How is the market for elevators and escalators transforming in India?
India’s elevator and escalator market is rapidly transforming, driven by urbanization, infrastructure growth, and technological advancements. As cities expand vertically due to land constraints, demand surges for elevators and escalators in residential towers, commercial complexes, shopping malls, and metro projects, requiring utmost safety, reliability, and minimal downtime. Leading global brands, such as TK Elevator from Germany, are preferred for these demanding applications. Government initiatives like the Smart Cities Mission and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, alongside metro and airport developments, fuel sustained market growth.
Technological innovation is also reshaping the industry. Smart, connected elevators equipped with IoT and AI capabilities are enabling predictive maintenance, remote monitoring, and improved energy efficiency. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on sustainable designs featuring regenerative drives, efficient motors, and eco-friendly materials to align with green building standards. There is also a growing preference for aesthetic customization—designs, lighting, and finishes are now being tailored to match the architecture and branding of each building.
Modernization of old elevator systems is becoming a key trend as aging buildings seek to enhance safety, comfort, and performance. Alongside this, safety awareness has significantly increased, prompting regulatory reforms across states. The Indian government is introducing stricter standards, including new rules mandating advanced door-locking mechanisms similar to metro trains, effective from December 2025. However, challenges remain, such as inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations, high maintenance costs, and the slow implementation of state Lift and Escalator Acts.
Despite these hurdles, the outlook remains highly positive. According to Technavio, the Indian elevator and escalator market is expected to grow by approximately USD 955 million between 2025 and 2029, with a compound annual growth rate of around 10.8%. Demand is also expanding beyond metropolitan hubs into Tier II and Tier III cities, fueled by affordable housing and the spread of commercial development. Overall, India’s elevator and escalator sector is evolving from a traditional manufac-turing-driven market into a technology-led, safety-focused, and sustainability-oriented industry poised for robust long-term growth.
What are the customers in the commercial space looking for in elevators & escalators?
Customers in the commercial segment are increasingly seeking elevators and escalators that deliver not only reliability and performance but also align with modern standards of design, safety, and sustainability. Their top priority is efficiency in handling passenger traffic, particularly during peak hours. Features like high-speed elevators, destination control systems that group passengers heading to similar floors, and larger car capacities are in high demand to ensure smooth and quick movement of people across multiple floors.
Equally important is safety and reliability. Commercial building owners expect elevators and escalators that operate seamlessly with minimal downtime. They look for advanced safety mechanisms such as overload sensors, automatic rescue devices, and fire-rated doors, coupled with predictive maintenance technologies that can detect and address issues before they lead to service interruptions. Smooth, quiet operation also plays a critical role in ensuring a premium experience for building occupants and visitors, especially in hotels and corporate environments.
With growing environmental awareness, energy efficiency and sustainability have become major considerations. Building developers and facility managers prefer solutions that incorporate regenerative drives, LED lighting, and energy-efficient motors, as well as machine-room-less (MRL) designs that save space and reduce energy consumption. Many also seek equipment that meets green building certifications or contributes to sustainable design goals.
Aesthetic and branding aspects are increasingly influencing purchasing decisions as well. Commercial customers want elevators that reflect the architec-tural character of their buildings, with high-quality materials, elegant lighting, and customizable finishes. For premium projects, elevators are now viewed as design statements that enhance the overall ambience of the space.
At the same time, technology integration is transforming customer expectations. Smart, connected elevators that use IoT and AI for remote monitoring and predictive maintenance are now becoming standard in commercial installations. Touchless or voice-activated controls, RFID-based access, and integration with building management systems (BMS) offer convenience, hygiene, and better traffic management.
Finally, commercial customers remain sensitive to cost and compliance. They seek the right balance between upfront investment and long-term operational efficiency. Reliable service contracts, transparent maintenance costs, and adherence to local safety standards (such as BIS and fire-safety norms) are non-negotiable. In essence, today’s commercial buyers in India are looking for elevators and escalators that combine intelligent performance, safety, aesthe-tics, and energy efficiency-solutions that enhance both functionality and the user experience in modern commercial spaces.
What are the major demand trends from residential sector when looking for lifts and elevators?
