The Delhi Government seems to be serious about controlling air pollution. After working on a very interesting, although controversial, odd-even scheme, they have decided to use their brains and have reduced VAT on hybrid and electric vehicles. These environment friendly vehicles had a tax rate of 12.5 per cent, which has now been reduced to 5 per cent.
Thanks to this, several automakers have been able to reduce the prices of their hybrid and semi-hybrid models. Cars included in this latest round of price cut are the mid-size sedan Ciaz, MPV Ertiga and the executive sedan Toyota Camry Hybrid.
The diesel version of Maruti’s Ciaz and Ertiga get SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) which essentially is just an integrated starter generator. This offers assistance to the engine during acceleration leading to an increase in fuel efficiency. Both the cars get the same 1.3 litre DDiS diesel mill sourced from Fiat and get a price cut in the range of Rs 55,000 to Rs 69,000. Here’s the new price list of the two cars after the cut (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi):
- Ciaz VDi: Rs 7,68,138
- Ciaz VDi (O): Rs 7,81,672
- Ciaz VDi +: Rs 8,22,738
- Ciaz ZDi: Rs 8,89,005
- Ciaz ZDi +: Rs 9,49,672
- Ertiga LDi: Rs 7,08,243
- Ertiga LDi (O): Rs 7,14,731
- Ertiga VDi: Rs 7,74,019
- Ertiga ZDi: Rs 8,26,509
- Ertiga ZDi+: Rs 8,66,472
The Camry Hybrid too has got a reduction from its earlier price tag of Rs 33.20 lakhs. This has been reduced by Rs 2.30 lakhs to Rs 30.90 lakhs (all ex-showroom, Delhi), bringing it very close to the price of the standard Camry which has a sticker price of Rs 30.28 lakhs (ex-Delhi).
Mahindra though has not yet announced any reduction in the price of the E2O. The car though continues to enjoy the benefit of Rs 1.24 lakhs thanks to the FAME initiative. The price cut of the Ertiga, Ciaz and Camry Hybrid though is limited only to Delhi and prices for the rest of the country remain the same.