New Delhi, March 30 -- Price hikes by automobile companies will kick in from 1 April, casting a shadow over India's already struggling passenger car market. Struggling with rising prices of key raw materials and nervous over uncertainty created by the US' new auto tariffs, carmakers have shifted focus from the mass market to the high-end segment to maintain profitability.

Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai Motor India, and Kia-accounting for nearly 85% of India's passenger vehicle market-are leading the charge with hikes of up to 4%, citing rising input and operational costs.

While carmakers generally increase prices in January and April to clear older inventories and make adjustments for price pressures, so far th...