With Dussehra, being one of the most auspicious festivals for the Indian people, it’s time to buy new things ranging from apartments to white goods to cars and two wheelers and to replace the old with the new. It is also time to bless instruments and tools that are used for daily living and hence marigold garlands are draped around them. This is also when florists make an extra buck.
The Directorate of Transport, Margao, is squeezed for time to meet the mad rush of registration for Dussehra. About 976 vehicles of all categories have been registered till the auspicious day.
Booking of Dio and Activa was temporarily stopped. “Generally the booking demand is for around 58 to 60 scooters and delivery in about three months, but this time it has crossed 900,” said Mr Vinay Kuncoliencar. He adds: “Sad to say, we were not able to meet all our customers demand on this auspicious day of gifting.”
Automobile companies in Goa are rolling out the gifts and putting on the extra accessories. In this September alone, Goa Motors Pvt Ltd, the Hyundai dealer rolled out 130 cars. And for Dussehra it sold 40 cars, according to Mr Avadhoot Zarapkar. Auto Industries Goa has sold 120 FIAT Linea, since its 9 months launch, and as many Tata Indica. For the auspicious day, it delivered more than 10 cars both FIAT and Tata Indica, said a salesman.
“This Dussehra has been great for us. We are rolling out over 35 cars,” said the busy Mr Elvin Martins, manager sales of Coastal Honda, the Verna showroom.
Ever since Reserve Bank of India has announced lower interest rates early this year on vehicle loans, it has pushed up demand for four wheelers in Goa, in trend with other parts of India. “Moreover, petrol and diesel prices have also been reduced. Overall it is stimulating demand,” said Mr Pradeep Naik, the Suzuki two wheeler dealer in Panaji.
Sai Service Station, one of the leading dealers of Maruti Suzuki, claims to have sold over 3,300 cars in Goa, including pre owned and new ones. The company is aiming for 4,500 in 2009. “For every 1000 new cars, we sell about 200 pre owned cars or 20 per cent,” its manager – sales Mr Shivanand Sakchalkar. For Dussehra, the Sai Service claims to have sold over 500 cars, both own and pre owned.
In India, Maruti Suzuki sold a total of 84,808 vehicles in August 2009, growing 41.6 per cent in the month. This includes exports of 14,847 units, the highest ever monthly export in the company’s history, a company release said.
Source:Navhind Times
