What Autocar India does

Autocar India, operated by Haymarket SAC from Mumbai, is India's longest-running automotive media publication, launched in 1999 as a monthly print magazine and now distributed across a website, a YouTube channel with 2.5M+ subscribers, a podcast (Deep Drive), and a monthly print and digital magazine. It serves prospective car and motorcycle buyers in India with first-drive reviews, side-by-side comparisons, specification databases, EMI and loan calculators, and expert advisory content, and it separately addresses automotive industry professionals through its sister publication Autocar Professional (autocarpro.in).

The platform is built on a standardized editorial methodology anchored by a proprietary star-based rating system (up to 9 stars) and real-world mileage and performance testing protocols, supported by an in-house team of 50+ expert journalists and reviewers. Underlying technology is conventional digital publishing infrastructure: a content-managed website, video production for YouTube, and lightweight buyer-tool features (loan calculators, comparison tools, Sell Your Car marketplace referrals). No AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or patented technology were disclosed.

Monetization is diversified across four streams: paid magazine subscriptions (print and digital), digital advertising across web and social properties, premium event sponsorships from marquee automotive brands (Track Day, Women With Drive, Modern Classic Rally, Autocar India Awards), and lead generation through affiliate partnerships, most notably with used-car marketplace Spinny via the co-published Mobility Intelligence Report 2026. The business is part of Haymarket SAC, a privately held UK publisher; no external funding rounds or PE/VC ownership were disclosed.

Name

Autocar India

Legal name

Haymarket SAC

Website

https://autocarindia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Autocar India is a Mumbai-based automotive media platform, launched in 1999 under publisher Haymarket SAC, serving Indian car and motorcycle buyers with reviews, comparisons, expert advice, and a monthly print and digital magazine, plus events and awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Media

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Vehicles & Parts C2C (CRAFAKAE)

Keywords

• Automotive media publishing
• Car reviews
• Vehicle comparison tools
• Automotive news platform
• Motorcycle reviews

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Print and digital magazine subscriptions providing monthly automotive content, featuring expert reviews, industry analysis, and exclusive stories
2. Digital Advertising: Display advertising, sponsored content, and promotional placements across the website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms reaching millions of automotive enthusiasts
3. Event Sponsorships: Premium automotive events including Track Day, Women With Drive, Modern Classic Rally, and Awards ceremonies generating sponsorship revenue from automotive brands
4. Lead Generation: Referral traffic and leads for car/bike sales through sell your car service and partnership with Spinny

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Autocar India is India's leading automotive media brand, publishing a monthly magazine (since 1999) and operating a multi-platform digital content site (autocarindia.com) that delivers car and bike news, expert reviews, comparisons, specifications, pricing, and buying advice to Indian consumers. It monetizes this content through display and video advertising, paid magazine subscriptions, sponsored automotive events (Track Day, Women With Drive, Modern Classic Rally, Autocar India Awards), the Deep Drive Podcast, and lead-generation partnerships such as with Spinny for used-car transactions.

Product overview

Autocar India is a comprehensive automotive content platform offering car and bike reviews, news, comparisons, and industry analysis for the Indian market. The platform operates as a website with curated collections (Green Mobility, Value Picks, Luxury Cars, Budget Bikes, CNG Cars), a monthly magazine published since 1999, loan calculators, comparison tools, the Deep Drive Podcast, and hosts events including the Autocar India Awards, Track Day, and Women With Drive. Related offerings include the professional-focused Autocar Professional and the Sell Your Car marketplace feature.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Autocar Professional: Professional automotive industry news and analysis service
• Deep Drive Podcast
• Autocar India Awards
• Track Day
• Women With Drive

Products and services

• Autocar India Website Comprehensive automotive content platform featuring car and bike news, reviews, comparisons, specifications, pricing, buying tools, and expert opinions for the Indian market; the core free product serving Indian vehicle buyers.
• Autocar India Magazine Monthly automotive magazine published since 1999, available in print and digital editions, featuring expert car and bike reviews, industry news, features, and exclusive stories for paid subscribers.
• Deep Drive Podcast Curated automotive podcast series covering fuel trends, mobility shifts, EV adoption, and industry analysis with expert interviews, distributed under the Autocar India brand.
• Autocar India Awards Annual awards program recognizing standout cars and bikes in the Indian market, providing industry-wide visibility and sponsorship opportunities for automotive brands.
• Track Day Annual performance car track event held at racing circuits, allowing enthusiasts to experience and showcase performance vehicles, with sponsorship opportunities for automotive brands.
• Women With Drive Women-focused automotive adventure drive initiative gathering participants for curated drives, providing premium brand experiences and sponsorship opportunities for automotive brands.
• Modern Classic Rally Annual heritage and classic car rally bringing together iconic vehicles and collectors, providing premium enthusiast experiences and sponsorship opportunities for automotive brands.
• Autocar Professional Sister automotive publication under the Autocar India umbrella providing news, reviews, and analysis targeted at automotive industry professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Analysis of 11,000+ used-car transactions across 9 cities in Mobility Intelligence Report 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SpinnycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2026Autocar India and Spinny co-published the Mobility Intelligence Report 2026, analyzing over 11,000 used-car transactions across nine Indian cities. The partnership combines Autocar India's editorial expertise with Spinny's marketplace data to provide comprehensive insights into India's used-car market trends, financing penetration, and consumer behavior patterns.
• Haymarket SACcoreOthersHaymarket SAC is the parent company and publisher of Autocar India. The company controls and operates the website from its offices in India, providing publishing infrastructure, advertising sales, and corporate governance for the Autocar India brand.
• Autocar ProfessionalminorOthersB2B automotive industry publication under the Autocar India umbrella serving professionals with industry-specific news, analysis, and market intelligence.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/autocarindiamag
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AutocarIndia1
• Facebookfacebook.com/autocarindiamag
• Instagraminstagram.com/autocar_india
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/haymarket-sac-publishing-india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Autocar India