Just months after halting production of three global models in India, Vietnamese EV maker VinFast has announced a strategic shift. It’s going to localize two new electric vehicles, as opposed to tweaking its international models for the Indian market.
What This Means
VinFast is in advanced talks with suppliers for two India-specific EVs.
One of them is expected to be a compact EV priced under USD 12,000 (INR 10 lakh). This is likely to target first-time EV buyers.
This shift from ‘make in India’ to ‘make for India’ is an important signal to Indian EV buyers. It suggests that global automakers see the Indian market as a serious long-term prospect. If VinFast manages to deliver on its promises, Indian buyers can expect a broad selection of affordable EVs from the brand starting 2027-28.
Mercedes-Benz Opens First Studio In India, Unveils AMG E-Bikes
German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz has launched its first ever Mercedes-Benz Studio in India. Located at DLF One Horizon Centre in Gurugram, the new initiative is part of the company’s efforts to take its premium brand positioning to urban Indians.
What This Means
Mercedes-Benz India has taken a unique approach to premium positioning through its first Studio. Contrary to typical Mercedes-Benz dealerships, the new retail space focuses on brand experiences.
It’s an immersive space that showcases the brand’s technological innovations and the lifestyle that comes with its performance cars.
As part of the Studio launch, Mercedes has also announced the launch of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team e-bike range in India. The e-bikes have been developed in collaboration with EMotorad and will be available in three variants starting at INR 4.20 lakh.
Mrp Of The Three AMG E-Bike Variants (inclusive of GST)
Edition
Price
Specifications
City
INR 4.20 Lakh
Shimano CUES 9-speed chain drive, rigid alloy fork
Track
INR 5.70 Lakh
Shimano 9-speed chain, Pirelli Angel Urban GT tyres, extra battery
Rallye
INR 7.60 Lakh
Pinion C1.9 gearbox, Gates carbon belt, 80 mm front suspension, extra battery
Key features:
All three variants have a 250W rear-hub motor with pedal assist up to 25 km/h.
They have a claimed range of up to 100km, which would require the extra seat-tube battery pack. This is included in the Track and Rallye editions, but is an optional extra for the City edition.
Pre-orders have already opened for the AMG e-bikes with deliveries expected to start by mid-September 2026. This is a smart branding move by Mercedes as it looks to create brand equity around its AMG performance image in India. The e-bikes also serve as a nice halo product for the entry-level two-wheelers the company is set to launch soon.
Renault’s September Offers: Up To INR 1.30 Lakh Off Duster
If you are planning to buy a Renault this festive season, here are some special offers for you. As part of its September offers for 2026, Renault India has announced special discounts on its entire range.
What This Means
The Renault Duster is the star attraction with up to INR 1.30 Lakh off on all variants. The benefit is split between an INR 30,000 cash discount and up to INR 1 Lakh exchange bonus on trade-in of an old Duster. Alternatively, buyers can also avail of 4.99% financing if they don’t take the cash discount.
The Duster is currently priced between INR 10.49-18.69 Lakh ex showroom.
Renault Kwid has benefits of up to INR 40,000. This includes INR 15,000 cash discount plus INR 25,000 scrappage benefit, but only in select states. The easy on-pocket hatchback is priced between INR 4.53-5.85 Lakh ex showroom.
On the other hand, benefits on Renault Kiger go up to INR 85,000 in select states and INR 50,000 in other states. Similarly, benefits on Renault Triber go up to INR 50,000 in select states and INR 35,000 in others. The Kiger and Triber are priced between INR 5.81-10.35 Lakh and INR 5.81-8.48 Lakh ex showroom respectively.
The offers have been announced for all of India, but availability, variants and benefits may vary from state to state and from dealer to dealer. Thus, if you are planning to buy a Renault on a budget, there is no better time than the next two months.
Price Hikes By Maruti, Tata, Hyundai And BMW
While some automakers are announcing festive discounts, several others have announced price hikes for 2026. The hikes have been attributed to rising input costs and weakening rupee.
What This Means
Maruti Suzuki announced its third round of price hikes for 2026. It has increased the prices of select models by up to INR 20,000 effective September. The company blamed the hikes on sustained inflation in steel, aluminium and forex.
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle division also announced its price hike of up to INR 25,000 effective September 1, 2026.
Hyundai Motor India announced its third price hike of 2026. It increased the prices by up to 1% across its passenger vehicle portfolio.
BMW India is also set to announce another price hike in October 2026. It has already hiked prices of its cars four times this year and with the fifth hike, its cars are expected to see a 5% increase in on-road prices.
Thus, while some automakers are giving benefits on select festive season models to clear inventory, others have been forced to increase prices to offset costs.
EV Sales Update: Tata Motors Leads With 13,158 EVs Sold In August
Electric vehicles continue to be a hot selling segment in India, with Tata Motors leading the pack. It sold 13,158 EVs in August 2026, led by the demand for Punch.ev and Nexon.ev.
What This Means
Mahindra & Mahindra retained its second spot in the EV sales chart, riding on the sales of its BE and XEV electric SUVs. It continues to benefit from its early-mover advantage and extensive charging infrastructure network. However, with Tata Motors expanding its EV footprint and entering the EV charging space as well, the gap between the two automakers is set to narrow.
Festive Season Launches To Watch Out For
September-October 2026 is set to be a busy time for new launches. In addition to the Renault Duster Hybrid and Mahindra Thar 3-Door facelift, several automakers are set to launch new SUVs and EVs to capitalise on the festive season sales rush.
So, in addition to the September festive offers and new launches, the next two months are sure to be exciting for car buyers.
Industry View: 35 New Nameplates Coming In Next 4-5 Years
The competition in the automobile sector is set to heat up further in the coming years. With several automakers planning to introduce new models to meet diverse customer needs as well as cut costs through localization, the market is set to witness several new nameplates in the next 4-5 years.
What This Means
The top four automakers – Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors PV – are collectively planning to launch around 35 new nameplates in the next 4-5 years. While Mahindra is targeting to launch 15 new models, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors PV are planning to launch 6-7 new models each.
This indicates that there will be more choice for Indian car buyers in the near future. With automakers looking to localize their production process and reduce costs, prices of cars are also expected to come down.
So, here’s what all this means for you:
If you are an electric vehicle buyer, there may be more good news for you in 2027-28. VinFast’s India EV strategy shift is an indication of more affordable electric vehicles coming to India.
If you are a premium buyer looking to invest in the luxury segment, Mercedes-Benz Studio and AMG e-bikes are just the beginning of your options.
If you are a budget buyer looking to buy a new car without stretching your finances too thin, the Renault festive season offers are calling.
And if you are a car buyer in general, be it budget or premium, the repeated price hikes by Maruti, Tata, Hyundai and BMW should give you pause for thought before making a purchase decision.