Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 29: After the outbreak of coronavirus infection, people have been rarely moving out. Most people who had planned to acquire new cars have postponed their plans. Therefore, there has been a spurt in the demand for old cars at prices less than five lac rupees. As a result, it is said that there is a shortage of old cars in the market.

Old car dealers say that after the lockdown, there has been an increase in people making enquiries about old cars. Cars commanding a price of less than two lac rupees are in high demand. Many customers want to buy cars for less than Rs 2.5 lac and as many are thinking on these lines, there is a shortage of old cars,  they confess. An agent from here said that mostly they got old cars from Bengaluru but of late people are not selling their cars. Therefore, he says, the supply of old cars to the coast has dried up.

One of the car dealers said no one expected the old cars to be in such a demand. He said that there has been a 50 per cent hike in demand for cars between three and five lac rupees. He reasoned that because of the need to maintain social distance, only one or two can travel in a car. Therefore, people prefer to own old cars, he stated.

Another dealer, says that people are wary of using public transport and that is the reason for the increase in the demand for cars. He said that old cars priced between eight and ten lac rupees are not available in the market. The dealers agree that only those who are finding it impossible to pay equated monthly instalments are now selling their cars.

It is also said that old motorbikes are in demand now.  There was an increase in the number of bikes getting registered last month. Therefore, it is said, motorbikes meant for scrap are now being repaired in garages for sale.