MUMBAI: The German carmaker claims that the price hike is owing to the increase in the customs duty announced in the Union Budget. The price hike will be between Rs 1-9 lakhs depending on the model. As a result of the Union Budget 2018, customs duty on CBU models has gone up by five per cent, while the basic customs duty on auto parts, accessories and CKD components vary from 5-10 per cent. This is then clubbed with the new social welfare surcharge at 10 per cent as well.
Rahil Ansari, head of Audi India, commenting on the price hike, said, “The increase in customs duty and an introduction of social welfare surcharge in lieu of an education cess (which is higher than the erstwhile cess) in the Union Budget made the increase in price inevitable.” However, the Ingolstadt-based carmaker claims to have absorbed the customs duty hike’s impact to minimise the price hike.
