Luxury automakers set to make a comeback at auto expo this year

After skipping the 2023 edition, luxury automakers Mercedes Benz and BMW have returned to the Auto Expo 2025, now rebranded as the Bharat Mobility Global Expo.

- Alisha Sachdev

Both brands are leveraging the platform to showcase their cutting-edge models and drum up consumer sentiment after a year of strong sales, even as the overall passenger car market slowed.

The luxury car market in India is estimated to have closed 2024 with sales of 51,000 units, representing a 6% year-on-year (y-o-y) growth.

While the overall segment grew, it was a mixed show, with some automakers driving growth while others struggled to retain volumes.

Mercedes Benz, India's largest luxury carmaker, saw a robust 12.4% growth in 2024, delivering 19,565 vehicles.

BMW, its closest rival, grew by 12.8%, selling 15,012 units.

However, Audi continued to face challenges, with a sharp 26.7% decline in sales, amounting to just 5,816 units.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) stood out with stellar growth rates of 35%, while Japanese luxury carmaker Lexus saw sales grow 13.8% y-o-y, according to industry estimates, although their volumes remain much smaller.

Volvo and MINI, on the other hand, reported double-digit declines of 19.6% and 18.4%.