European luxury and performance cars have always enjoyed a strong fan base in India. While many mass-market models from brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen are now assembled locally (CKD – Completely Knocked Down), several high-performance, flagship, and ultra-luxury vehicles are still imported directly from Europe as CBUs (Completely Built Units).
With the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) expected to take effect from 2026, this import-heavy segment is set for a major transformation. Let’s take a closer look at which European cars are currently imported into India, where they come from, and how the FTA will impact their pricing.
What Does CBU Mean?
CBU (Completely Built Unit) vehicles are imported in fully assembled form. These attract very high customs duties—currently around 110% in India—making them far more expensive than locally assembled CKD models.
However, under the upcoming India–EU FTA, import duties on many European cars are expected to drop:
- From 110% to around 30–40% initially
- Eventually to just 10% for a quota of 250,000 vehicles per year
This could dramatically reduce the price of premium European cars in India.
European cars in india list
| Country | Major Brands |
|---|---|
| Germany | BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche |
| Italy | Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati |
| United Kingdom | Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin |
| Slovakia | Land Rover Defender & Discovery |
(UK imports may follow a different tariff structure under separate India–UK trade talks.)
Key European Cars Imported into India
Mercedes-Benz
While Mercedes assembles many cars locally, its top AMG and Maybach models are still imported:
- Mercedes-AMG G 63
- AMG GT
- AMG SL
- Maybach S 680
These performance and ultra-luxury models come directly from Germany.
BMW
BMW also imports its M performance and flagship models:
- BMW M4 Competition
- BMW M5
- BMW M8 Coupe
- BMW Z4 Roadster
- Electric imports: BMW i4, BMW i7
Most of these arrive from BMW’s German plants.
Audi
Audi’s high-performance and premium electric models are brought in as CBUs:
- Audi RS Q8
- Audi RS5 Sportback
- Audi e-tron electric range
Porsche
Porsche imports its entire lineup into India, including:
- Porsche 911
- 718 Cayman & Boxster
- Cayenne
- Panamera
- Porsche Taycan (electric)
Every Porsche sold in India is a European import, primarily from Germany.
Land Rover
Some Land Rover models are imported from Europe, especially:
- Land Rover Defender
- Land Rover Discovery
These are sourced from Slovakia.
Volkswagen & Skoda
Performance and flagship models are imported, such as:
- Volkswagen Golf GTI
- Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line
- Skoda Octavia RS
These models are manufactured in Europe and sold in limited numbers in India.
Ultra-Luxury & Supercar Brands
These brands import their entire range as CBUs:
- Ferrari – Roma, SF90, 296 GTB
- Lamborghini – Urus SE, Revuelto
- Bentley – Bentayga, Continental GT
- Rolls-Royce – Ghost, Phantom, Cullinan
- Maserati – Grecale, MC20, Quattroporte
What the India–EU FTA Means for Buyers
Once implemented, the FTA could make European luxury and sports cars 30–50% cheaper than current prices. This would open the doors for many Indian buyers who previously found these cars unaffordable.
From high-performance AMGs and BMW M cars to supercars like Lamborghini and Ferrari, the Indian market is set for a major premium car revolution.
