November 2, 2026

Most BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo and Land Rover models sold in India are assembled here from imported kits, while Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati cars are shipped in fully built. Local assembly has typically cut the showroom price by about 12 to 22 percent on the recent launches below. The latest example came on 27 October 2026, when the Defender 110 fell by up to Rs 34 lakh after JLR began assembling it in Pune.

Some modifications are legal in India, but far fewer than most workshops suggest. Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act bars any change that makes a car differ from the particulars in its registration certificate (RC) as specified by the manufacturer, and the Supreme Court confirmed this strictly in 2019. A colour change needs RTO approval first, so a wrap in a new colour without an RC update is a problem. A louder aftermarket exhaust

The cheapest used luxury cars to run in India are the Lexus ES 300h and four-cylinder BMWs such as the 3 Series and X1, with a used Volvo XC60 or a simpler Mercedes E-Class or C-Class close behind. Indian owners report about Rs 45,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh a year for cars like these, before fuel. The ones to avoid are older Range Rovers, out-of-warranty Porsches, and anything with air suspension, a big engine and