheeler dealership in 1990. In 2002, Mangesh Honda became one of the first-phase Honda two-wheeler dealers in India. The dealership completes 25 years with Honda in Belagavi this year.
The family subsequently entered the passenger car segment with a Honda Cars dealership in 2015. Now, in 2026, the addition of Maruti Suzuki Arena marks another significant step.
A new generation, a new direction
While the earlier generations built the business through changing automobile brands and customer relationships, the entry of Kapil Deshpande signals the next phase of the family’s journey.
The decision to bring Maruti Suzuki into the dealership portfolio is significant. With around 42% of the Indian passenger vehicle market, Maruti Suzuki is the country’s largest carmaker. The new Arena showroom will bring its range of cars to customers in Belagavi under the Mangesh Motors banner.
For Kapil, the challenge is to carry forward an established name while taking decisions that respond to today’s market.
“For our family, automobiles have always been about people, not just machines. I am proud to carry this legacy into its fourth generation with a brand that Indian families love and trust,” said Kapil Deshpande.
His entry comes at a time when the automobile business is undergoing significant changes, with evolving customer preferences, new technologies and increasing competition. The addition of another major automobile brand indicates the family’s intent to expand its presence rather than simply rely on its established dealerships.
From petrol pumps to selling the Maruti 800
For Rohit Deshpande, the new showroom also brings back memories of an earlier chapter.
“Forty-two years ago, I was fresh out of college when my father handed me the keys of our petrol pump. In those days, I asked my staff to give special treatment to every Maruti 800 that came in to refuel. I never imagined that one day I would be selling that same car in a new avatar,” he said.
“Belagavi has trusted our family for four decades, and this showroom is our way of serving the city better.”
Over the last 35 years, more than 2.5 lakh vehicles from the Mangesh Motors stable have found their way onto the roads of Belagavi and neighbouring regions.
That customer base and the family’s long association with the automobile trade provide the foundation for its latest expansion.
An inauguration marking a new milestone
The new Maruti Suzuki Arena showroom will be inaugurated by Padma Shri Dr. Prabhakar Kore, former Chairman of KLE Society and former Rajya Sabha member. Industrialist and automobile component manufacturer Ram Bhandare and Dr Sachin Sabnis, Managing Director of Belgaum Ferrocast India Pvt. Ltd. and Independent Director on the IRCTC board, will attend as Guests of Honour.
The showroom is located at Devrajya, Khanapur Road, Camp, Belagavi.
For the Deshpande family, the occasion is not merely about adding another automobile brand. It represents the continuation of a business that has adapted through generations — from importing some of the earliest cars into the region to operating dealerships for some of India’s leading automobile manufacturers.
With the fourth generation now joining the business, Mangesh Motors is looking at its next chapter, carrying forward the family name while making room for new ideas and decisions.