Firstly, I'd disagree with the authors note on lack of choice. We have almost each car maker either selling their cars, or in the process of. Sure we dont have the Mazdas and Peugeots but for a closely protected annual market of 1 million odd cars a year...we have a good range. For e.g. you cant compare the choice available to the American market which is almost 17 times bigger than ours.
Also, the author should remember that Peugeot had a chance (a golden opportunity as one of the first players). But they goofed it up by the wrong car, the wrong partnership and siphoning off customers deposits.
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If you add in all the options, and road tax and insurance, you end up at a bit under USD 50,000.
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Absolute rubbish. USD 50000 is 23.50 lacs whereas we all know that a fully loaded I4 manual accord costs under 17 lacs. In the States, a well-equipped Honda Accord would set you back by about @22,000 (10 lacs odd). So we do not pay double but 60% more. That is inevitable considering the limited size of our market (2000 p.a. versus 4,00,000 Accords for the States) and the taxation structure.
I think its become a habit for these so-called renowned writers to bash the Indian automotive industry. Too bad for them, cos I am sure as hell very happy!