The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) located in oneof the country’s biggest automotive industry hubsChakan MIDC have approached Union to cut GST rate rom 28% to 18%. The local automotive manufacturers were already crippled by economic downturn and the COVID-19 has accelerated to their difficulties. Despite ease in lockdown, the industry is unable to take their production levels beyond 30 per cent of their capacity. Jiten Shah, who runs a smallscale unit at Chakan has said that lower GST slab would do a world of good to them.