Thar, Jimny, Royal Enfield turn owners into marketing engine via subcultures, UGC

Indian auto brands are shifting spend from celebrity ads to owner-led communities. Thar Fest drew 30,000 attendees; 500-km Spiti convoys, Ather meet-ups and Bullet rides anchor a customisation-driven loyalty playbook that outperforms traditional Rs 25 crore campaign formats.

— Filed Fri, 5 Jun, 2026, 06:27 IST · Source ET Brand Equity · Updated

Feature on how Indian auto brands like Thar, Jimny, Gurkha, Royal Enfield and Ather Energy are building owner-led subcultures, leveraging community events, UGC and customisation culture as marketing engines beyond traditional advertising.