The Hindu Business Line : Year-end deals swamp car market

For most passenger car companies, sales during December tend to flag due to customers postponing their purchase decision to the New Year. This is a worldwide phenomenon, though, of course, unlike in India, in markets such as the US and in Western Europe, that is more due to the new model featuring a number of additions or changes compared to the outgoing model.

This year is no different and a number of car manufacturers have rolled out offers and special deals to woo customers into their showrooms during December. Here are a few of them.

Ford's `December Dhamaka': Ford India is offering a sporty pack of goodies along with each variant of the Fiesta sedan. As part of its `December Dhamaka' offer, which is valid till December 25, Ford is also offering a free in-car DVD player with the Endeavour SUV.

On the Ford Ikon, the company is offering the first year insurance free and the Fusion buyer will get the classic pack free, which includes a Kenwood MP3 music player with four speakers, mud flaps, floor mats and a boot mat.

Some of these offers are applicable on certain conditions being met. Contact the nearest Ford dealer for more details.

Mega savings with GM: Not to be left behind, GM dealers have also come out with a mega savings offer.

Optra buyers can get exchange bonuses and price-offs totalling about Rs 1 lakh depending on the variant.

Exchange bonus, loyalty bonus and low EMI finance deals are also being offered with the Aveo sedan, the Tavera MPV and the sports hatch SRV. The offers are valid till December 26.

Hyundai's year-end offers: Hyundai Motor India's dealers are offering special lowered prices and price-offs on three of the company's models — the Santro Xing, Getz and the Accent.

Called December Magic, the offers are valid only for this month. Prices vary from city to city and from State to State based on local taxes and octroi.

The limited period offer also includes special benefits to corporates/ PSU/ Central and State Government employees; and exchange benefits of Rs10,000 as an extra.

Potential sedan buyers who are considering the Hyundai Verna will need to remember that the company's planned offer period for the car's introductory price will end soon.

Other deals: Other manufacturers, including Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra (for the Scorpio) and Toyota (on the Corolla), are offering price-off deals for vehicles that are part-financed.

Toyota plans price increase

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is planning to raise the prices of all its products currently sold in India — Toyota Innova, Corolla, Camry and the Prado.

Mr K. K. Swamy, Deputy Managing Director, TKM, has said that this increase has been necessitated by the several cost adjustments that the company had done this year across all its products. "Input costs have been rising over the year and we have been accommodating them till now.

However, we are now forced to pass on a portion of the increase to the customers. The exact quantum of the increase is yet to be finalised, it could be between one-to-two per cent of the vehicle cost."

The current prices (all ex-showroom, Delhi) are: Toyota Innova — Rs 7.27 lakh to Rs 10.30 lakh; Toyota Corolla — Rs 9.95 lakh to Rs 11.58 lakh; Toyota Camry — Rs 20.48 lakh to Rs 22.10 lakh; and Toyota Land Cruiser Prado — Rs. 39.28 lakh.

Others too plan hikes: Other car manufacturers are also planning to hike prices right after the New Year. So, if you are planning to buy a new car you should be headed to the nearest showroom now to place an order for the car of your choice, though almost immediately after the price increase, discounts being offered by many car dealers may also go up.

S. Muralidhar

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