PANAJI
As the lockdown has brought the already struggling auto industry to its knees, the four-wheeler sales in the state have dropped 40-50 per cent this month. The state automobile sellers apprehend that this sale may drop further in the coming months with a hike in fuel prices.
"The four-wheeler sales have dropped 40-50 per cent this month. Although this is due to the lockdown and cannot be correlated with fuel price rise. We are apprehensive that the car sales may further decrease due to petrol-diesel price rise," said Prashant Joshi, President of Goa Automobile Dealers Association.
Joshi said the automobile industry has slowed down all over the country.
He, however, said the fuel price rise may not affect the two-wheeler sale as people who require an independent transport mode will have to opt for two-wheelers.
Joshi said that last year the Goa government moves to provide a 50 per cent concession on registration tax has benefitted the sales.
"If the government introduces these types of schemes again, it will be beneficial for the automobile business," Joshi said, adding that it is up to the government to take such a decision.
Joshi, however, said that the present decrease in sales of automobiles cannot be attributed to fuel price rise, but the sales have decreased due to the curfew.
When questioned about the option of electrical cars, Joshi said that it will take much time to shift from fuel-based automobiles to electric automobiles as electric cars are costlier than fuel cars. Also, the refilling of batteries is an issue. Reliability is also an issue with present electric vehicles.
