BMW Group India has surged to the top of the luxury car retail charts in the first half of CY2026, overtaking its closest rival in a significant milestone for the company. The company sold a total of 9,075 vehicles  between January and June 2026, a 17 percent YoY increase.

In an interaction with Motoring Trends, Hardeep Brar, President & CEO, BMW Group India, attributed this success to a potent combination of new product launches and shifting consumer preferences towards electric vehicles amid global fuel price volatility.

“A couple of factors played very well for us. So firstly, we launched 11 new models and second thing, because of the West Asia crisis, an increase in fuel prices, a lot of narrative got shifted towards EVs; a lot of people are preferring to buy EVs versus diesel now,” said Brar.

The company’s aggressive product offensive has been central to its performance. With 11 models already launched in the H1 against the planned 25 product offensive for the year, BMW is capitalising on both traditional and emerging powertrains. Brar expressed strong confidence for the remainder of the year, noting an even more exciting pipeline ahead.

“So that gives us more confidence and EV story is only getting stronger with every passing day. I think we have reached an inflection point; people are really loving the EVs that we are introducing,” he remarked.

BMW’s EV penetration stands at an impressive 26 percent within the luxury segment, significantly ahead of the luxury average of around 14 percent and the broader industry’s 6 percent.

Brar highlighted that removing ‘BMW from the luxury equation drops the segment’s EV share to 8-9 percent, underscoring the brand’s leadership in electrification.’

Responding to the key factors driving EV adoption in the luxury space include near price parity between petrol and electric variants, ranges exceeding 500 km (with next-generation models targeting 800 km), and innovative customer assurances.

“EV customers have a lot of anxiety in terms of residual resale value. So, we have a program where we give an assured buyback to the customer that after three years you will get 60 percent of the value. And that is really playing and that is giving them confidence,” Brar explained.

MINI’s Remarkable Revival

On the other hand, the MINI brand has also delivered exceptional results. After selling approximately 730 units last year, BMW India launched the locally produced Countryman C last month at INR 4.75 million, passing on cost benefits to customers. The response was overwhelming, with 150 units sold in the first month alone.

“We are growing at almost 70 percent for MINI in H1 CY2026 and we want to double the volumes of 730 units last year and are looking at 1,500 units for MINI in CY2026,” Brar stated.

Localisation, Dealer Dynamics and Manufacturing Focus

On localisation, the company maintains an average of 50 percent, slightly higher for internal combustion engine (ICE) models than EVs, with ongoing efforts to deepen content in battery technology as more local players emerge.

Addressing dealer profitability concerns around EVs, which typically require less aftersales maintenance, Brar noted strong upfront margins due to high demand. “Dealer doesn’t lose any money on selling the new car. Whereas petrol and diesel have an oversupply and thus they are able to make far more money on the electric vehicle.”

He confirmed that discounting remains absent on EVs, with waiting periods stretching to three months owing to robust demand.

India’s rising importance in BMW’s global portfolio was a recurring theme. “India is one of the fastest-growing markets for BMW across the globe. This year, India is at No. 1 in terms of growth globally,” Brar said.

The company has moved into the global top 20 markets, prompting increased focus from headquarters.

Going forward, BMW Group India plans to produce 20,000 cars this year, up from 18,000 units last year, with ongoing investments in production lines and AI for efficiency. A significant INR 4 billion investment is earmarked for the retail network across CY2025–2027.

The second half of 2026, will see BMW Group India introduce 14 additional launches, including electric vehicles, sedans and SUVs, maintaining strong momentum.

Sharing his views on the sedan segment, Brar said that it continues to hold a robust 35 percent share of BMW’s sales, far above the industry’s 9-10 percent, reflecting enduring customer preference for the brand’s driving dynamics.

When asked about key challenges and opportunities, Brar outlined a balanced view.  “In terms of headwinds, forex is an issue because it is deteriorating. And with every one rupee deterioration, it impacts our bottom line by 1 percent.” He also flagged the risk of sudden shifts away from diesel potentially creating inventory challenges.

On the flip side, “The accelerating EV transition, rapidly growing demand from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and continuous improvement in brand and customer experience becoming better with every passing day. So that I see as another very, very strong tailwind for us,” concluded Brar.

