India's electric vehicle (EV) markets expanded gains in January compared to the year-ago period, as two-wheeler and passenger vehicle sales triggered a shuffle in the competitive landscape, data from an automobile dealers' association showed.
India's luxury auto market is rebounding after a slow start to 2025, with GST 2.0 emerging as the main catalyst.
While sedan sales have declined in the mass-market segment in recent years, demand remains strong for BMW sedans, which account for 45 per cent of its sales in India.
The Lokpal, India's anti-corruption ombudsman, has issued a tender for the procurement of seven BMW 3 Series 330Li cars, estimated to cost around Rs 5 crore.
Electric passenger vehicle (PV) retail sales jumped more than twofold in September with Tata Motors (TaMo) leading the pack having over 6,000 registrations and a 40 per cent market share.
Luxury carmakers are shifting into high gear with a mix of product launches, personalised experiences and lifestyle-led engagement.
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.
BMW Group India recorded its highest annual sales on the back of strong demand for its top-end ICE (internal combustion engine) and electric vehicles (EVs). The German luxury automaker on Thursday announced that its domestic car sales jumped 18 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to 14,172 units in calendar year 2023 (CY23). This mirrored a trend in the luxury space, with its peers also reporting record numbers.
After incurring losses for two years on the trot, German luxury automotive company Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (abbreviated as BMW) has posted net profit in India in 2021-22 (FY22), primarily due to high demand of its top-end vehicles, cost optimisation, and price hikes, Business Standard has learnt. BMW India said in its FY22 financial statement that the company is focusing on growth and achieving profitability through induction of new products in the market, strengthening its dealership network, and improving customer satisfaction while reducing costs. The company posted its highest-ever revenue in India in FY22 at Rs 4,365.8 crore.
Amid mounting inflationary pressures, escalating material costs, and rising operational expenses, luxury carmakers Mercedes-Benz India and BMW India have announced price increases of up to 3 per cent on their entire model ranges effective from January 1, 2025. Mercedes-Benz India will revise ex-showroom prices by Rs 2 lakh to Rs 9 lakh, depending on the model. This adjustment will impact vehicles such as the GLC SUV and the high-end Mercedes-Maybach S 680 limousine.
For the first time in history, the luxury car market is poised to cross the sales mark of 50,000 units in 2024, with Mercedes leading the way
Prices of various car models -- ranging from entry-level hatchbacks to high-end luxury offerings -- are set to rise as automakers have announced price hikes with effect from January. Carmakers cite an increase in input costs and operational expenses as the main reason to implement price increases from the next month. Industry experts, however, note that the exercise is also undertaken by automakers every year in December to shore up sales volume in the last month of the year, as customers postpone buyouts to later months to get the new year manufactured units.
Luxury car maker BMW India has no plans of exporting cars manufactured at its Chennai plant to neighbouring countries and was focused on the fast growing domestic market. India has emerged as a booming market though the production of four-wheelers in the luxury segment was at an amateur stage, BMW India President Peter Kronschnabi told reporters on the sidelines of inaugurating the company's first showroom, Bawaria Motors, in Pune.
"There is a huge potential in pre-owned car market in India and its a very lucrative business for us. Therefore, BMW India is planning to set up its pre-owned car selling business in September this year," said Andreas Schaaf, BMW India president commenting on this development.
Luxury carmaker BMW India and ICICI Bank signed an agreement on Friday for offering financing solutions.
"At this point of time, our completely knocked down (CKD) operations are fully fulfilling the new regulations. We are paying 10 per cent duty... There will be no price hike," BMW India President Andreas Schaaf told reporters in New Delhi.
The new vehicle is available at all BMW dealerships.
His transformational vision and strategic orientation played a crucial role in navigation of BMW Group India in a challenging business environment.
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'.
Dealerships, too, are going all out to roll out the red carpet for women.
The new car market is estimated at around 30,000 units a year in sales in a good year, whereas the used car market for luxury vehicles is estimated at around 60,000 cars annually.
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.
Smooth engine, plush interiors, great suspension that handle dodgy roads with ease, futuristic design elements that have little by way of competition in the market -- it's all there, says Pavan Lall.
'The global semiconductor shortage has inadvertently provided an immense fillip to the pre-owned car market'
Mercedes-Benz India, BMW India and Audi India have lined up over 50 new model launches as they seek to recoup previous year's loss in volumes, reports Shally Seth Mohile.
Zippy and comfortable, the Mini Convertible is a perfect car for short jaunts, but this isn't the ride you'd choose to take your entire family to the airport or pick for a long family excursion, says Pavan Lall.
It has get-up-and-go and is possessed of immense agility, observes Pavan Lall.
Auto component makers in India are bracing for a tough time. High absenteeism among workers owing to Covid-19, shortages of critical parts, and temporary closures of plants by automobile manufacturers have thrown a spanner in the works for the Rs 3.2-trillion sector, which derives 60 per cent of its revenues from automobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), with the balance split equally between replacement demand and exports. Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India on Saturday said it was extending the maintenance shutdown, which was from May 1 to 9, till May 16, "keeping in view the current pandemic situation". Some activities will continue in the plants.
BMW India, which unveiled its 6 Generation 5 series model on Friday, plans to sell over 4,000 units across all its series this calendar year, a top company official said.
German luxury auto major BMW India has launched its much-anticipated 7 Series and X1, produced at the company's Chennai manufacturing unit.
Why is the Mini the only "lifestyle" auto badge that seems to be growing and staying strong? Pavan Lall finds out.
Automakers are caught in a chicken-and-egg situation: Prices have to come down if volumes are to increase, and volumes won't increase unless prices come down, notes Pavan Lall.
BMW plans to launch its two-seater roadster 'Z4' in India in October. It has also sought regulatory approval for incorporating a finance subsidiary to serve the credit needs of retail customers, fleet owners and dealers.
The company has so far witnessed a 14 per cent jump in its sales during January-July period.
Rolled out from its Chennai plant, the all new X5xDrive30d, is around Rs 10 lakh cheaper than the previous imported models.
German luxury carmaker BMW on Thursday launched the updated version of its sports utility vehicle X3 priced up to Rs 49.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
German luxury carmaker BMW on Thursday launched the updated version of its sports utility vehicle X3 priced up to Rs 49.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
Both the models would be available across the country as completely built up units, the car maker said.
BMW is all set to launch the new version of its flagship 7 Series car in India. Traditionally, the company introduces technologies and themes first in this car, and later add them to other models. The refreshed 7 Series features new hardware for the iDrive system, redesigned leather seats and individual 9.2 inch screens for rear passengers among other changes.
Feature additions come in the form of LED headlights, new alloy wheel design options, additional body colours and an optional contrast roof.
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