India★ Auto Festival Sales Event: Presenting "Gold"

"The gold coin giveaway is a campaign unique to this year."—Amidst the peak festival sales season in October, typically a busy period, "gold perks" became the headline attraction as a catalyst to break through consumers' thriftiness driven by economic stagnation. This perk reportedly targeted the rising demand for gold spurred by stricter gold import regulations. This is reported by NNA, which distributes Asian economic information.

At the authorized dealership of Maruti Suzuki, Asia's largest automaker, in Gurgaon, where gold coins are offered as a purchaser benefit, three types of coins—1 gram, 2 grams, and 5 grams—are available. Buyers are guaranteed to win one via a scratch-off lottery. The offer applies to four models: the Alto, Alto K10, Estilo, and Wagon R.
Ford is also running a gold coin promotion. Buyers of the compact hatchback "Figo" can choose between a 5-gram gold coin plus an 8,000 rupee discount (1 rupee ≈ ¥1.6) or a flat 14,000 rupee discount. Additionally, floor mats (worth 1,950 rupees) and the first year's auto insurance (12,884–19,354 rupees) are included free.
The domestic passenger car market remains sluggish this fiscal year. As the festival season sales campaign's impact could also shape outlooks beyond October, the midpoint of the fiscal year, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is pinning hopes on the promotional effect.

Ford promoting its offer of a 5-gram gold coin (Photo by NNA)