Mumbai, Sept. 25 -- For decades, India's passenger vehicle industry grew on new launches and expanding manufacturing. The next phase will be driven by something less predictable: the customer.

Today's buyers are better informed, digitally connected and harder to impress. Performance and price still matter, but so do safety, sustainability and long-term value. The roles have reversed: manufacturers once decided what customers could choose from; now customer expectations are pushing them to rethink products and strategy.

Growth backed by changing aspirations India's passenger vehicle industry remains remarkably resilient. FY26 closed with record retail sales of 4.7 million vehicles, and FY27 has started strongly, with nearly 440,000 units...