The fat marriage season is in full swing in Delhi-NCR as well as across the country. What is really noteworthy in this year’s wedding season is that the five-star farm houses and hotels seeing a lot of sleek Mercedes cars are being parked there. Some of them are adorned like brides. Three or four of these luxury vehicles arrive daily, rented by grooms' families for a specific purpose.
Why the fanfare? Well, the groom arrives in style, seated in the Mercedes, as the wedding procession dances its way towards the wedding venue. From inside the car, the groom enjoys the spectacle, basking in the rhythm of the drums. Upon arrival, the groom steps out of the car with an air of royalty. The gleaming car is then parked, ready to be re-decorated with flowers and balloons, filling the air with sweet fragrance.
The Mercedes, after fulfilling its role, departs for its next grand journey, guarded by a driver and a couple of attendants. Owning these prized vehicles comes at a steep price. For a 12-hour rental or a 100km drive, a Mercedes or BMW will set you back Rs.25,000. If your budget allows, a Mercedes S-Class can be rented for a staggering Rs.55,000.
According to Amritpal Singh Mann, Chairman of Mann Travel Agency, a company specializing in renting luxury cars and buses, the demand for these vehicles skyrockets during the wedding season. This November alone, they've booked over two dozen cars, with many more inquiries and negotiations in progress. This trend, though not new, has gained momentum in recent years. Mann Travel Agency has previously catered to high-profile events like the G20 summit and Mukesh Ambani's family wedding, supplying dozens of luxury cars and buses. Mann’s company was among the few companies hired by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to provide brands like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Toyota, Lexus among others during the G 20 summit. G20 guests, except for heads of states, were provided Mercedes GLS, Mercedes S Class, Mercedes E Class, and Maybach with trained drivers by Mann’s company.
Pandit J.P. Sharma 'Trika', a renowned Vastu and Astrology expert who attends 15-20 weddings a season, reveals that Mercedes cars are not just for grooms. Many guests arrive in these opulent vehicles, indicating a booming economy for a select few in Delhi. “ Things are different in Mumbai as Mumbaikars do not believe in showing off. They don't hire sleek cars on rent. There the groom doesn't arrive in Merc or BMW,” says J.P. Sharma ‘Trikha’.
A similar sight unfolds at the Fun & Food Village in South- West Delhi, another venue popular for leisure and wedding celebrations in national Delhi. Here too the parking always sees some luxurious cars adorned for the special occasion. The groom arrives in his chosen chariot, later driving away with his newlywed bride. Says Santokh Chawla, “ We give our space on rent to people to organise their weddings. I also see the groom coming to the wedding venue in big and lovely cars. Yes, Merc is their first choice.”
However, rental companies are clear about their terms. They emphasize that no damage is allowed to the cars, which often face the brunt of overzealous wedding guests, with some even attempting to dance on the car's roof. Any damage incurred must be compensated by the renter.
Meanwhile, luxury car sales are on the rise. Aided by growing class of high disposable income consumers, India’s top two players in this segment registered their best-ever first-half-year sales in calendar year 2024.Leading luxury car seller Mercedes-Benz recently announced that it retailed a record 9262 units in the January-June 2024 period, registering a 9% YoY growth.
For Mercedes, the SUV segment continued to top customer preference with 55% penetration to overall sales. It also witnessed robust demand for its top-end vehicle portfolio with Maybach range growing the highest at 108% in H1 2024.
BMW had recently reported a strong performance in the first half of 2024 (January – June). BMW Group India delivered 7,098 cars (BMW and MINI), up 21% year-on-year, in the country and 3,614 motorcycles (BMW Motorrad). BMW sold 6,734 units and MINI 364 units.
“In 2024, BMW Group India is making great strides in implementing its strategy by achieving new heights in business performance and customer delight. The strong affinity for our vehicles is driven by our competitive edge in exclusive mobility paired with unmistakable driving pleasure and best-in-class innovations,” informs an official of BMW. Audi retailed 1,431 vehicles in this year’s second quarter (Q2) that ended in June, a 37% growth over the preceding three months.
In a related development, smaller cities such as Surat and Ludhiana have broken into the ranks of the top 10 markets for luxury cars in India in the past decade as economic expansion spawns an emerging class of young, successful entrepreneurs who aspire to showcase their growing wealth. Mumbai and Delhi retained their places as the top markets for brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi although their share has declined in the overall pie, according to senior executives at the car companies.
Clearly, one section of the Indian society is earning well and they want to splurge too on weddings and other happy occasions. Naturally, the likes of Amrit Mann and Santokh Chawla would be feeling happy.

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