In an effort to facilitate a trade agreement with the European Union, India is contemplating a phased reduction of import tariffs on cars from the current rate of over 100% down to 10%. Earlier, the US government had also expressed interest in eliminating auto import tariffs, encompassing those on electric vehicles, as a component of its bilateral trade negotiations with India. As the third-largest automobile consumer market globally, India's prohibitively high import tariffs on cars have long posed a significant barrier for international automakers seeking to penetrate the market. Should this tariff adjustment materialize, prominent brands such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Tesla stand to gain immediate benefits.
