Cars to get more affordable

With excise duties slashed in the interim budget, down from 12 to 8 percent for small cars, two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, from 24 to 20 percent for mid-size saloons and from 30 to 24 percent for SUVs -- taxed the heaviest last time round -- some carmakers have already started responding and have announced a lowering of prices across entire product ranges. 

 

According to reports, Maruti will reduce prices of its cars. However, the new price list is yet to be released. 

 

Mercedes-Benz India has also declared a price revision and the C-class Avantgarde edition will now cost Rs 39.35 lakh, down from Rs 39.90 lakh. The mammoth GL-class SUV will now cost Rs 2 lakh less.

 

India's currently top ranking luxury carmaker, Audi, is also reportedly bringing prices down of its top-end Q7 SUV by a little more than Rs 3 lakh, from Rs 82.11 lakh to Rs 78.28 lakh. The base Q7 (assembled here) is now likely to be offered for Rs 58.34 lakh.

 

In the two-wheeler sector, a reduction in duty from 12 to 8 per cent is likely to lead to similar price cuts.

 

Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India has just announced that it will pass on the full benefit of 4 percent excise duty reduction, starting from Rs 1,600 on the Dream Neo and going up to Rs 7,600 on the CBR 250R.

 

DSK-Hyosung has also issued a statement saying that it will pass on the benefits to customers and it's likely that the range could become cheaper by Rs 10,000-12,000.

 

 

 

Japanese auto giant Nissan has issued a statement saying its cars like the Micra, Micra Active and Sunny will become cheaper by 4 percent. SUVs like Terrano are expected to be around 6 percent less expensive. Large sedans like the Teana will enjoy benefits in price by 3 percent.

 

 

Hero MotoCorp has also announced that its two-wheelers will become cheaper by 4-6 percent with the maximum benifit being upto Rs 4,500. 

 

 

Hyundai has reduced prices of all its models ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1,35,000 across the range with immediate effect.

 

 

​Prices for the Volkswagen Polo have been reduced by Rs 18,000-Rs 31,000. For the Vento, prices have been reduced by Rs 14,500-Rs 27,000. Jetta prices have been reduced by Rs 38,000-Rs 51,000.

 

 

Mahindra has slashed prices of all its models ranging from Rs 13,000 to Rs 49,000 while the SsangYong Rexton SUV sees a price cut of Rs 92,000