Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 5: The sale of vehicles which had almost come to a grinding halt with the announcement of coronavirus-related lockdown, has been gaining momentum from the last two months. During the last two months, sale of cars and two-wheelers in the twin districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada has peaked.

With the announcement of Unlock, life is sliding back to normalcy and the financial condition of the people is improving. At the same time, fear perception about travelling by public transport systems like buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis has not yet been overcome. Therefore, more people want to have their own vehicles. The government too has asked the banks to bring down the interest rate on vehicles and housing loans. As such, those who were earlier considering the option of having a vehicle, and those who put off their plans in the backdrop of corona pandemic have been showing interest in possessing vehicles now.

Heads of vehicle showrooms in Mangaluru and Udupi agree that there has been a marked increase in the number of people visiting their showrooms for making enquiries. Many could not buy vehicles on Akshaya Tritiya because of lockdown. As such, the sales really went up steeply during the Navaratri festival. Compared to the same period last year, the sales have registered nearly 20 per cent increase on an average, they admit.

After the Covid pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of people using their own vehicles. Those who owned cars now are buying two-wheelers to save cost. Demand has gone up by nearly 25 per cent, and a high number of vehicles were sold in September. However, the sales were down in October as there was not enough supply to meet the demand. Still, the sale of two-wheelers has soared after the lockdown period says Umesh Bhat, general manager (sales), at Pai Sales, Chilimbi.

Luxury cars lack demand: The demand for cars is particularly gone up for those which can be acquired by the middle-income group. There is a slump in demand for luxury cars. After corona, only a few cars were sold. Cars may get more demand from January onward, says the manager of a car showroom in Mangaluru.

15% in Udupi: Compared to last year, the sale of two-wheelers in Udupi district has gone up by 14.7 per cent whereas there has been a 39 per cent increase in car sales.

Shashidhar Karanth, deputy general manager (sales) Mandovi Motors says that an increase in demand for cars has been noticed over the last two months and the turnover is heading towards returning to the pre-pandemic stage. One of the reasons may be the relaxing of certain criteria and interest rate by the government, he feels.

R M Varnekar regional transport officer, Mangaluru, says that before the lockdown, about a hundred to 120 vehicles were being registered every day. He said that the situation is returning to that level now with a high number of two-wheelers being registered. Car registrations too have picked up, he admits.