Not All Mini Models In India Will Benefit From The India-UK FTA

MINI India has announced that one of its two models on sale in India will get a price protection due to the new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between India and the United Kingdom. Why only one? Because the Cooper S, which is a completely built unit (CBU) import, comes from Oxford Plant in the UK, while the Countryman electric comes from the Leipzig plant in Germany. 

The price protection programme, applicable to the MINI Cooper S, will be offered on cars sold with 180 days from May 23, 2025, i.e., till November 2025. MINI says if the price for the Cooper S is reduced due to the FTA agreement, its dealerships will refund the delta between the net amount paid and the reduced ex-showroom price to the consumer. For reference, the Cooper S is currently priced between ₹44.90 - 55.90 lakh (ex-showroom, India). 

With the new FTA, the average tariff levied on products from the UK will drop from 15 to 3 per cent. The tariff drop includes products like cars, soft drinks, cosmetics and medical devices, among others. Tariffs on imports in the automotive industry will be reduced from 110 per cent to 10 per cent, but will be under a quota. It remains to be seen if it is implemented in a phased manner.