Despite broader manufacturing sector concerns around labour shortages, BMW reports no significant issues, thanks to proactive AI and automation initiatives.

Data source: Vahan

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Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Corporation has announced the appointment of Cedric Ratinaud as the new Global Head of Brand, Nissan.

Ratinaud previously served as the Director of Creative and Campaigns for Global Communications at Nissan Motor Corporation, a role he held from April 2024. Prior to that position, he worked as General Manager of INFINITI Global Communications. His background includes two decades in the automotive sector across communications, marketing communications, and brand management roles.

His career at Nissan spans operations across Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Most recently, he served as General Manager of Brand, Marketing, and Communications for Nissan Motor Asia Pacific, operating out of Thailand.

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TVS Supply Chain Solutions has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Japan-based Sankyu Inc. to collaborate across supply chain and engineering services.

As part of the agreement, Sankyu intends to acquire a 0.5 percent equity stake in TVS Supply Chain Solutions, subject to regulatory approvals.

The partnership combines TVS Supply Chain Solutions' logistics network in India with Sankyu's engineering capabilities and corporate connections in Japan. Initial operations will focus on serving manufacturing and industrial clients in India, where over 1,400 Japanese companies operate.

Future plans include expanding joint operations into regions across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and additional international markets where both firms hold established infrastructure.

To manage operations under the agreement, the companies will form a joint steering committee with representatives from both organisations to identify operational opportunities and oversee joint initiatives.

R. Dinesh, Chairman, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, said, “This partnership represents an important step in our strategy to strengthen our capabilities and create greater value for customers. Sankyu's engineering expertise and deep relationships across the Japanese industrial ecosystem complement TVS Supply Chain Solutions' integrated supply chain capabilities, strong customer relationships and market presence. We share a strong commitment to long-term value creation, and together we are well positioned to deliver more comprehensive solutions, support the evolving needs of manufacturing and industrial customers, and unlock new growth opportunities across India and other strategic markets.”

Kimihiro Nakamura, President and CEO, Sankyu Inc, said, "Since our inception in 1918, Sankyu has been dedicated to supporting the progress of the manufacturing sector, underpinned by our core philosophy of valuing our people. We are profoundly honoured to enter into this partnership with TVS SCS, an organisation that shares our philosophy and commitment to the highest ethical standards. Our two companies possess a strong strategic alignment, and by integrating and complementing our respective strengths, we look forward to achieving collective growth in the global market and contributing to sustainable industrial development."

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Vietnamese automotive company VinFast has expanded the role of its India Chief Executive Officer, Tapan Ghosh, to oversee operations in Indonesia, uniting the company's management structure across both regional markets.

Interestingly, Ghosh becomes Chief Executive Officer for VinFast Operations across both countries, making him the first executive from India to manage multiple markets for the Vietnamese company.

Since joining the Vietnamese brand in 2025 from Hyundai Motor India, Ghosh has managed local manufacturing setups, dealership distribution expansion and product strategies. His new responsibilities will include overseeing the development of a complete knock-down (CKD) assembly operation in Indonesia.

The dual-country manufacturing and distribution setup establishes operational hubs for VinFast across South Asia and Southeast Asia, supporting its strategy to expand production beyond Vietnam.

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Chinese automotive major Geely Automobile Holdings has announced changes to its board of directors and executive leadership structure, effective 18 August 2026, as part of its succession planning framework.

Li Shu Fu has resigned as Chairman of the Board and Executive Director to focus on other business commitments. He has accepted an appointment as Honorary Chairman for Life, a role outside the formal corporate governance structure. Li remains a controlling shareholder of the company and confirmed that he has no disagreement with the board regarding his departure.

On the other hand, Executive Director An Cong Hui has been appointed Chairman of the Board. The board cited An's operational experience within the group and strategic alignment with the controlling shareholder entity as factors supporting the appointment. Independent non-executive directors will continue to oversee potential conflict management protocols under Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing rules.

Further board adjustments include the resignation of Li Dong Hui, Daniel, from the role of Vice-Chairman. He retains his seat as an Executive Director. Gui Sheng Yue has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and assumed the role of Vice Chairman while remaining an Executive Director.

Following Gui's transition, Executive Director Gan Jia Yue has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Gan assumes responsibility for managing the group's operational activities and executing long-term business objectives.

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