KOZHIKODE: Kozhikode, after Kochi, has emerged as the state’s growing market for luxury cars likes BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche and Jaguar Land Rover, thanks to the increasing remittances from non-resident Keralites and the people’s urge to splurge on such brands. The state head of a luxury car brand recently had a pleasant surprise when the doctors of a private hospital in Kozhikode booked 28 luxury cars on a single day. Of them, nearly six cars were priced above Rs 1 crore. The city in the last one year has been witnessing booming sales of luxury cars.
Till July, the MVD has registered 153 luxury cars, with prices ranging between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore, while the total number of cars registered during 2014 and 2015 was 135 and 164 respectively. According to MVD officials, the months of June and July recorded the highest registration of luxury cars (21) in which the Porsche Macon costing nearly Rs 1.23 crore and Porsche Cayman costing nearly Rs 1.53 crore rule the roost. “It is surprising to see the increasing number of luxury cars dominating the city roads, which has both merits and demerits,” opined Regional Transport Officer C.J. Pauslon.
These cars that are specifically made for sophisticated roads do not suit our city roads and their engine power is also not apt for the cities’ driving culture. But we should appreciate the arrival of more such luxury car brands that shows a development face of the city, he added. “The demand for luxury cars was in doubt when we proposed to start the showroom of one of the top brands,” said N.P. Arshaf, marketing head of a leading showroom here. “But we received more than 30 orders during the initial month itself. We have attractive offers for professionals like advocates, doctors and engineers, and hence the demand from them is also increasing,” he added.
