Now Reading: Indian car buyers shift focus from mileage to total cost of ownership
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Indian car buyers shift focus from mileage to total cost of ownership
Indian car buyers shift focus from mileage to total cost of ownership
Indian car buyers are moving beyond the traditional focus on purchase price and mileage to evaluate total ownership costs. A July report by Jato Dynamics shows that petrol, CNG, hybrid, and electric…
The Story in Brief
Indian car buyers are moving beyond the traditional focus on purchase price and mileage to evaluate total ownership costs. A July report by Jato Dynamics shows that petrol, CNG, hybrid, and electric vehicles together accounted for nearly 41% of passenger vehicle retail sales, indicating a significant market shift, as per The Economic Times.
Jato Dynamics president Ravi Bhatia said the definition of affordability is broadening to include energy, insurance, maintenance, and resale value. An analysis of 25 mass-market models found a median price gap of about Rs 1.08 lakh between petrol and CNG variants. Buyers now ask, "What's in it for me?", said former FADA president Vinkesh Gulati, reflecting a more comprehensive value assessment.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that Indian car buyers are only obsessed with mileage is outdated. While 'Kitna deti hai?' was once the only question, today's buyers, especially in urban areas, are weighing fuel costs against maintenance, insurance, and resale value across petrol, CNG, hybrid, and EV options. The 41% retail share of alternative powertrains in July proves this is not a niche trend but a market shift. Yet industry talk of 'no one type of customer' often ignores that rural buyers still face a very different calculation, with upfront price still king. The real test will be whether automakers tailor products and financing to these two distinct Indias, not just one average buyer.
Sources (2): economictimes.indiatimes.com, auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
