As the new financial year begins, car buyers in India are facing a familiar trend which is the price hikes. Starting April 2026, several major carmakers including Tata Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, MG Motor, and Mahindra & Mahindra have increased prices across their vehicle range.
Why Are Prices Going Up?
The main reason behind these price hikes is rising input costs. This includes the cost of raw materials like steel, electronics, and logistics. Another important factor is currency fluctuation. Many car parts are imported, so when the Indian rupee weakens against currencies like the euro, it becomes more expensive for companies to build cars.
Audi And Mercedes-Benz
Audi has increased prices by up to 2% across all its models. This is its first price hike in 2026. Mercedes-Benz has also raised prices by around 2%. This is its second hike this year, after one earlier in January. Luxury brands are usually more affected by currency changes because they import more parts.
Tata Motors
On the mass-market side, Tata Motors has increased prices by around 0.5% on its petrol, diesel, and CNG cars. Importantly, Tata’s electric vehicles have not seen a price increase. This makes EVs slightly more attractive for buyers looking to avoid rising costs.
MG Motor
MG Motor has raised prices by up to 2% across models like Hector, Astor, and ZS EV. However, premium models sold under MG Select, such as Cyberster and M9 EV, remain unaffected.
Mahindra
Mahindra & Mahindra has also announced a price hike of up to 2.5%, with an average increase of 1.6% across its SUV and commercial vehicle range. For the newly launched XUV7XO, prices will increase only after the first 40,000 bookings are delivered, offering some relief to early buyers.
Car prices are not fixed. They change based on market conditions, production costs, and global factors. Even a small increase of 1-2% can mean paying thousands more on the final on-road price.
Price hikes at the start of a financial year are common in the auto industry. With increasing demand, new technology, and global uncertainties, such revisions are expected to continue.