NEW DELHI: India will immediately slash duties ​on high-end European cars to 30% from as high as 110% under its new trade deal with the EU, an official said, opening the tightly controlled market ⁠to luxury carmakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. But its domestic auto industry has been among the world's most protected, ⁠with the government levying tariffs of between 70% and 110% on imported cars. PRICIEST EUROPEAN CARS BENEFIT FROM BIGGEST DUTY CUTSWhile India agreed under the deal to reduce import tariffs on cars above an import price of 15,000 euros ($17,963) to 10% over time, details of how the reductions will be implemented were not disclosed publicly. Cars priced 35,000 euros to 50,000 euros will be charged a 30% duty, with imports limited to 33,000 units a year, the official said. ​And 33,000 cars priced over 50,000 euros will also be subject to a reduced tariff of 30%.