MAM
Tata Motors plays ‘trick or treat’ with Hyundai
MUMBAI: Brands are increasingly playing up rivalries through tongue-in-cheek ads that seek to gain traction with the social media crowd. This time, it was Tata Motors’ turn to take a subtle jab at Hyundai.
The market is currently abuzz with the launch of Hyundai’s next-gen i20 on 5 November, and Tata Motors decided it would be the perfect time to mess with the Korean carmaker.
Ahead of Halloween, Tata Motors released a short 15-second video which showcases the upcoming i20 under a ghostly veil, with a message that reads, “This is a tri20”. The ‘tri20’ corrects itself to ‘trick’, followed by the appearance of the Tata’s Altroz which bears the tagline, “This is a ‘treat’.” Ominous laughter at the end really drives the message home.
“You can i the trick 20 times, but it’s the treat that you fall for,” said Tata Motors in yet another dig at its competitor.
Ad wars are nothing new – who can forget the four-cornered fight between BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar? Moreover, it’s not limited to just the auto industry. One usually sees Burger King, McDonald’s and even Wendy’s getting into it, as well as the classic Pepsi versus Coca Cola feud. It will be fun to see if and how Hyundai decides to retaliate. Diwali and Christmas are just around the corner, so hopefully something then? The sooner the better.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
