Popular car: dealerships already limit discounts – 06/26/2023 – Market

Car buyers need luck finding new vehicles that are still on sale at the federal government discount, as funding for the program is nearing its end.

The report contacted dealerships in the city of São Paulo. At a Fiat chain, a saleswoman reported that the store no longer sells discounted cars, as there is a risk that by the time the purchase is invoiced, the benefit may have already run out.

Despite this, the network continues to offer rebates. After some negotiation, it would be possible to buy a Fiat Mobi for BRL 59,700, about BRL 1,000 more than the price that considered the government discount.

In another network of Fiat dealerships, there was still a Fiat Mobi 2023/24 for BRL 59,990, as long as the billing was made by Friday (30). The cheaper discounted 2023/23 models were long gone.

At a Renault dealership, there were also no more discounted Kwid models this Monday (26). The orientation was to try again on Tuesday (27). According to a seller, there was the possibility that a new determination would come, which would allow the resumption of the benefit.

The Lula government’s ‘popular car’ program was launched three weeks ago. The total amount available for light vehicles is R$ 500 million. Discounts sponsored by public coffers range from R$2,000 to R$8,000, but many companies have applied higher margins on their own. See the full list of discounted cars here.

However, until Friday (23), R$ 420 million, or 84% of the total available to cover discounts, had already been used, according to data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services. The numbers do not consider last weekend’s sales, a period when the volume of customers at dealerships is greater.

Considering all types of vehicle, the program has already consumed R$660 million of the R$1.5 billion available (in addition to R$500 million for cars, there is R$700 million in funds for trucks and R$300 million for vans and bus).

Until July 5th, there is exclusivity for car sales to individuals, and from then on, the program is also released to companies.

Despite the demand, the government has signaled that it will not expand the measure due to the need to control public accounts. Last week, for example, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin indicated that it is unlikely that there will be an injection of new government resources.

“This will be decided a little later. Probably, this is not a definitive decision, but probably when the R$ 500 million ends, the program, the stimulus, ends”, he said.

A Sheet sought out automakers and Fenabrave, the entity that represents dealerships, but did not get any answers until the publication of this report.