Planning an Audi? Well, you should put in your booking before 2020 comes to a close. If you don’t, chances are you’ll have to spend more to land the same model. The Indian arm of the German carmaker has announced that from January 1, 2020, model prices will be hiked by up to 2 per cent. The brand has cited two reasons as enablers. The first one points at the weakening rupee, while the second is the rise in input costs.

Price adjustments, as you must be aware, isn’t something out of the ordinary. Every player in the market practices it. And, courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has been one of the worst for almost every industry across the globe.

Here’s what Balbir Singh, head at Audi India, said in an official statement:

At Audi India we strive to give our customers the best, but the rising inputs costs and currency fluctuations have put a strain on our cost structures and we are forced to make amends to prices.

He further added:

While we have tried to absorb the impact at various levels, the current situation necessitates an increase in price for sustainable growth. Continuing our focus on Customer-centricity, we have ensured that the impact is as minimal as possible. We are offering several service related packages that will ensure ease of ownership for our customers.

Audi India has launched a flurry of products in 2020. In January, we received the Q8, followed by the A8 L in February. Then, in July this year, the company landed the RS 7 Sportback. In less than six weeks after that development, the RS Q8 arrived. Last month, Audi launched two products. The first was the Celebration variant of the Q8. It brought the crossover’s starting price point below Rs 1 crore. And then we got the Q2, which presently has no direct rivals from any luxury carmaker.