The luxury automobile industry is defined by its drive for excellence, sophistication, and innovation. The industry is led by several legacy marque houses that are aspirational and an inspiration to global citizens. With cutting-edge technology advancements, brands like Tesla are redefining the narrative in the luxury automobile sector. It brings in engineering excellence, superior performance, and meticulous craftsmanship.
In the luxury automobile sector, there exists a small yet very refined and niche sector of ultra-luxury vehicles. Accessible to the world’s wealthiest businessmen, celebrities, and families. What makes these luxury cars more elusive is their stellar price points. That places the affordability quotient of these cars in the hands of a privileged few. Wonder what features these ultra-luxury brands offer?
Here are a Few
1. Exclusivity
They offer experience and value additions in the car that are not widely available to the public. Offering their ultra-rich customers, a sense of rarity and privilege. For instance, often ultra-luxury car brands only offer limited edition collections. With a stipulated wait time, that makes them more exclusive.
2. Quality and craftsmanship
Exceptional quality and bespoke craftsmanship are the keywords here. Luxury automobile brands use the finest materials to create experiences in their vehicles. Did you know Elon Musk’s Tesla, priced at close to $1,00,000 offers its customers upcycled seat covers and vegan-friendly furnishing inside the vehicle?
3. Heritage and Legacy
A long line of history associated with an automobile brand will add to its lure and luxe factor. Luxury cars are often family-owned and operated businesses that draw on their unique heritage. Did you know Rolls-Royce is over a century-old ultra-luxe luxury automobile brand? Certainly, this adds to its appeal, doesn’t it?
4. Innovation
Luxury cars are not just about luxe interiors and aesthetically pleasing design; it is also about innovation. Lamborghini is a fine example of pushing the boundaries of automotive design with details like carbon-fiber detailing and dynamic aerodynamics to build fined-crafted luxury sports cars.
Indian’s Who Own Ultra-Luxury Cars
As the affluent class in India is rising rapidly, consumer likes are evolving leading to a rise in demand for luxe vehicles. Some established players in the luxury car market in India are BMW, Audi, Porsche, Jaguar, Mercedes, etc. However, there is also an ultra-rich segment in the country that is investing in an exclusive range of automobiles with bespoke features. Here are some leading affluent members of Indian society who own ultra-luxe cars in India:
1. VS Reddy
VS Reddy is an Indian businessman who owns the most expensive car in India, priced at INR 14 crore. He owns the rare Bentley Mulsanne EWB Centenary Edition. His Bentley is a shade of Rose Gold and has 21-inch polished alloy wheels, crafted leather upholstery, rear quarter vanity mirrors, and rugs made of fine lamb’s wool.
As a successful founder and managing director of British Biologicals, he is also known as the protein man of India. He has won 52 national and international awards. He calls his Bentley the ‘Taj Mahal’ of cars.
2. Mukesh Ambani
Another successful Indian businessman who has a variety of luxury vehicles in his garage, Mukesh Ambani owns a Rolls Royce Phantom Series VIII EWB. This ultra-luxury vehicle is priced at INR 13.5 crore (without any customization).
He also owns a Mercedes-Benz S-Guard W221 S600. The luxury vehicle comes with VR9 ballistic protection and a twin-turbocharged V12 engine. It is priced at INR 10.5 crore.
The Ambani family is also known to have the richest private collection of luxury cars that cover names like Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Bentleys, and likes. An article in Super Car Blondie states that the family owns 170 cars in their iconic Jio garage.
3. Emran Hashmi
A well-known Bollywood actor, Emran is an ardent luxury car collector. He has recently invested in a Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge, an exclusive luxury ride that goes above the price of INR 12 crore. It comes with new laser-light technology, carbon alloy composite wheels, and C-shaped LED DRLs. The cabin of the vehicle is an opulent luxury space with Turchese leather and technical carbon veneer.
His curious affinity for luxury cars can be seen in his earlier investments in cars like Lamborghini Huracan, Range Rover, and Mercedes-Mayback S560, amongst others.
4. Naseer Khan
Another India successful businessman, Naseer Khan owns the McLaren 750LT Spider. The car is priced at INR 12 crore. His car is one of the limited edition 765 units made internationally. The luxury vehicle boasts a 4.0-liter V8 engine and 765 horsepower.
He is an avid luxe-car collector. As per an article by India Times, his luxury car collection is valued at INR 60 crore. His collection includes three Ferraris, three Lamborghini’s, two Rolls-Royce’s, two Mercedes-Benz’s, and a Ford Mustang, amongst others.
5. Shah Rukh Khan
One of India’s most successful Bollywood celebrities and a public figure, Shah Rukh Khan owns one of the world’s fastest and ultra-luxe cars, the Bugatti Veyron which is valued at INR 12 crore. The car has an 8.0-litre, quad-turbocharged, W16-cylinder engine. It has a top speed of over 400 kph. It ranges from 0 to 60 mph in close to 2.4 seconds.
He is also known to own the Rolls Royce Cullinan Black Badge and Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, priced at INR 8 and INR 10 crore respectively. An Express Drive article also reports Shah Rukh Khan’s luxury vehicle collection includes a BMW i8, Bentley Continental GT, Audi A8L, and others.
Other luxury car owners include:
a. Amitabh Bachchan, a legend in the Bollywood industry, owns the Rolls Royce Phantom VII.
b. Aamir Khan, known as the perfectionist in Bollywood, owns a Mercedes S600.
c. Hrithik Roshan, a celebrated actor in Bollywood, owns a Rolls Royce Ghost Series II.
Owning an ultra-luxe car today is a sign of wealth, success, and societal status. A Fortune Business Insights article shares that – ‘The global luxury car market size was valued at $1.05 trillion in 2022 & is projected to grow from $1.17 trillion in 2023 to $2.55 trillion by 2030’. Highlighting the significant growth in the luxury car market ownership while hinting at the growing opportunities for career growth within the sector.
Interested to learn more about the thriving and growing ultra-luxe automobile sector? Join MBA ESG, India’s leading MBA Luxury and Fashion Management programme. The course offers:
a. A global connection with multiple touch points like a 14-day educational visit to Paris to dive deep into the global cultural scene.
b. An industry-focused French pedagogy where you will work on live projects and internships to learn industry practices.
c. Learning from up to 20% international faculty and industry mentors.
Learn more about the MBA in Luxury and Fashion Management program here.
