Automobile prices rise by up to Rs 800,000
KATHMANDU, FEB 23 -
Car buyers, here’s something to add to your Monday morning blues: almost all automobile dealers have raised the prices.
The latest price list shows that four-wheelers imported from third countries have become dearer by Rs 300,000 to Rs 800,000, while those imported from India now cost Rs 25,000 to Rs 100,000 more.
Dealers of Hyundai, Ford, Mahindra, Toyota, Honda, Skoda, Volkswagen and Daihatsu have hiked prices of all their models, while dealers of Maruti-Suzuki and Tata have jacked up the prices of selected models.
The price rise here, according to auto dealers, is because of the rise in the prices in source countries. For example, Indian automobile majors raised the prices in January, citing increment in the prices of raw materials.
“Prices of vehicles imported from India have gone up following the increment in the prices in India,” said Rupesh Sharma Bhatta, senior manager-business development and planning at Laxmi Intercontinental, representative of Hyundai cars in Nepal. “And, prices of cars arriving from third countries have gone up due to the dollar effect, which made us pay more at the customs.”
Laxmi Intercontinental, one of the country’s largest four-wheeler sellers, has increased the prices of vehicles imported from India by around Rs 60,000, while prices of Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs have gone up by Rs 300,000 and Rs 400,000, respectively. The company imports Santro, i10 and i20 cars from India, while Tucson and Santa Fe come from Korea.
Go Ford has also revised the prices of Ford vehicles. According to Akash Golchha, executive director of Go Ford, the importer of Ford vehicles, the company was compelled to adjust rates after the prices rose in India.
“Nepal’s automobile market has remained in a slump ever since the introduction of Ford vehicles. Therefore, we were trying our best not to hike prices,” Golchha said. “But we could not hold on to the old rates due to the rise in the prices in India and fluctuation in the exchange rate.”
Prices of Ford vehicles have gone up by Rs 25,000 to Rs 110,000. Ford Ranger and Classic, which come from Thailand, have become expensive by Rs 25,000 to Rs 115,000.
Arun Intercontinental, authorised dealer of Maruti-Suzuki, has raised the price of Maruti Suzuki Eeco, while it plans to hike the prices of other models soon.
According to Uttam Gupta, senior manager at Arun Intercontinental, the company has maintained the same price since 2010, and it will adjust the prices of fresh vehicles. Maruti Suzuki India increased the prices of cars by 0.3 to 3.4 percent in January. Dealers, however, say the rise in automobile prices will not have a negative impact on the market, as the prices of all the brands have gone up and the rise is marginal. “Only the vehicles imported from third countries may suffer,” said Bhatta.
Source: Kantipur
