India's major auto companies such as Honda Siel Cars India, General Motors and Maruti Udyog Limited have started offering incentives to their customers for referring their products among their friends and relatives. The incentives are in the form of an extended warranty, some accessories or gift vouchers.

Honda currently has one such programme that was launched in June-end and is expected to continue up to October.

Similarly, General Motors recently ran a referral programme during Rakhi and Onam recently.

A leading Maruti dealer attributes 15-20 per cent of sales through referral programmes.