With temporary subscription options offered by leading brands in India, owning and driving a car may get significantly easier.

The subscription model completely eliminates the high upfront purchase cost of a car. It calls for low or no down payment at all. It reduces the dependence on loans, thus saving interest, and opens up the possibility of a whole lot others buying one. The temporary ownership programmes, typically offered by commercial rentals such as Zoomcar and Revv are now offered in various lucrative forms by OEMs.

Maruti Suzuki, for example, offers a subscription option on all 10 models it sells – including the Swift, the Vitara Brezza and the XL6. The company also offers CNG variants of the WagonR and the Ertiga under the subscription model. Potential subscribers can pick a car best suited for their requirements (depending on the seating capacity, comfort and performance). The company also offers AT (automatic transmission) and MT (manual transmission) variants of most of its models, which the subscribers can always warm up to. They can, depending on their aspirational needs and usage, select a car or upgrade to one at the end of the current tenure.

Under ‘Maruti Suzuki Subscribe’, a customer can choose a tenure of between 12 months (minimum tenure period) and 48 months. During this period, he or she will have to pay an all-inclusive fixed monthly fee that covers the complete maintenance of the vehicle.  Service and repairs (including the parts and consumables) are also covered. The monthly fee will also include zero depreciation insurance, 24x7 roadside assistance and registration fees. At the end of the selected tenure, subscribers can upgrade to a new vehicle or extend the tenure up to four years. They can also buy the subscribed car permanently based on its market assessment.

Maruti also offers a choice between a white plate registration and a black plate. White plate cars are registered in the name of the subscriber. The black plate cars carry the name of the corporate subscription partner. Both options offer a starting tenure of 12 months (with an option to extend to 48 months).

For either plate car, customers can choose the colour of their choice. They can choose an annual kilometre package (10,000 km, 15,000 km, 20,000 km or 25,000 km) allowed by the company. Subscribers clocking additional kilometres are charged between INR 3 and INR 5 (taxes extra) for each kilometre covered in the case of black plate cars. In the case of white plate cars, it is INR 5 plus taxes. While Maruti models are available for subscriptions starting at INR 12,868 per month for the WagonR LXi 1.0L MT and INR 33,676 per month for the S-Cross Alpha AT, there are other manufacturers who are known to offer similar packages for their brand of cars. Among these are Toyota, Hyundai and Mahindra & Mahindra.

Regardless of the brand, what the subscription model achieves is to provide a better opportunity to get hold of a car – to use one. Making it financially easy for one to possess a car, the subscription model does away with the worries of securing a loan and about the depreciation the car will incur over a period of time. Involving no down payment in most cases, the subscription model helps the user to save on interest. Apart from fuel costs, expenses like insurance, maintenance and road taxes are conveniently included in the monthly fee. With dedicated OEM verticals for subscription models, a subscriber can easily seek assistance, modify or change the plans too. (MT)     

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Japanese luxury brand Lexus India has introduced a new ‘Exquisite’ grade to its RX 350h line-up, strengthening the model’s presence in the luxury SUV segment.

The new RX 350h Exquisite grade starts at INR 8.99 million (ex-showroom), which goes up to INR 10.09 million (ex-showroom).

The RX 350h Exquisite grade features Lexus’ hybrid system, which combines a highly efficient 2.5-litre inline 4-cylinder engine and high-output motor. It includes a bipolar nickel-metal hydride battery with enhanced performance. On the inside, it gets 10-way power adjusted front seats, heated and ventilated seating for front & rear seats and ambient lighting.

The RX 500h F-SPORT grade is the only Performance Hybrid Electric Turbocharged Luxury SUV in India. The 2.4 L-T HEV on the RX 500h features a front unit integrating a 2.4-L turbocharged engine, motor, a 6-speed automatic transmission and an eAxle with a built-in high output motor driving the rear wheels. The RX 500h features Dynamic Rear-Wheel Steering and DIRECT4 technology for acceleration.

The RX features a Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio system and offers Lexus Safety System+ with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Cross Traffic Alert and Safe Exit Assist with Blind Spot Monitor.

Between January and November this year, the RX model recorded 12 percent growth, reflecting rising demand for luxury SUVs in the country. During the same period, SUVs contributed about 40 percent to Lexus India’s overall performance, underscoring the RX’s pivotal role in driving the brand’s momentum.

