21 July,2011 07:01 AM IST | | A Correspondent
140 imported cars such as Chrysler and Daimler-Benz have been registered at Pimpri-Chinchwad RTO since March
The rich and elite seem to be going great guns and show no signs of being bogged down by soaring inflation and skyrocketing fuel prices. The Regional Transport Office in Pimpri-Chinchwad witnessed registration of around 140 imported high-end vehicles and five superbikes since March. According to officials from the RTO, the number has been steadily increasing on average of 5 per cent every year. An official from the transport department said that rich people had now started buying new luxury brands in a departure from the popular trend of purchasing tried and tested brands.
Stiff competition: New entrants such as Nissan and America Chrysler
are giving stalwarts like Mercedes-Benz a run for their money.
Representation pic
An RTO official from the transport section said, "Brands like Nissan and America Chrysler are now gaining popularity among a certain section of buyers. "Several Nissan and Chrysler vehicles have been registered in the past few months. Popular Nissan vehicles, include the SUVs like X-Trail and the luxury sedan Teana, which costs not less than Rs 25 Lakh."
"These companies have recently entered the Indian market where Mercedes-Benz has been predominantly popular. Other German car-makes such as BMW, Audi and Volkswagen are still popular, but they are purchased by a very elite group of buyers unlike the 'neo-rich' category.
Very few young upwardly mobile customers purchase a brand like BMW," said the official. The streets of Pimpri-Chinchwad have also seen the 'mother of all SUVs' Hummers. The American brand costing more than Rs 80 Lakh, which also has several variants, including one used by the US military. At least two cars worth more than Rs 1 crore has been registered at the RTO since last year.
