{
  "id": 360953,
  "title": "‘Kitna deti hai?’ no longer cuts it for car buyers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/kitna-deti-hai-no-longer-cuts-it-for-car-buyers",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-09T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/auto-news/kitna-deti-hai-is-no-longer-enough-as-indian-car-buyers-start-doing-the-maths-beyond-mileage-and-emi/articleshow/133056667.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Indian car buyer is rewriting one of the industry's oldest rules. Affordability has traditionally been measured by vehicle price, monthly EMI, and a key question - \"Kitna deti hai?\" or \"How much does it give?\". However, buyers are now considering more than just the purchase price. They are analyzing the long-term costs, including fuel or electricity bills, maintenance, insurance, financing costs, and resale value.The change is driven by an explosion of vehicle options. Now, buyers can choose from petrol, diesel, CNG, hybrid, and electric vehicles. Each type offers a different mix of upfront price and long-term costs. This shift is forcing automakers to rethink how they define, price, and sell vehicles.Ravi Bhatia, president of Jato Dynamics, said the definition of affordability is broadening. While price and EMI remain important, buyers now need to consider the costs associated with owning a vehicle, like energy consumption, insurance, maintenance, and resale value.India's passenger vehicle market is moving beyond a petrol-dominated landscape. CNG, hybrid, and electric vehicles together accounted for nearly 41% of passenger vehicle sales in July. This growing relevance of alternative powertrains is creating new trade-offs for buyers. For instance, a CNG vehicle may have a higher initial cost but lower running costs, while a hybrid may have a premium price but provide fuel savings.An EV brings a different ownership calculation altogether. The upfront price gap is becoming a significant part of the decision-making process.Jato's analysis of 25 mass-market models available in both petrol and CNG variants showed a median price difference of about 1.08 lakh. Automakers say this shift is evident across customer segments, although priorities vary. Rural buyers still focus on acquisition cost, while urban consumers are increasingly evaluating the broader economics of ownership.Rural buyers continue to prioritize acquisition cost, with running expenses being a key factor. However, urban consumers are considering the broader ownership costs, including fuel or electricity expenses, maintenance, and resale value. The shift is also changing the questions buyers ask dealers. Instead of just asking about price, they are now asking, \"What's in it for me?\" before making a purchase.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}