Not-So-Silent Splendour

2025 was a landmark year for India's luxury car market and showed that the electric revolution is here to stay

- KRANTI SAMBHAV

Don't you feel bad for January at times? It is a month already nursing a week-long hangover and burdened with bizarre resolutions, greeted by confusing wishes like 'Happy New Year' and desperate pleas like '#PleaseBeGoodToMe'. None of the other 11 months carries such weight; they come and go without being judged. But not January. Just like the firstborns? Perhaps. Even among the non-hashtag generation, there is a sense that this month should fade in gently, rather than appearing with a sudden flip of the page.

We wish for a slow start, but as usual, January never fails to disappoint. First, the mailbox fills with year-end sales figures, quickly followed by price-hike announcements. Then, WhatsApp begins to ping with messages that start with 'Happy New Year' and end with 'Please carry this press release'.

However, this January arrived with something extra. It wasn't just the headlines about BYD overtaking Tesla or the debates over Venezuela's oil reserves. This month also brought a clearer picture of the EV (electric vehicles) adoption story in India, particularly within the luxury segment.

The January Assessment

The year 2025 proved to be a landmark one for India's luxury car market. According to Srihari Mulgund, partner and new-age mobility leader, EY Parthenon India, it was the best year yet for luxury EVs, which seized 14 percent of the sector's total 59,000-unit sales (this includes premium vehicles in the ₹30 lakh-plus bracket). According to various data, the premium and luxury EV market had been stuck at around 10 percent throughout 2023 and 2024. While EY's analysis provides the macro view, data from the Federation of Automotive Dealers Association (FADA) reveals some more nuances. Beyond the usual mass-market suspects, two figures define the story of India's high-end electric segment. While Tesla's official entry added some buzz in the market, the growth shown by BMW is truly indicative of the current trend.