Changes in duties levied on the Automobile Industry will come post GST as Union Budget 2017 – 2018 leaves taxation policies for the sector unchanged for now. The announcement of the Union Budget for the 2017 – 2018 fiscal year has not had any direct impact on the automobile industry. As a result OEMs and customers alike can breathe a sigh of relief as new car and motorcycle prices will not go up soon. The major shift for the industry will come around the middle of the 2017 calendar year when the uniform Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime is scheduled to be implemented by July. Owing to the upcoming GST, the excise duty structure remains unchanged for the automobile industry. The new Union Budget though focuses on giving policy impetus to the rural sector which should result in increase in sales of two-wheelers (especially after the negative impact to sales after demonetisation), tractors and light commercial vehicles. Whereas the more favourable tax slab for individuals in the income bracket of Rs. 2.50 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh is seen as a favourable move for small car buyers. Not so good news for luxury car buyers as is mostly the…