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Time of India
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Luxe just another car, big auto ups bling with Limited Editions
Luxury carmakers in India are sharpening their focus on exclusivity and personalisation to deepen their engagement with the lucrative and burgeoning pool of affluent buyers. By rolling out limited-edition variants and high-performance versions of core models, these automakers are not just seeking to unleash excitement and burnish brand prestige but also moving to unlock new, high-margin revenue streams in an intensely competitive marketplace. Overall, luxury cars-models priced at more than '50 lakh-scaled a record high of 51,500 units in FY25, according to industry estimates. However, at a 3.3% rise, it marked the slowest pace of growth in at least three years, largely due to economic uncertainties and stock market volatility. Sales had seen 16.7% growth in FY24 and 55.3% in the year before. With wealthy customers increasingly seeking cars that symbolise their identity and status, automakers such as Mercedes-Benz , BMW, Jaguar Land Rover ( JLR ), and MINI are responding with a flurry of special editions and hyper-customised versions of existing models. Mercedes-Benz leads the luxury car segment with a more than 45% share, followed by BMW, JLR and Audi. These innovations are spurred by the readiness of top-end customers to pay a premium for exclusivity. This March, Tata Motors-owned JLR unveiled Defender Octa - a special edition version of the standard Defender. Priced at ₹2.59 crore-nearly 50% more than the equivalent regular model-the Octa offers exclusive paint shades, tailored interiors, and performance upgrades. "These models combine high performance with finely crafted, bespoke interiors," said Rajan Amba, MD, JLR India. "These vehicles act as halo products that elevate the entire brand," Amba told ET. "The strategy of launching limited and special edition models is a win-win for both the company as well as customers," said Puneet Gupta, director at S&P Global Mobility. While it helps companies stretch the name plate lifecycle, buyers, on their part, retain that exclusivity - be it in terms of the overall look and feel, interiors or performance, he noted. "The high margins with minimal investments ensure that the cash registers keep ringing at the companies," said Gupta. Luxury brands are also enthused by India's expanding base of high-net-worth individuals-those with over $10 million in assets. The number of HNIs increased 6% to 85,698 last year, according to Knight Frank. At Mercedes-Benz India , personalisation is fast becoming a core differentiator. "Hyper personalisation is an emerging trend among our top-end luxury customers and collectors," said Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. "Our MANUFAKTUR range and special editions are witnessing unprecedented demand." All 25 units of the AMG G 63 Grand Edition, priced at ₹4 crore, sold out within minutes of launch, while the ₹4.2 crore Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series launched on March 17 this year, was fully booked the same evening it was announced. Later this month, the company is debuting an 'India Inspired' AMG G 63 'Collector's Edition.' BMW India is also leveraging limited editions to build emotional resonance with customers. "Limited editions fulfil bespoke aspirations perfectly. They celebrate heritage, milestones, and exclusivity," said Vikram Pawah, president and CEO, BMW Group India. "The BMW XM Label was limited to 500 units globally, with only one allocated to India-sold out on the day of launch," he said.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fallen SDPD officer remembered for his courage and sacrifice
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Emotional moments outside San Diego Police Department headquarters Wednesday afternoon as Officer Austin Machitar was honored for making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Machitar, 30, was killed during a police pursuit in Clairemont on Aug. 26 of last year. His name was formally added to the department's Officer Memorial Wall during a solemn ceremony attended by city leaders, fellow officers, friends and family. 'Service, sacrifice and selflessness — those are the three words that best describe Austin,' said Police Chief Scott Wahl. 'He was charismatic, he was a a good leader and just a good character person. When you see somebody have to give the ultimate sacrifice in doing this job, it rips your heart apart.' 