Indian Car Market

Past gets a second drive as Indian carmakers revive legacy nameplates

Indian automakers are reviving legacy nameplates to leverage brand recall and stand out in a crowded market, as classic badges like Sierra, Safari, Baleno and Scorpio return to attract buyers

BMW India reports 10% rise in H1 sales, EVs grow 234% year-on-year

German premium car maker BMW group on Thursday reported a 10 per cent jump in total sales in India at 7,774 units in the January-June period of 2025 over the same period year-ago, The Group had sold 7,081 units of BMW and Mini brands of cars in India in the first of CY 2024. Besides, the company also retailed 2,569 Motorrad brand of motorcycles during the period under review. The company also said it continued its leadership position in the luxury electric vehicle sales in India with a massive 234 per cent year-on-year growth in volumes at 1,322 units of BMW and MINI EVs sold during the first half of the current calendar year. The company sold 7,774 BMW and MINI cars and 2,569 motorcycles during the January-June period of 2025. Of this, BMW sold 7,477 units and MINI 297 units, it said in a statement. "We are on a fast track, posting over 10 per cent growth despite a challenging environment as we continue to unfold new opportunities in the luxury segment," said Vikram Pawah, Presi

Trust deficit drives first-time car buyers to new models, says new study

Most first-time car buyers last year preferred new over used cars, citing mistrust in the used market. Many feel used car prices are inflated, sometimes matching or exceeding new car costs

Entry-level car buyers priced out even as SUV sales surge in India

Two-wheeler owners finding upward mobility challenging

Focusing on exports over domestic discounts, says Hyundai India COO

Hyundai aims to raise exports to 30% of output by FY30 as domestic sales slow; six EVs among 26 product launches planned as part of long-term growth strategy

Auto firms to raise prices from April as costs, regulations squeeze margins

Industry experts believe price hikes are influenced by multiple factors, including the rising costs of electronics, regulatory compliance requirements, and premiumisation trends

Cars set to get costlier from April as automakers announce price hikes

Cars are set to get costlier from April, with various automakers like market leaders Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Hyundai, announcing price hikes due to rising input costs and operational expenses. Maruti Suzuki India, which leads the domestic passenger car segment in the country, plans to hike prices of its entire model range by up to 4 per cent from next month. The auto major currently sells various models, ranging from the entry-level Alto K-10 to the multiple-purpose vehicle Invicto in the domestic market, with prices ranging from Rs 4.23 lakh to Rs 29.22 lakh, respectively (ex-showroom Delhi). Its rival Hyundai Motor India said it will increase car prices by up to 3 per cent from April 2025, owing to rising raw material and operational costs. Similarly, Tata Motors intends to increase the prices of its passenger vehicle range, including electric vehicles, from April 2025, for the second time this year. Mahindra & Mahindra said it will hike prices of its SUVs ...

Hyundai introduces new variants, features upgrades for popular models

The new offerings come at a time when Hyundai has recorded its highest-ever yearly domestic sales of 6,05,433 units

Indian car buyers prefer physical dealerships over online platforms: Survey

Majority of car buyers in India still prefer making their purchase decisions through physical dealerships, with digital platforms increasingly complementing the overall acquisition process, according to a survey. The findings of a global study conducted by Urban Science involving over 9,000 people across the US, Germany, UK, China, India, and Mexico, revealed that most Indian buyers still predominantly prefer purchasing vehicles through a traditional dealership in person, with trust and relationship-building playing pivotal roles. According to the survey, nearly 9 out of 10 car buyers in India are more inclined to visit a physical dealership, highlighting the critical importance of in-person visits in shaping their overall buying behaviour, it stated. The survey highlighted that India provides a compelling blueprint for balancing the rising digital demand with a deeply rooted, trust- driven car-buying culture. For Indian car buyers, tradition is not merely nostalgic it's a trusted

WagonR turns 25: 3.2 mn sales keep Maruti's 'tall boy' on top in India

The model has enjoyed strong demand from both the fleet market and private buyers, maintaining its position as India's bestselling car for the last three years

From Hyundai to BMW, here's how costly cars will get from January 2025

Rise in material cost, rising operational cost, freight charges, increase in wages and forex volatility are some of the major reasons cited by carmakers

