Ahmedabad, October 17, 2025: The Jain community in India, through the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO), recently executed a massive luxury car purchase deal, acquiring 186 high-end vehicles worth ₹149.54 crorewhile securing a total discount of ₹21.22 crore. The unprecedented bulk purchase highlights the growing trend of community buying in India, where collective bargaining power translates into significant savings for members.

The Mega Car Deal

The cars, priced between ₹60 lakh and ₹1.34 crore, were purchased across India, with a significant share of buyers hailing from Gujarat, particularly Ahmedabad. To maximize benefits for members, JITO collaborated with dealers from 15 major automobile brands, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and others, negotiating discounts based on the assured volume of sales.

Himanshu Shah, vice-chairman of JITO Apex, explained the rationale behind the initiative: “Community buying gives us power to bargain harder. Brands benefit from assured volumes and lower marketing costs, while members get savings. In this drive alone, members bought luxury cars worth ₹149.54 crore, saving ₹21.22 crore collectively.”

The deal exemplifies how community-based initiatives can combine financial prudence with social cohesion, providing members access to luxury goods at lower costs while giving brands guaranteed sales.

Expansion of Community Buying Beyond Cars

Following the success of this car purchase, JITO has created a dedicated wing for community buying and plans to expand group deals to other product categories, including electronics, medicines, and jewellery. This approach not only leverages collective bargaining power but also encourages members to participate actively in financially beneficial ventures.

Community buying is gaining traction beyond the Jain community. For example, the Bharwad community in Gujarathas applied the concept to empower youth and promote self-employment. The Bharwad Yuva Sangathan Gujaratpooled resources to book 121 JCB machines, securing an average discount of ₹3.3 lakh per machine, totaling savings of around ₹4 crore.

Dilip Bharwad, president of the Sangathan, highlighted the initiative’s social impact: “Our campaign helps the youth start their own ventures. Those without strong credit scores got JCBs at zero down payment, based only on PAN and Aadhaar verification, with the community standing guarantee for repayment.”

Why Community Buying Works

The model of community buying offers multiple benefits:

• Discounts and Savings: Large orders allow negotiators to secure significant price reductions.
• Assured Sales for Brands: Brands benefit from guaranteed volumes, lowering marketing costs and inventory risks.
• Financial Inclusion: Members who might otherwise lack access to credit can participate in high-value purchases with community support.
• Empowerment and Cohesion: The model strengthens community bonds and provides opportunities for members to engage in collective economic ventures.

JITO, with around 65,000 members nationwide, has shown that organized community networks can negotiate effectively with brands, demonstrating that collective consumer power can achieve outcomes often inaccessible to individual buyers.

Luxury Market and Cultural Significance

The initiative also reflects changing patterns in India’s luxury goods market, where group buying is emerging as a strategic approach to access high-value items affordably. In addition to financial benefits, it strengthens community identity and encourages members to participate in mutual support systems.

The success of this initiative has sparked interest among other communities, indicating that group-based purchasing models may become more common in India across multiple sectors. It aligns with broader trends of cooperative economics, social networking, and empowerment, where communities leverage their collective strength for tangible benefits.

Looking Ahead

JITO plans to continue expanding its community buying initiatives, potentially extending to sectors such as healthcare, consumer electronics, and jewellery, where bulk purchases can significantly reduce costs for members. Similarly, the Bharwad Yuva Sangathan’s model demonstrates how community-driven ventures can provide both economic and social upliftment, particularly for young entrepreneurs and those with limited access to credit.

Experts suggest that such initiatives not only benefit community members financially but also promote local business engagement, as bulk orders often encourage collaborations with domestic dealers and manufacturers. The combination of strategic buying, social solidarity, and financial discipline makes community buying a compelling model for India’s evolving consumer landscape.