'Localisation saves a lot of time and cost for them. Keeping an eye on a long-term market, this is the best way these car-makers can build momentum for their brands.'
On another occasion, he recalled, as part of the SPG, he was tasked with the security of the then prime minister Manmohan Singh and assigned the responsibility of escorting Tata from Taj Mansingh Hotel in New Delhi.
Both the models would be available across the country as completely built up units, the car maker said.
Nearly one in two luxury cars sold in India in the first three months of 2024 was a Mercedes Benz, which achieved its best ever quarter (January-March), selling 5,412 units, up 15 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) from 4,697 units in the previous year.
The car is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine
German-based luxury carmaker, BMW will roll out its first three-series models from its Indian facility at Chennai on March 29, while the 5 Series will be rolled out in June.
There are six models of the Mini out of which three models have been launched in India.
German automobile major BMW on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu government to establish its car assembly plant at an investment of Rs 180 crore (Rs 1.8 billion) in five years.
India may see its busiest EV festive season in 2025 with SUVs, luxury cars and scooters set to launch, but rare-earth supply bottlenecks risk delaying rollouts.
To meet the rising demand for its iconic brand Mini, German luxury carmaker BMW Group on Wednesday launched its British premium luxury small car in the 3-door and 5-door variants with petrol and diesel options.
German luxury auto major BMW India has launched its much-anticipated 7 Series and X1, produced at the company's Chennai manufacturing unit.
BMW plans to launch 15 models during this year, with four brand new models that would be imported from our global centres and the rest will be re-launches.
Many of these companies have a waiting period from 6-18 months now, indicating a rise in demand.
Red Square and VDNKh easily rank among the most striking places I've visited -- both for their historical significance and architectural splendour.
My admiration for Russian culture, vision and ambition grew with every step as I clocked the miles, Nitin Sathe tells us after a visit to Moscow and St Petersburg.
Global energy giant Shell has acquired Mumbai-based Raj Petro Specialities to deepen its foothold in the world's third biggest lubricants market in the world, a top company official said. Shell, which has already invested over $5 billion in India across the energy value chain -- from LNG import terminals and fuel stations to renewable energy and technology centres -- has acquired 100 per cent equity interest in Raj Petro Specialities Pvt Ltd from Germany's Brenntag Group.
While Mercedes-Benz India expects 25 per cent of its India sales to come from EVs in the next four years, BMW says it estimates around 10 per cent of sales to come from those in the near future.
The locally-produced BMW X5 is one of the best selling models for the car-maker in the domestic market, and the latest version of the SUV will compete with the likes of Mercedes-Benz GLE, Volvo XC90, Range Rover Velar, Porsche Cayenne and the Audi Q7.
The company is targeting countries like Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the UK which account for over 70 per cent of Europe's two-wheeler volumes.
Currently BMW sells more than a dozen models in India out of which eight assembled locally at its Chennai plant
BMW is over-capitalised and is awash with cash and it could quickly lower JLR's investment costs and raise margins by leveraging its own platforms, powertrains, purchasing scale and quality control.
Auto parts exports from India may see a slight slowdown as US President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariff could increase car prices for buyers by 8-25 per cent, thereby affecting demand, experts believe.
It has get-up-and-go and is possessed of immense agility, observes Pavan Lall.
Surat police have seized 22 cars and registered FIRs against the parents of three Class 12 students who were driving without licenses in a convoy of 35 high-end cars while performing stunts. The students were on their way to a school farewell function. The video of the incident, which went viral, showed students performing dangerous stunts such as driving with their heads out of sunroofs and holding smoke guns.
Skoda Auto India, the Czech carmaker that has recently found success with its compact SUV Kylaq, says it remains committed to developing a fully localised electric vehicle (EV). The EV will be manufactured at its Chakan facility for both Indian market and exports.
An Indian consortium has applied to buy BMW-Sauber, which is seeking new backers after German carmaker BMW said it was pulling out of Formula One at the end of the season, domestic media reported on Saturday. Reports said the deal is based around a 50 million euro investment and involved Swiss driver Neel Jani, who currently features in the A1 GP series and whose father is Indian.
The company is betting on the country's long-term growth potential.
American electric carmaker Tesla has opened recruitment for various roles in India, including business operations analyst and customer support specialist, in what could be a precursor for the company's entry into the country. As per the job postings on the company's website, the posts are for the 'Mumbai Suburban' area.
The German luxury car manufacturer is quietly building on the legacy of the Mini, enticing young, trend-conscious and quality-oriented buyers with the promise of making them stand out in the crowd.
After a brief lull during the pandemic, there is a strong revival in luxury car sales, bolstered by more launches across price bands, replacement demand, ban on old diesel vehicles in the NCR, and 'revenge buying'.
As auto major Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) became the number two player in the retail passenger vehicle segment for the first time in February, powered by its new launches, the company is setting its sights on technology upgrades.
German auto major BMW, Korean company LG group and Italian firm Liberty have shown interest in investing in Kerala, according to state Industries Minister V K Ibrahim Kunju.
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd climbed eight spots to the 45th rank, the highest for an Indian company on Forbes' latest Global 2000 list of public companies worldwide.
BMW sold 9,375 units in India in 2012, topping the list of luxury car makers for the fourth consecutive year.
A year after introducing its popular 'MINI' range of cars in India, luxury car maker BMW has begun the local production of 'MINI Countryman' at the facility in Chennai.
The company is eyeing sales of 8,000 units per month for the Kylaq, which starts at Rs 7.89 lakh (ex-showroom) and boasts 96 per cent localisation.
The Cyberster is currently sold in the UK for about Rs 63 lakh and is expected to be priced between Rs 65 lakh and Rs 70 lakhs.
Shares of auto component major, Samvardhana Motherson International, has gained 11.5 per cent on the bourses after the company approved the qualified institutions placement (QIP) issue and announced the calculation methodology for its compulsorily convertible debentures, or CCDs, into equity shares. Analysts cite strong investor response to the issue that has kept the sentiment positive for the stock. Brokerages, however, have a mixed view on the outlook for the auto parts supplier.
Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai and MG Motors are gearing up to introduce EVs in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were among the top leaders who paid homage to former prime minister Manmohan Singh at his home in New Delhi on Friday.
