Calcutta, Aug 11 :    Calcutta, Aug 11:  Mercedes-Benz, the German maker of cars long seen as enduring symbols of social stature and emblems of regal opulence, has picked up Siddharth Automobiles as its dealer in the city after a hunt that lasted close to four years. Mercedes-Benz India (MBIL), a 100 per cent subsidiary of the German auto major, will return to the city with greater vigour: it will offer the city's rich and famous new models. MBIL managing director and chief executive officer, Juergen Ziegler, will inaugurate next week the outlet which will sell the E-Class Mercedes (made at the company's Pune plant), and the MB 100 vans. The vans, costing Rs 14 lakh, will be will be imported as completely built units (CBU). The premium S-Class Mercedes-Benz cars, priced at a staggering Rs 65 lakh, will also be launched in September. Unlike the vans, this model will be manufactured in the country. Mercedes Benz India had been without a dealer in the city since late 1996 when its sales contract with Telco was terminated. French Motor Car Company was dealing in Mercedes, along with Telco vehicles. It stopped doing so after the Tatas, which pulled out as a joint venture partner in Mercedes Benz India (MBIL), barred the dealer from selling India-made or imported Mercedes cars. Companies and assorted multi-franchisee car dealers threw their hats in the ring to bag the dealership in a city that boasts of 400 Mercedes cars. To that number, add another 100 cars in other parts of the region. Loyalka, whose dealership ranges from two wheelers to six wheelers, is thrilled at having bagged the rights to sell Mercedes cars. 'I have already learnt a lot while securing the Merc dealership. I look forward to learn more,' he beamed. Earlier, Mercedes Benz tried a number of city car dealers, including the Bothras of Bothra Ford, to sell their vehicles as an interim arrangement but none of them were formally given the dealership. Later, the company started operating from Car Craft, a workshop authorised to service its vehicles. Car Craft, which earlier sold Daewoo cars, is also among those keen on the Mercedes dealership. Around 20 car owners responded to the Mercedes Benz India's offer for exchange of old models. With a reasonable fleet of cars - of which a large number are old enough to need regular servicing - MBIL cannot afford to function without a regular dealer and authorised service vendor.