new delhi sedans and suvs like ford fiesta maruti sx4 hyundai verna honda accord scorpio and innova may get cheaper with the heavy industry ministry recommending removal of the additional excise duty slapped on vehicles above 1500cc last yearthe additional duty rs 15000 on vehicles above 1500cc and rs 20000 on vehicles above 2000cc was imposed by the government in june last year to control spiralling oil prices by discouraging fuel guzzlers to reduce demand as crude prices have come down and government wants to revive demand in the auto industry the move to scrap excise assumes significancewe have recommended for the removal of these duties in a note to the finance ministry surajit mitra additional secretary in the ministry of heavy industries told toi he said the step was initiated in order to boost sales of sedans and suvs which have been impacted by the slowdown plaguing the industry we have to see how best we can help them he addedthe additional duty had come as a bolt from the blue for the companies last year with most of them crying foul over the step if implemented the move will benefit companies like mahindra honda ford skoda and almost all luxury carmakers like bmw audi and mercedes benz though the impact may be marginal for the latter the final decision will be taken by the finance ministrypawan goenka president of mahindras automotive division said the step would be beneficial for the sales of the companys vehicles and other industry players the market is already in an upswing and any such measure will add fuel to the fire goenka who is also the vp for industry body siam said he said mahindra vehicles like the newlylaunched xylo mutliutility would benefit immensely if the decision was takenmichael boneham president of ford india said if the government does scrap the additional duty it will be positive for sales