Fuelled by urbanization and lifestyle trends, villa lifts are gaining popularity in India, enhancing mobility in private villas and mansions. Interior designers and young, affluent professionals are eager to incorporate villa lifts into new homes or retrofit existing properties, seeking both convenience and a stylish lifestyle statement.
Homebuyers today no longer see a lift as just a functional necessity; it’s part of the lifestyle and comfort quotient. As more mid- and high-rise apartment towers pop up in cities and suburbs (including in Tier II/III), lifts are expected to offer ride comfort, quiet operation, smooth starts and stops, and minimal vibration. Especially in luxury or premium projects, the interior finishes of the lift cabin-lighting, handrails, wall paneling, mirror work, flooring-are getting more attention. Buyers want the lift cabin to feel like a premium, coherent extension of their apartment’s quality, not just a utility corset.
Safety and reliability remain foundational. Residents expect modern safety features: emergency rescue systems, fire-rated doors, overload protection, automatic backups for power failures. Also, since breakdowns are disruptive in residential towers, there is rising demand for lifts that are easy to maintain, with good service support, and ideally predictive maintenance to avoid surprise failures.
Another key trend is energy efficiency / sustainability. With rising awareness of environmental impact and growing electricity costs, home-buyers are favouring lifts with energy-saving features: regenerative drives that feed energy back, LED lighting, sleep modes, efficient motors, and designs that reduce power consumption. Builders are also under increasing pressure (and expectation) to get green building certifications (IGBC, LEED etc.), and lifts are part of that calculation.
Personalization and smart features are also creeping in. Touchless controls (voice or app or gesture), smart notifications, remote diagnostics (for building management), digital displays, intercoms, even smart cabins are expectations in higher-end homes. Also, there’s demand for lifts optimized for accessibility-ease of access for elderly, children, people with disabilities, luggage, etc. Wider doors, low-floor thresholds, perhaps even “home elevator” styles in villas / luxury homes.
Space and cost efficiency matter significantly. Many builders and buyers want machine-room-less (MRL) models or ones with compact machine rooms to save valuable floor/roof space. Also, lower initial cost plus predictable maintenance cost is desired. Especially in affordable and mid-segment housing, buyers want the lift to be reliable and giving value without huge premiums for “extras” unless they see real benefit.
Finally, with changing demographics (aging population, more people confined to home sometimes, multi-generational households) there is increasing awareness of accessibility. A lift is no longer a luxury: in many cases, it’s essential for some residents to move freely. So features like smooth floor leveling, good lighting inside, not too much waiting time, robust door safety, easy entry/exit are being valued more.
What are the key features and technologies incorporated in your product range for better user experience?
TK Elevator has integrated advanced technologies and user-centric design features across its product range to deliver a smoother, safer, and smarter mobility experience. At the core of its innovation are digital solutions like MAX, AGILE, and TWIN, which redefine maintenance, traffic management, and passenger interaction. MAX is a cloud-based predictive maintenance platform that monitors equipment in real time, identifies potential issues before they occur, and significantly reduces downtime. AGILE enhances passenger experience through intelligent destination control systems, allowing users to select their desired floors before entering the cabin. This optimizes traffic flow, reduces waiting times, and can even be customized through sleek kiosks or mobile interfaces. TWIN, an industry-first technology, features two independent elevator cabins operating in the same shaft. It doubles transport capacity without requiring additional shafts, improves energy efficiency, and allows more flexible building designs-making it ideal for high-rise and mixed-use buildings.
Energy efficiency and sustainability are also key pillars of TK Elevator’s design philosophy. The company uses gearless and permanent magnet synchronous (PMS) motors, regenerative drives, and standby modes to minimize power consumption and environmental impact. These technologies not only reduce energy costs but also contribute to green building certifications. Additionally, machine-room-less (MRL) configurations save valuable space for developers, offering flexible installation options suitable for both low- and mid-rise buildings.
From a user comfort perspective, TK Elevator emphasizes ride quality, noise reduction, and safety. Features such as automatic rescue devices ensure passengers can exit safely in case of a power failure, while smooth acceleration and deceleration provide a seamless riding experience. The company also prioritizes accessibility by offering customizable cabin sizes, wider doors, and interior finishes that match the building’s aesthetic—ranging from minimalist glass and steel to premium decorative panels and lighting options.
TK Elevator India
Web : www.tkelevator.com/in-en/