Hikaru Ikeuchi, President, Lexus India, said, ‘The Lexus RX represents our dedication to luxury, design, performance, and sustainable mobility. As the luxury SUV segment continues to grow, the introduction of the new Exquisite grade allows us to offer guests a wider range of options and features to choose from. This enhancement reflects our continued commitment to expanding our portfolio and elevating the Lexus experience in India, supported by advanced technology and a guest-first philosophy.”

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JSW MG Motor India has announced that its luxury retail channel, MG SELECT, has crossed a triple milestone: reaching 1,000-unit sales, inaugurating its 15th Experience Centre and maintaining the second position in India’s luxury EV market.

The network now encompasses 15 Experience Centres across 14 cities in India, reinforcing the brand's commitment to delivering an exclusive automotive retail journey. The recent inauguration of the 15th store in Jaipur further underscores the brand's ambition to redefine luxury mobility.

The milestone also highlighted sustained market demand for the select portfolio and is a key driver behind the brand’s 32 percent YTD growth in 2025.

The company claimed that the MG Cyberster, India's highest-selling sports car, has a 4–5 month waiting period, and the MG M9 - Presidential Limousine shows strong momentum in the luxury MPV segment. The MG Cyberster is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 7.49 million, while the MG M9 is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 6.99 million.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, "Our rise to become the second largest luxury EV brand in the country speaks to a singular belief. True luxury is felt in every touchpoint when precision, ambition and care move together. Through MG SELECT we have crafted an ownership world where innovation meets desire and where every interaction feels intentional. We are shaping the next era of electric mobility for India’s most discerning customers, with a commitment that is both bold and deeply personal.”

The MG SELECT Experience Centres are spaces for the brand's flagship vehicles. These venues provide an immersive, gallery-like setting, ensuring the display of these models is the focal point of the customer interaction. The Jaipur showroom, located at Tonk Road near Sanganer Flyover, exemplifies the MG SELECT philosophy of ‘Reimagining Luxury’, featuring spacious, serene, and technologically advanced environments that elevate the car buying journey.

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Maruti Suzuki India has been awarded a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for its e Vitara, marking a moment for the company's electric vehicle strategy.

The e Vitara is built on Suzuki’s Heartect-e platform designed for electric vehicles to deliver strength, structural rigidity and advanced high voltage protection. The ‘Made-in-India, Made-for-the-World’ e Vitara is designed and tested for temperature conditions across the world, ensuring performance from as high as 60deg Celsius to as low as -30deg Celsius. The model is offered with 49 kWh and 61 kWh battery options.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, said, “Congratulations to Maruti Suzuki for achieving 5-star Bharat NCAP in both adult and child occupant protection for their e Vitara. I am especially glad that Maruti Suzuki has shown real leadership in providing 7 airbags as a standard across all variants of the e Vitara.”

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for e Vitara, our first Battery Electric Vehicle, is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Maruti Suzuki. Using the Bharat NCAP 5-star rating, we will export the e Vitara to more than 100 countries of the world. Bharat NCAP’s globally benchmarked stringent vehicle test protocols have been a catalyst in empowering customers to make informed decisions. I thank the Minister Gadkari, the officials in his Ministry and test agencies for their rigorous efforts and commitment in shaping India’s journey towards safe mobility.”

The e VITARA’s body structure uses more than 60 percent ultra-high tensile and high-tensile strength steel. Its battery protection system incorporates a structural design with an energy-absorbing battery pack mounting structure.

Key safety features include 7 standard airbags (including the Driver's knee airbag), Level 2 ADAS (Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control), Hill Hold Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a 360-degree Surround View Camera.

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Mahindra has marked a major milestone in its nationwide electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure expansion with the inauguration of its first dealership-based ultrafast charger – a 180 kW Charge_IN station.

This is the first of many such installations planned across Mahindra dealerships, forming a key pillar of the company’s commitment to building India’s ultrafast charging network.

This initiative scales up Mahindra’s Charge_IN ecosystem, complementing the 250 highway fast-charging stations already announced. The new 180 kW ultrafast chargers will enable EV users to charge quickly and conveniently at strategically located dealerships across the country, with 24x7 on-ground support.

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