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Luxury carmaker Audi on Tuesday said its half-yearly retail sales declined 63 per cent year-on-year to 2,128 units. The company sold 2,477 units in the January-June period of last year. The brand with the four rings is facing headwinds as slowing demand driven by price increases from a weakening exchange rate and heightened market uncertainty amid evolving geopolitical tensions continues to impact performance, Audi India said in a statement. However, the company remains confident in the growth of the Indian luxury car market in the forthcoming festive season, driven by growing customer aspirations, it added. "While H1 2025 presented unique market challenges, we have used this period to strengthen our foundation for sustainable growth," Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon said. By prioritising a luxury-first approach and delivering exceptional customer experiences, the automaker continues to reinforce brand loyalty, he added. "We see growth potential in the luxury segment in th
Luxury car segment in India, which currently accounts for 1 per cent of the overall car sales in the country, is like a growing startup and it could become decent in size only when it crosses the 5 per cent mark, Audi India head Balbir Dhillon said on Monday. He also said that the company is expecting to do better in sales performance this year after witnessing a dip in volumes in the previous year on account of supply chain issues. Audi India on Monday launched a refreshed version of its RS Q8 performance SUV in India, priced at Rs 2.49 crore. "The luxury car industry in India is like a startup which is still growing but it's growing for sure but it is still very small. I think the (luxury car) industry will become a decent size when we cross a threshold of about 5 per cent (of the overall car market). And I do see this will happen," Dhillon told PTI. Stating that it was not sure how much time would it take, whether 5 years or 10 years or 20 years, to reach the 5 per level, he sai
Luxury carmaker BMW India on Friday said it will increase prices of its entire model range by up to 3 per cent from January next year. The new prices will be effective from January 1, 2025 onwards, the German automaker said in a statement. The company's range of locally produced cars includes the 2 Series Gran Coupe, 3 Series Long Wheelbase, 5 Series Long Wheelbase, 7 Series Long Wheelbase, X1, X3, X5, X7 and M340i. BMW also sells models like i4, i5, i7, i7 M70, iX1, BMW iX, Z4 M40i, M2 Coupe among others as Completely Built-up Units (CBU). Last week, Mercedes-Benz had announced to hike the prices of its vehicles in India by up to 3 per cent on its entire model range in the portfolio from January 1, 2025, citing a rise in input costs, inflationary pressures and higher operational expenses. Prices of Mercedes-Benz cars in India will get costlier by Rs 2 lakh for the GLC to Rs 9 lakh for the top-end Mercedes-Maybach S 680 luxury limousine.
Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India on Monday expanded its Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) range in the country with the launch of the locally produced EQS 580 4MATIC. India is the first country outside the US to start the local production of the seven-seater electric SUV. EQS SUV 580 4MATIC is the second model, after the EQS sedan, to be locally produced at company's Pune-based manufacturing plant. "This will be our sixth EV in India, and the second car to be locally produced in India. We are also proud that India becomes the first market out of the US to locally manufacture the EQS," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer told PTI in an interaction. The move to manufacture the product locally outlines the company's commitment to electrification and increasing product portfolio offering choices to customers, he added. "EQS SUV's localisation underpins our deep commitment to grow the Indian luxury electric car market and reinforce our commitment for a greener a
Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover expects to grow faster than the luxury car segment this fiscal, as it bolsters localisation and expands product range, according to a top company executive. The company, which is set to commence local assembly of Range Rover and Range Rover Sport in India, witnessed a sales growth of 81 per cent in 2023-24 fiscal year at 4,436 units, as compared to FY23. The automaker aims to double its business in India over the next three years. "The luxury car segment grew in the range of 20-25 per cent last fiscal. We expect that the growth rate will remain in this range for the next couple of years. And we anticipate to beat this growth rate," Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Managing Director Rajan Amba told PTI in an interaction. Initiatives like enhanced localisation of products, which would lead to reduction in prices and expansion of sales network in the country would help the company in growing faster than the industry, he added. Citing reports, Amba noted tha
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Thursday reported its highest-ever retail sales in a financial year in India in 2023-24, driven by strong demand for its SUV range. The company sold 18,123 units last fiscal, a growth of 10 per cent over 16,497 units in the 2022-23 fiscal. "We achieved the best-ever month, highest-ever quarter and best-ever fiscal in India. This trust reflects in the unmatched desirability for Mercedes-Benz in India, resulting in an overwhelming customer response," Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO Santosh Iyer said in a statement. In the January-March period this year, the automaker sold 5,412 units, an increase of 15 per cent over 4,697 units in the first quarter of last year. The automaker said it plans to introduce nine new models this year in the country, including three new battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The company said it will strengthen its AMG performance range with the launch of the AMG S 63 e-Performance sedan and the AMG C 63 e-Performance in th