Style, safety drive preference for premium features in cars

A Tata Motors dealership in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai said panoramic sunroofs and safety ratings are key demands from customers

China's new-age automakers live-stream to interact with potential customers

"If you're not livestreaming these days you're kind of a dinosaur," said Mark Tanner, managing director of Shanghai-based marketing firm China Skinny

M&M May wholesales surge 17% to 71,682 units, exports increase 2%

Mahindra & Mahindra on Saturday said its total wholesales increased 17 per cent year-on-year to 71,682 units in May. The company's total dispatches to its dealers stood at 61,415 units in May 2023. The Mumbai-based auto major's passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market rose 31 per cent to 43,218 units last month against 32,886 units in May 2023, it said in a statement. Exports rose 2 per cent year-on-year to 2,671 units last month from 2,616 units in May 2023. Mahindra's Farm Equipment Sector (FES) reported 9 per cent increase in total tractor sales at 37,109 units as against 34,126 units for the same period last year. "Coupled with timely arrival of southwest monsoon in Kerala and northeast states and forecast of an above normal monsoon has improved the on-ground sentiments of farmers," Mahindra & Mahindra President, Farm Equipment Sector Hemant Sikka said. Land preparation activities for Kharif crops are expected to begin on time, which is likely to boost tractor ...

Maruti Suzuki eyes export of 300,000 units in FY25, 800,000 by 2030

On the back of record exports last fiscal, Maruti Suzuki India is confident of its overseas shipments crossing 3 lakh units in FY25 as part of gradual scaling up to meet the target of up to 8 lakh units by 2030, according to a senior company official. The company plans to launch more models in its various export markets that span over 100 countries while also enhancing distribution network, having taken best practices from India such as making bank finance available at dealerships, strengthening service facilities and parts availability to the export markets. "Till about three years ago our exports were in the range of 1 to 1.2 lakh cars a year. Both as a national vision and as a business ambition, we decided to scale up drastically and from those levels and in 2022-23 we reached about 2.59 lakh units exports and in 2023-24 we completed 2.83 lakh," Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director Corporate Affairs Rahul Bharti told PTI. He further said, "The interesting part of this is that i

Bullish on India; luxury car penetration expected to remain low: Audi

German auto maker Audi is bullish on India but believes that till the time high taxes rationalise to a lower level, penetration of luxury cars in the country will continue to remain low compared to South East Asian countries, according to a senior company official. Audi expects growth of the luxury car market in India to moderate to low double digits in 2024 compared to around 25 per cent in 2023. "The overall car industry is growing, as well as the luxury segment is growing. Last year was one of the biggest numbers that the industry could achieve, which is also in line with the overall growth of the country," Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon told PTI. He further said, "(India's) GDP is growing, all the parameters that you see for the growth of automotive industry is showing an upward direction. So we believe we are in the right space at a good time and it's time for India and we will continue to grow as well." Dhillon was responding to a query on how Audi is looking at India a

Volvo Car India to hike prices up to 2% from Jan due to rising input costs

Volvo Car India on Thursday said it will increase prices up to 2 per cent from January 1, 2024. The decision to raise prices is on account of rising input costs and volatile foreign exchange rates, the automaker said in a statement. "The decision to adjust prices is in response to evolving market dynamics, forex exchange rate fluctuations, and rising input costs," Volvo Car India MD Jyoti Malhotra said. The price hike aims to maintain a crucial balance, ensuring the continued delivery of high standards and the best driving experiences and reaffirming Volvo's commitment to uncompromised quality and safety, Malhotra added. Volvo established its presence in India in 2007 and currently markets products through 24 dealerships in the country.

Maruti Suzuki November sales: Total sales up 3.39%, SUV sales rise 50%

The mid-sized sedan, Ciaz clocked just 278 units last month as compared to 1,554 units in November 2022

Motown stares at fresh round of reset in season of electric vehicle rush

Failed to meet earlier target, many firms shifting focus to exports from India

GoMechanic 2.0: New Founders secure $6 mn funding from marquee investor

A brainchild of four friends -- Kushal Karwa, Amit Bhasin, Rishabh Karwa and Nitin Rana -- the original GoMechanic firm was founded in 2016