The Indian luxury car industry in general, and BMW India in particular, is unlikely to be impacted by the US reciprocal tariffs, Vikram Pawah, president & CEO, BMW Group India, told FE. “While we make as many as 10 models in India, we don’t export to the US, and so there isn’t going to be any impact of the US tariff announcement on us,” he said. “I don’t see any direct connection (between the US tariffs and the Indian car market).”
On Thursday, BMW Group India announced that has recorded the best-ever Q1 of a calendar year in sales, with 3,914 BMW and MINI cars sold, clocking 7% growth – of these, BMW-branded cars accounted for 3,764 units, and MINI 150 units – as well as 1,373 motorcycles.
“We have set the tone for a successful year,” Pawah said. “We were also the most preferred luxury electric brand, with a growth of over 200% in our electric car sales. The fundamentals of the Indian economy appear strong, and BMW is a highly aspirational brand, and this means we are looking ahead to a very successful year.”
At the Auto Expo in January, the carmaker had launched an entry-luxury EV called the iX1 Long Wheelbase, which has received more than 1,500 bookings.
Audi India sales
Competitor Audi India recorded sales of 1,223 units in the Q1 of 2025 – 17% growth compared to Q1 of 2024 – and said that its pre-owned car business, Audi Approved Plus, grew by 23%. “We recently celebrated the milestone of 100,000 cars on Indian roads cumulatively, and have started 2025 on a positive note,” Balbir Singh Dhillon, head of Audi India, said. “Having successfully navigated supply challenges in 2024, we are well-equipped to meet the increasing demand for luxury mobility in India.”