Pre-GST sale: Car and bike companies offer huge discounts on last day

Key highlights:

• Maruti Suzuki's Alto is now being offered at a higher discount of Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000
• Tata Zest is being offered at a discount of Rs 70,000 to Rs 75,000
• Hyundai dealerships have increased their cash discount on the Eon to Rs 35,000-Rs 37,000

If you are still looking to car or a bike, this might be a last chance to get a discount on the price. With the goods and service tax (GST) to be rolled out at 12am midnight, today is the last day to avail the pre-GST sale being offered by car companies and two-wheelers who are looking to offload their inventory.

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While input tax credit is available on transition inventory, trade channels are unclear on the process for claiming these benefits and are liquidating stocks.

While luxury car makers such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi were the first to offer pre-GST sale, later we saw other car companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Honda Cars, Nissan, Mahindra & Mahindra and Ford India come out with various pre-GST sale.

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In fact, the discounts offered during these last few hours have increased significantly. For instance, Maruti Suzuki's Alto, which was earlier being offered at a pre-GST discount of Rs 30,000, is now being offered at a higher discount of Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000, said a Financial Express report. While Tata Zest is being offered at a discount of Rs 70,000 to Rs 75,000.

Even Maruti Swift is now being offered at a price that is Rs 25,000 less than what was offered at the start of the month. And the WagonR is now cheaper by Rs 30,000-32,000.

Hyundai dealerships have increased their cash discount on the Eon to Rs 35,000-Rs 37,000 from earlier Rs 30,000-Rs 32,000 earlier. Hyundai Grand i10 is being offered at a discounted price of Rs 22,000 to Rs 27,000 and even premium hatchbacks such as the Elite i20 are being offered by dealers at a lower price.

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Honda Cars India, on the other hand, is offering up to Rs 14,500 discount on its hatchback Brio, Rs 50,000 on compact sedan Amaze, Rs 17,000 on premium hatchback Jazz and Rs 60,000 on B-RV under a special scheme valid during June.

Japanese carmaker Nissan's dealers are also offering benefits of up to Rs 80,000 on sports utility vehicle Terrano and around Rs 25,000 on small car Micra.

Under the GST rates, cars will attract the top rate of 28 % with a cess in the range of 1-15 % on top of it.

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While small petrol cars with engine less than 1,200 cc will attract 1 % cess, that with a diesel engine of less than 1,500 cc will attract 3 % cess.

Large cars with engine greater than 1,500 cc and SUVs with length more than 4 metres and engine greater than 1,500 cc will attract a cess of 15 %.

Besides the discounts on the prices of the cars, dealerships are offering other pre-GST deals such as exchange offers, freebies, free insurance and loyalty programmes.

Bike companies such as Bajaj Auto is offered discounts of up to Rs 4,500. The Bajaj Pulsar RS200 is being offered at a discount of Rs 2,700, the Pulsar 220 is offered at Rs 2,000 and the Avenger 220 at Rs 1,800.

Royal Enfield as well as the UM Motorcycles and TVS are also offering huge discounts on their bikes, other than loyalty programs and other benefits.