4S Ranch fifth grader wins 'Sheriff for the Day' contest Machitar had served with the department for five years. He and his partner, Officer Zachary Martinez, were assisting in a pursuit involving a BMW driven by a 16-year-old boy. The vehicle crashed into the officers' SUV, killing both Machitar and the teen. Officer Martinez survived the fiery collision but sustained critical injuries, including severe burns. He has since made a full recovery. Mayor Todd Gloria praised Machitar's bravery and emphasized the importance of remembering fallen officers. 'What all of our officers do is heroic work,' Gloria said. 'And when they die in the line of duty, as Austin did, we have to memorialize them.' The ceremony included heartfelt speeches from family and colleagues, many of whom reflected on Machitar's positive spirit and love for his job. 'He loved what he did,' said family friend Jeana Crossland. 'He loved protecting people and supporting people.' Murdered surfers to be honored with statue in Baja Sgt. Jessica Thrift, fighting back tears, addressed Machitar directly. 'Every officer at Northern Division, your mom, your dad, your sister and all of your friends — we miss you,' Thrift said. 'I would say, 'You did good, kid. And we miss you.'' The city of San Diego recently announced plans to rename North Clairemont Park in Machitar's honor, ensuring his legacy continues in the community he served. His name now joins those of other officers who gave their lives to protect and serve 'America's Finest City.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Luxe just another car, big auto ups bling with Limited Editions
Luxury carmakers in India are sharpening their focus on exclusivity and personalisation to deepen their engagement with the lucrative and burgeoning pool of affluent rolling out limited-edition variants and high-performance versions of core models, these automakers are not just seeking to unleash excitement and burnish brand prestige but also moving to unlock new, high-margin revenue streams in an intensely competitive luxury cars-models priced at more than '50 lakh-scaled a record high of 51,500 units in FY25, according to industry estimates. However, at a 3.3% rise, it marked the slowest pace of growth in at least three years, largely due to economic uncertainties and stock market volatility. Sales had seen 16.7% growth in FY24 and 55.3% in the year before. With wealthy customers increasingly seeking cars that symbolise their identity and status, automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and MINI are responding with a flurry of special editions and hyper-customised versions of existing models. Mercedes-Benz leads the luxury car segment with a more than 45% share, followed by BMW, JLR and Audi. These innovations are spurred by the readiness of top-end customers to pay a premium for exclusivity. This March, Tata Motors-owned JLR unveiled Defender Octa - a special edition version of the standard Defender. Priced at ₹2.59 crore-nearly 50% more than the equivalent regular model-the Octa offers exclusive paint shades, tailored interiors, and performance upgrades."These models combine high performance with finely crafted, bespoke interiors," said Rajan Amba, MD, JLR India. "These vehicles act as halo products that elevate the entire brand," Amba told ET."The strategy of launching limited and special edition models is a win-win for both the company as well as customers," said Puneet Gupta, director at S&P Global Mobility. While it helps companies stretch the name plate lifecycle, buyers, on their part, retain that exclusivity - be it in terms of the overall look and feel, interiors or performance, he noted. "The high margins with minimal investments ensure that the cash registers keep ringing at the companies," said brands are also enthused by India's expanding base of high-net-worth individuals-those with over $10 million in assets. The number of HNIs increased 6% to 85,698 last year, according to Knight Frank. At Mercedes-Benz India, personalisation is fast becoming a core differentiator. "Hyper personalisation is an emerging trend among our top-end luxury customers and collectors," said Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. "Our MANUFAKTUR range and special editions are witnessing unprecedented demand." All 25 units of the AMG G 63 Grand Edition, priced at ₹4 crore, sold out within minutes of launch, while the ₹4.2 crore Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series launched on March 17 this year, was fully booked the same evening it was announced. Later this month, the company is debuting an 'India Inspired' AMG G 63 'Collector's Edition.'BMW India is also leveraging limited editions to build emotional resonance with customers. "Limited editions fulfil bespoke aspirations perfectly. They celebrate heritage, milestones, and exclusivity," said Vikram Pawah, president and CEO, BMW Group India. "The BMW XM Label was limited to 500 units globally, with only one allocated to India-sold out on the day of launch," he said.
