The concern for cleaner air while on the move has emerged as a significant factor for car buyers in major Indian cities. Deteriorating air quality in urban areas, marked by the air quality index (AQI) readings of 469 in Delhi, 353 in Kolkata, and 157 in Mumbai, has prompted an increased demand for cars equipped with air purifiers.
According to car manufacturers, there’s a noticeable uptick in consumers choosing variants equipped with factory-fitted air purifiers to ensure safer commuting between homes and offices. Hyundai, Kia, and Tata Motors offer variants with built-in air purifiers, while Maruti Suzuki provides it as an accessory for customers.
Kia, originating from South Korea, has observed a substantial 77% surge in sales of the Seltos model, particularly in the SUV’s top two variants featuring inbuilt air purifiers. Hyundai Motor India reports that over one-fifth of the sales for the Creta SUV model come from trims fitted with air purifiers. This figure is even more significant for the Alcazar model at 87%, while the Venue compact SUV shows a current share of around 10%.
Domestic automaker Tata Motors, after introducing air purifiers in models like the Nexon EV, Harrier, and Safari SUVs, is seeing a notable increase in bookings for these variants, especially in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru. Hardeep Singh Brar, the Vice President and National Head of Sales and Marketing at Kia India emphasized the rising customer interest in air purifiers due to increased pollution levels.
The demand for air purifiers in vehicles is particularly robust in metropolitan cities facing escalated air pollution, influenced by high vehicular emissions and construction activities. Tata Motors, addressing this consumer awareness of environmental concerns, notes a growing consciousness about air quality during travel and caters to this demand through top trims of models like Nexon EV, Harrier, and Safari.
The surge in bookings for these models is notably from major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru, reflecting the heightened concern among consumers for cleaner air while on the move.
