Easy ride: Tata slashes Safari price by Rs 1.9 lakh
The Financial Express — June 20, 2006

At a time when most carmakers are considering hiking prices due to the steep rise in input costs, Tata Motors on Monday announced a cut in the price of Safari by as much as Rs 1.9 lakh. Introduced as new variants, the entry level TCIC diesel is available at a tag of Rs 6.4 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the common rail diesel engine powered Dicor at Rs 6.99 lakh and the petrol version at Rs 7.99 lakh. All versions will be available in two new colours - pearl white and cherry red.

Rival Mahindra & Mahindra's Scorpio is priced between Rs 7.06 and Rs 8.18 lakh lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), while the General Motors Tavera is priced at between Rs 5.98 and Rs 9.25 lakh. Safari prices have been cut as part of an aggressive cost-reduction plan, which the company hopes, will enable it to increase volumes. The fiscal 2005-06 was the best year for Safari when it sold 4,692 units, up 48% over the previous year. The Tata Motors' move bucks the trend of companies announcing price hikes after the recent rise in commodity prices led to increase in raw material costs.

Recently, Hyundai Motors India said it would hike prices by the month end as also General Motors India. Maruti, the car market leader in India, too said it would discuss the matter internally.