NEW DELHI: The Punjab state consumer commission has dismissed Hyundai’s appeal and upheld an order directing the company and its dealer to provide a buyer with the vehicle’s invoice and registration certificate (RC), and pay Rs 22,500 towards compensation along with litigation costs. The commission held that Hyundai could not evade responsibility for its dealer’s failure to provide the required documents.The commission passed the order on October 6, 2026, after finding no merit in Hyundai’s contention that it was not responsible for the dealer’s conduct.
New Hyundai Eon without invoice
According to the commission order, Amandeep Singh, the complainant, bought a white Hyundai Eon Era+B from Ahuja Automobiles, an authorised Hyundai dealer in Amritsar, on June 15, 2016. He paid Rs 1,04,500 as a down payment, while the remaining Rs 2.6 lakh was financed through ICICI Bank, which he was to repay in monthly instalments of Rs 5,525.The dealer issued receipts for the down payment and a delivery challan but did not give him the car’s invoice. The complainant was allegedly told that, because the purchase was financed, the invoice would be provided through the bank after the formalities were completed. He also did not receive the registration certificate.The complainant alleged that he made repeated requests to the dealer and other parties, including through telephone calls and personal visits, but did not get the documents. He approached the consumer commission, seeking the invoice and registration certificate or a refund, along with compensation for the harassment and litigation costs.However, Hyundai argued that the dispute concerned the dealer and the bank, not the manufacturer. It said its relationship with dealers was on a principal-to-principal basis and that preparing the registration documents and issuing the invoice were not its responsibilities. ICICI Bank also said it had provided the vehicle loan and was not responsible for registration formalities.The district consumer commission in Tarn Taran, ruled in the complainant’s favour on September 15, 2022, directing the dealer and Hyundai to provide the documents and pay Rs 15,000 as compensation and Rs 7,500 towards litigation expenses.Hyundai then challenged that order before the state commission.
Commission’s finding
The bench of presiding judicial member Harinderpal Singh Mahal and member Kiran Sibal rejected the Hyundai’s argument that it could not be held responsible for the dealer’s conduct.The commission said that the dealer sold vehicles manufactured by Hyundai and was authorised by the company to sell them to consumers. It held that a manufacturer could not avoid responsibility merely by arguing that it had no direct contractual relationship with the retail buyer.“A manufacturer cannot be escaped its liability merely by contending that it is only the manufacturer and has nothing to do with the retail sale of the goods,” the commission observed.It then said that the Hyundai Motors India were expected to remain vigilant about how their authorised dealers dealt with customers and to take corrective action when complaints of improper or deficient service arose.The commission further noted that the buyer had paid for the vehicle and continued to repay the loan despite not receiving the documents needed to establish ownership. It found no merit in Hyundai’s argument that it had no responsibility for the dealer’s actions.“We do not find any merit in the pleas taken by the appellant/opposite party No.2 that they have nothing to do with the selling of the cars by the dealers, rather they are fully responsible for the acts and conducts of the dealers,” the commission said.
What did the commission order?
In its October 6, 2026, order, the Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission dismissed Hyundai’s appeal and upheld the District Consumer Commission’s directions.The order requires the dealer and Hyundai to:
- Provide the car’s registration certificate and invoice to the buyer.
- Pay Rs 15,000 as compensation for harassment and mental agony.
- Pay Rs 7,500 towards litigation expenses.
The commission also directed that Rs 16,600 deposited by Hyundai when filing the appeal, along with any interest accrued on it, be remitted to the complainant after 45 days from the sending of certified copies of the order, in accordance with law.The ruling reinforces that a vehicle manufacturer cannot automatically distance itself from complaints about an authorised dealer’s conduct simply because the retail sale took place through the dealer. Hyundai’s appeal was dismissed, leaving the original consumer commission’s directions in place.