Business Times
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Business Times
Europe: Stocks close lower as caution lingers on US trade policy progress
EUROPE'S main stock index closed lower amid broader declines on Wednesday as investors monitored progress in trade negotiations with the United States and assessed a slate of economic data from the region. The continent-wide Stoxx 600 index closed 0.61 per cent lower at 548.93 on the day, after two consecutive sessions of gains due to US President Donald Trump delaying tariffs on the European Union. Reports on Tuesday said EU policymakers had asked the region's leading companies to provide details of their US investment plans. German automakers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are in talks with Washington on a possible import tariff deal. The automobile sector was 0.7 per cent higher. Despite signs of a thaw in the trade tensions between the US and Europe, investors remained on edge as they struggled to keep up with the erratic nature of Trump's trade policies. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'Over the next weeks, the market will be in a relatively tight trading range because investors are waiting to see what Trump does,' said Nick Brooks, head of economic and investment research at ICG. Brooks added that it was too early to say anything definitive about automakers talking directly with the US as negotiations lie in the hands of the EU as a whole. Germany's main stock index retreated 0.8 per cent after hitting a record high earlier in the session, while the mid-caps index hit its highest since April 2022. Fresh data indicated that German import prices unexpectedly contracted by 0.4 per cent year-on-year in April and that unemployment in Europe's largest economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in May. Uncertainty stirred up by US trade policy shifts and price pressures are leading to higher expectations that the European Central Bank will cut interest rates next week. In France, the CAC 40 index closed 0.5 per cent lower, reversing earlier gains after gross domestic product figures showed slight growth in the first quarter, as expected. The defence index extended gains by 0.7 per cent as investors continued to flock towards the military ammunition companies amid little hopes of a pause to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine tensions. Reuters reported that Russia's conditions for ending the war in Ukraine include a demand that Western leaders pledge in writing to stop enlarging Nato eastwards and lift a chunk of sanctions on Russia. Elekta shares topped the Stoxx 600 after beating estimates for fourth-quarter sales, up 5.9 per cent. Kingfisher fell 3.6 per cent as the home improvement retailer's first-quarter results failed to impress investors. Stellantis dipped 2.2 per cent. The Jeep-maker named insider Antonio Filosa as its top boss. Global markets were focused on quarterly results from AI chipmaker Nvidia, due after the close of trading on Wall Street. REUTERS
Motor 1
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Buy Now: VW Promises to Keep Pre-Tariff Prices Through June
Automakers are doing their best to insulate buyers from tariff-related costs. Volkswagen , which promised to maintain the current prices on all its models through the end of May, has extended that pricing guarantee through the end of June. The automaker said in a statement today: "In an effort to keep vehicles affordable for our customers, the brand will cover today's increased costs." This, despite it being more expensive "to do business in the current environment," the company said. The hold on current MSRPs includes the Jetta and Taos, the brand's entry-level models, which it makes in Mexico. Photo by: Victoria Scott / Motor1 The company said they "will maintain their accessible price points," which will include the redesigned 2025 Tiguan , the brand's best-selling model in America. It starts at $30,920 (all prices include the destination charge), while the Jetta and Taos cost $23,720 and $26,420, respectively. VW didn't say what will happen at the end of June. A Reuters report today alleged Volkswagen, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz, are working to make a deal with the US government regarding the president's tariffs on imported vehicles. The report says that a deal could happen sometime in June, which would result in the three heavily investing in the country. Photo by: Anthony Alaniz / Motor1 General Motors is also keeping prices unchanged despite any increased costs. However, it'll cost the company $4 to $5 billion , and it's not a route every automaker is taking. Ford had to increase the price of the Maverick , now $30,000, after offering employee pricing on select models. Aston Martin plans to increase the price of its vehicles , and Volvo plans to pass some of the tariff-added costs onto consumers . Toyota has said that tariffs will result in higher prices , reduced sales, and costlier repairs for customers. The Latest On Tariffs: Even Hot Wheels Could Get a Price Hike From Trump's Tariffs UK Auto Tariffs Slashed in First Trade Deal With US Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Sources: Volkswagen , Reuters Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
