British cars could cost less as UK-India FTA signed but what’s the catch?

Luxury car buyers in India might have a reason to celebrate. India and the United Kingdom have officially signed a Free Trade Agreement that promises to bring down import duties on premium British cars – but only to a certain extent. This means that only select models and only in limited numbers, will qualify for the lower import tax. Here’s why.

India-UK FTA: Key details

As part of the FTA, India will slash tariffs on automotive imports from the UK from the existing 100–110 per cent to 10 per cent, but only under a quota-based system. That means only a fixed number of vehicles, mostly completely built units (CBUs), will be eligible for the lower tax rate. Beyond this quota, the standard duties will continue to apply. The quota, however, hasn’t been specified yet. This could significantly reduce prices of high-end models from Jaguar Land Rover’s UK portfolio, such as the Range Rover SV and upcoming Jaguar electric vehicles. However, most of JLR cars sold in India, including models like the Range Rover Sport, Velar and Evoque are already locally assembled and do not attract full CBU duties. As such, the FTA will mainly benefit only a small number of SV models exported from the UK.A spokesperson for JLR said: “We welcome this free trade agreement between the UK and India, which over time will deliver reduced tariff access to the Indian car market for JLR’s luxury vehicles. India is an important market for our British built products and represents significant future growth opportunities.” Interestingly, the popular Land Rover Defender, which is manufactured outside the UK, will continue to be taxed at the regular CBU rate. The company rolls out the defender from its Nitra facility in Slovakia. Furthermore, the company is considering local assembly of the Defender in India, though not immediately. This move could potentially cut prices by up to 20 percent. However, it remains to be seen how JLR will strategise its product allocation – whether it makes more sense to import the Defender under the limited UK CBU quota or shift to local assembly and instead use the quota for more niche, high-margin models.

While Jaguar Land Rover is the most direct beneficiary, the agreement opens doors for other British-made vehicles as well. This includes Mini models like the Clubman and Countryman, which are built in the UK and could potentially become more affordable. Premium brands like Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Aston Martin will also benefit. However, some of these brands assemble or finish cars in the UK but build them in other countries, which may complicate eligibility under the FTA.The catch? The number of vehicles that can be imported at the lower duty is capped. While the exact quota isn’t disclosed, it’s expected to be limited to a few thousand units per year. Once that number is crossed, the full 100-plus per cent duty kicks back in. This makes allocation and pricing strategy critical for manufacturers.