Steep car discounts mark H1, two-wheeler sales hold firm in rural India

Passenger vehicle makers are offering deep discounts to clear unsold 2024 stock, while two-wheeler companies stay cautious amid steady demand and manageable inventories

As India’s auto industry moves through the first half of the calendar year, a clear divergence has emerged in the way discounts are being offered. While passenger vehicles (PVs) are being sold at steep discounts to clear last year’s inventory, two-wheeler (2W) manufacturers are taking a more restrained approach thanks to healthy retail demand and “manageable” inventory levels. 

Carmakers Tata Motors, Volkswagen, Skoda, Renault, Jeep, and Nissan have discounts ranging from ₹70,000 to ₹2 lakh for various electric vehicles and SUVs; Hyundai has slashed the price of Ioniq 5, a premium electric SUV, by ₹4 lakh, while Mahindra is offering