BMW to launch 27 products in India this year, eyes No. 1 spot

BMW Group India is planning one of its biggest product offensives in the country, with 27 launches lined up this year as it looks to sustain strong growth and emerge as the top luxury carmaker in India.

“As we speak, we are number one…But frankly, we are not chasing the number one position. This is a by-product of what we are fundamentally doing. Our focus is on the basics—launching better cars, offering a wider portfolio and giving customers what they want,” Hardeep Singh Brar, president and CEO, BMW Group India, told the Times of India at the launch of locally-assembled MINI Countryman C, priced at Rs 47.5 lakh.

According to Vahan data, BMW is currently ahead of Mercedes-Benz by around 300 units.

According to Brar, the company has planned 27 product introductions across its brands in 2026, including 10 major launches and 17 special editions and variants. BMW believes the expanded portfolio will help drive demand across segments.

Brar said the company is targeting strong double-digit growth this year after recording a 17 per cent rise in sales during the first quarter. Despite implementing two rounds of price hikes, BMW has not seen any impact on demand.

“At this stage, I do not see any negative impact from the price increases,” he said.

BMW is also expecting a strong year for its premium small-car brand MINI. After selling 730 units last year, the company expects MINI sales to cross the 1,000-unit mark for the first time and potentially double from 2025 levels.

“The typical MINI customer is a very affluent individual who already owns several luxury cars and wants a MINI as part of that collection. We want to preserve its uniqueness and exclusivity, but we do expect stronger volumes,” Brar said.

To support growth, BMW plans to add more than 10 new touchpoints across India while nearly doubling MINI’s retail network.

‘Luxury customers prefer sedan’
While SUVs continue to dominate luxury vehicle demand, Brar said sedans remain an important part of the segment. He noted that sedans account for around 38 per cent of luxury car sales, compared with just 9 per cent in the mass-market passenger vehicle segment.

“More than one-third of luxury customers continue to prefer sedans. I don’t see sedans disappearing from the luxury market,” he said.

On the proposed India-European Union free trade agreement, Brar said any significant impact on imported completely built-up (CBU) luxury vehicles is unlikely before 2028, although high-performance BMW M models could benefit if tariffs are reduced.