GST, Ashada combine to make cars cheaper

With the advent of GST, car prices have come down at the city’s showrooms. DH visited car dealers across the city, and found them combining GST benefits with Ashada deals.

Many in Karnataka avoid big-ticket purchases in the month of Ashada, and auto dealers offer deals and discounts to beat the slump. Ashada concludes on July 23.

GST has brought cheer to the trade, which expects sales to pick up in a big way. Maruti Suzuki cars are cheaper by up to Rs 70,000.

The Maruti Alto 800 VXI’s on-road price is now Rs 4.11 lakh (earlier Rs 4.18 lakh). The current on-road price of Maruti’s popular SUV Vitara Brezza ZDI+ (dual colour) is Rs 11.83 lakh (earlier Rs 12.78 lakh).

The country’s largest carmaker is also offering other benefits of up to Rs 60,000 on select models. “With a reduced ex-showroom price, other taxes have also come down. Customers have been making bookings even though it’s the month of Ashada,” a manager at a Maruti Suzuki showroom said.

Hyundai is also offering deals. The petrol Hyundai Grand i10 Sportz (O) AT (M) is now priced Rs 8.27 lakh in Bengaluru (earlier Rs 8.43 lakh). The diesel SUV Creta 1.6 SX (O) comes for Rs 17.63 lakh (Rs 18.44 lakh) earlier. The South Korean major is offering benefits up to Rs 2.5 lakh.

Toyota Kirloskar’s prices have come down by up to 13%. “The price decrease in Bengaluru for Etios Liva is up to Rs 10,500 and for Fortuner up to Rs 2.17 lakh. The Corolla Altis has witnessed a price dip of up to Rs 92,500,” director and senior vice president N Raja said.

The diesel Etios VXD’s is now priced at Rs 8.78 lakh (earlier Rs 9.02 lakh), while the Innova Crysta ZX 7S AT comes for Rs 20.61 lakh (earlier Rs 21.6 lakh).  GST benefits add up to Rs 2.18 lakh.