Cars come cheapest in low-tax Goa

| 28 January 1999 10:22 IST

Goa can be the best market to buy the four-wheelers, especially the Tata Indica, which has created waves throughout the country as the tourist state offers the lowest prices for all its models.

Tata Indica's petrol car is sold here for only Rs 2,47,288, almost Rs 16,000 less than the Mumbai prices and even Rs 7000 less than the cheapest market of Pune (Rs 2,54,600). In fact, its air-conditioned diesel deluxe model is sold for Rs 21,000 less than the Bangalore market.

The prime reason for lowest range of prices in Goa is only seven per cent sales tax charged, compared to other states. This obviously attracts buyers from neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka, which turns out to be a major revenue earner for the state than the Goan market.

"But surprisingly, hardly any outsider has booked Tata Indica this time", says S Khedekar, the sales manager of N D Naik Associates. Going beyond their expectation of maximum 700, nearly 1000 bookings have already been made in the tiny tourist state, only by Goans.

With the cheapest ever prices offered by an indigenous car, maximum rush in Goa has been for the A/C diesel model since its cost, Rs 2,82,220, has been much less than the standard diesel car sold in Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore, ranging between Rs 2.85 lakh to Rs 2.90 lakh.

Obviously, the biggest price benefit lies in buying the A/C diesel deluxe where the price difference is between Rs 12,000 (Pune) to Rs 25,000 (Mumbai), except in Calcutta where it is costlier by only Rs 6000. It costs Rs 16,000 more in Delhi, while the Bangalore market is Rs 21,000 higher.

Especially among the neighbouring states, the difference of prices in Maharashtra (Mumbai) is between Rs 16,000 to Rs 25,000 for all the models while in Karnataka it is between Rs 14,000 to Rs 21,000. Even Pune's cheapest market is costlier, ranging between Rs 7000 to Rs 12,000.

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