BMW eyes bigger EV share for its India fleet

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Key points

• Cumulatively, 1.6 lakh cars BMW has sold in India to date, regarding 30, 000 – or 20% – have been LWB variants.
• (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.).
• While the (share of electric in the) industry was at regarding 4-5%, we were at 21%, Last year.
• BMW expects electric vehicles to account for more than 30% of its India sales by year-end, up from 26% at present.
• BMW X1 LWB introduced in India: Rate, features, engine, interior space and what's new in the long-wheelbase SUV Live Events.

BMW wants almost one in three cars it sells in India to be electric.

BMW wants almost one in three cars it sells in India to be electric. ET BureauLast Updated: Aug 21, 2026, 11: 19: 00 PM IST.

BMW expects electric vehicles to account for more than 30% of its India sales by year-end, up from 26% at present. The luxury carmaker is additionally considering local assembly of BMW i5 LWB as it expands its EV and long-wheelbase portfolio. Listen to this article in summarized format. Unlock AI Briefing and Premium Content. Subscribe Now Already a member? Sign In.

German luxury carmaker BMW is targeting almost a third of its sales from electric vehicles by the end of the calendar year backed by solid customer demand post the West Asia crisis. Hardeep Singh Brar, President & CEO, BMW Group India, informed ET the business is looking at locally assembling a second EV – the long-wheel base electric sedan BMW i5 (LWB) – in the country given solid traction. While the (share of electric in the) industry was at regarding 4-5%, we were at 21%, "Last year. Now, the industry is moving to 6-7%, and we have moved to 26%. We are additionally launching the second (locally assembled) product. It is again a long wheelbase. With this, I think we should be able to take our electric share to to 30% plus", Brar remarked.

According to Brar, the company's to strategy expand its portfolio of EVs and LWB models has assisted it outpace a largely flat luxury car market. The share of LWB in the company's portfolio at present stands at 52%, and is due to climb further. "Two-thirds of our volumes henceforth will be long-wheelbase, " Brar remarked, adding that the strategy addresses a key customer pain point: rear-seat space. "Customers who don't find enough space in the rear seat will also come to us, " he observed.

Cumulatively, 1.6 lakh cars BMW has sold in India to date, regarding 30, 000 – or 20% – have been LWB variants. And the numbers are rising. "We have been outclassing the competition for the last 4-5 years, with an average growth rate of more than 15-16%, " Brar remarked, adding that expansion continued at a similar pace this year even as rivals posted flat or negative numbers. In the first half of 2026, BMW's retail sales rose 17% to 9, 075 units. Mercedes Benz, nevertheless, retained the lead in retail sales with sales of 9, 768 units till June 2026. With 13 launches already completed this year and 12 more planned spanning sedans, SUVs and EVs, Brar is confident that the firm will continue to grow in robust double-digits, faster than competition. Add Now!

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In short, BMW eyes bigger EV share for its India fleet is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.