From school admissions to red-carpet galas, automakers are redefining luxury with concierge care that transforms ownership into an all-access lifestyle
From handcrafted parts to million-rupee rebuilds, the people reviving India's automotive past
Industry experts note that reduced GST rates and bundled festive discounts have made this an opportune time for buyers
The Jain community has put up an impressive show of its formidable buying power by driving home 186 high-end cars after securing discounts of Rs 21 crore. This "one-of-its-kind deal" with luxury automobile brands like BMW, Audi and Mercedes was pulled off by the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO), its vice president Himanshu Shah told PTI on Saturday. JITO is a not-for-profit community body with 65,000 members from across India, he said. These 186 luxury cars, each priced between Rs 60 lakh and Rs 1.3 crore, were handed over to their owners across India between January and June this year. JITO's nationwide drive helped our members save Rs 21 crore in the form of discounts, said Shah. He said the organisation was just a facilitator and did not profit from this deal. The majority of the cars were bought by Gujarat-based Jains, Shah added. It all started when some JITO members suggested leveraging the community's strong buying power to secure heavy discounts from carmakers
The Enforcement Directorate today carried out multiple raids across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, targeting top Malayalam film stars and businessmen over an alleged luxury car smuggling racket.
The ED on Wednesday raided premises linked to actors Prithviraj, Dulquer Salman and Amit Chakkalackal and some others across Kerala as part of its investigation into a recent Customs case related to alleged smuggling of luxury vehicles from Bhutan to India, official sources said. The searches by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also covered certain vehicle owners, auto workshops, and traders in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam and Coimbatore. A total of 17 premises are being covered, the sources said. The action is being taken under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in a recent case unearthed by the Customs related to alleged smuggling of high-end luxury vehicles and unauthorised foreign exchange dealings. The searches are based on inputs exposing a syndicate engaged in illegal import and registration of luxury cars such as Land Cruiser, Defender, and Maserati through the India-Bhutan/Nepal routes, they said. Preliminary findings, according to the ...
India's millionaire households have nearly doubled to 8.7 lakh in four years, creating a runway for luxury car demand as wealth fuels aspirations and premium consumption
A clear picture regarding new GST rates at the earliest will help the overall auto industry, including the luxury car segment, to regain momentum in the ongoing quarter, which generally sees enhanced sales on account of the festive season. The high-powered GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will meet on September 3-4 to discuss moving to a two-slab taxation. In an interaction with PTI, BMW Group India President and CEO Hardeep Singh Brar said the recent speculation about the change in GST rates has caused uncertainty in the minds of consumers. Consumer interest and demand is strong, but they (prospective buyers) have adopted a wait-and-watch approach, and this delayed decision-making is impacting new vehicle sales at a certain level, he noted. "Expediting clarity on GST rates is essential to get back to speed and ensure the auto sector's contribution to economic growth during this quarter is robust," Brar stated. He also hoped that the sustainable push ..
The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to lower tariffs, making high-end luxury cars and bikes more affordable. Brands like JLR, McLaren, and Triumph stand to benefit
Mercedes-Benz India launches collector's AMG G 63 as demand for personalisation grows; luxury EV sales rise 66 per cent in Jan-May, driven by new-age preferences
Formerly called DFSK Motor, Seres partnered with telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies Co. back in 2021 to launch the Aito brand of premium electric and hybrid sport utility vehicles
Luxury car dealer Basharat Khan arrested for Rs 100 crore customs duty evasion linked to illegal imports of high-end cars via Dubai and Sri Lanka through undervaluation tactics
The overall Indian automotive market is moving towards premiumisation, a trend evident from the rising share of utility vehicles (UVs)
Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Kia India and Honda Cars have all announced price hikes April 2025 onwards
Considering what we have in the Indian market, Volvo is very competitively placed. We are performing quite well in different segments, Malhotra said
For Santosh Iyer, the drive is as much about the journey as it is about the destination - whether on the road or steering Mercedes-Benz India into the future
Luxury car sales touched 51K units for first time in 2024
Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India plans to roll out 8 new models, including battery electric vehicles, this year as it looks to sustain sales momentum having posted record sales in 2024. The company sold 19,565 units last year, registering a growth of 12 per cent as compared to 17,408 units in 2023. Mercedes also saw sales of battery electric vehicles almost doubled in 2024 as compared to 2023. The company said one out of the four vehicles it sold last year was a top end vehicle (TEV) with a price tag exceeding Rs 1.5 crore. In an interaction with PTI, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Santosh Iyer said the new launches would be a mix of new models as well as fresh versions of the existing line up. The company introduced 14 new models last year in India. Iyer noted that the company remains optimistic as sales growth to continue in 2025 as well despite witnessing some headwinds in the second half of last year. In the second half of last year, the market growth actuall
German luxury carmaker Audi on Wednesday reported a 26.6 per cent decline in retail sales at 5,816 units in 2024 compared to the previous year, impacted by supply chain issues. The company had recorded retail sales of 7,931 units in 2023. "The first half of 2024 brought supply-related challenges for Audi India, yet the continued demand for our products reflects the enduring trust our customers place in the brand. With improved supplies in the second half of 2024, our volumes improved by 36 per cent in quarter four compared to quarter three of 2024," Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon said in a statement. He further said 2024 marked a major milestone of a cumulative 1 lakh cars sold in India. On the outlook for 2025, he said, after finishing 2024 strongly in the fourth quarter the company anticipate sales to grow hereon. "We remain optimistic about the long-term potential of the Indian luxury car market and are committed to delivering exceptional experiences to our customers," ..
MG Motor India confirmed showcasing three new models across three new categories, including the MG Cyberster electric sports car, at the upcoming Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025