The sounds of festive bells and the shine of brand-new wheels dominated the landscape today as car dealerships celebrated a “super-hit” Dhanteras.
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Delivery Statistics: * Karnal: Major brands like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and Tata Motors reported delivering over 800 units collectively. The newly launched Maruti Swift and Tata Nexon were the highest-selling models.
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Ambala: Showrooms along the NH-44 stretch (GT Road) saw nearly 700 deliveries. Premium SUV segments, including the Mahindra Scorpio-N and Hyundai Creta, saw a 25% jump in demand compared to last year.
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The “GST 2.0” Catalyst: Dealers attributed the record-breaking numbers to recent tax rationalization. “The 10% reduction in GST for small cars has been a game-changer. Customers who were on the fence for months rushed to finalize their purchases for Dhanteras,” said a senior manager at a Karnal Hyundai dealership.
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Waitlists & Stock: Despite the high delivery volume, some buyers faced disappointment as popular SUV variants continued to have waiting periods of 4-6 weeks. Dealerships had to arrange for additional logistics and yard staff to manage the influx of vehicles from manufacturing hubs.
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Traditional Rituals: Showrooms were decked out in marigold flowers and traditional rangolis. Priests were stationed at several outlets to perform ‘Vahan Puja’ (vehicle blessing) as customers refused to leave without the auspicious marks on their new cars.
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Economic Ripple Effect: The surge in vehicle sales also led to a massive spike in business for local accessory shops, insurance agents, and RTO consultants, marking a total festive turnover exceeding ₹150 crore for the local region today.
Administrative Support: The traffic police in Karnal and Ambala deployed extra personnel near “Auto Markets” to manage the congestion caused by car carriers and families arriving in large groups for deliveries. Showrooms have been permitted to remain open until midnight to complete the scheduled handovers.
