BW Communities

Make Way For Mini

BW Online Bureau Nov 08, 2014

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[The luxury carmaker, BMW is contemplating bringing the Mini brand in India. It will also have independent dealer network to sell the brand across the country. "India definitely has a market for the Mini brand but we are waiting for the market to grow further to launch the brand. The decision will be taken only next year and in 2-3 year's time-frame, we will start selling the products," says Andreas Schaaf, president, BMW India. The Mini brand will be sold under a different dealer network across the country. However, the numbers has not been divulged. Apart from this, the luxury automaker also plans to bring the BMW 1 series hatchback in India. The time line again is not decided yet. "Considering the market condition at present, we haven't decided the timeline to launch the 1 series in India," added Schaaf. Last year around 15,000 units were sold in the luxury segment in India. This year the number is expected to grow by 70 per cent. BMW India today launched the new BMW X3. The car will be available in two variants - the xDrive 20d priced at Rs 42.2 lakh and the xDrive30d at Rs 47.9 lakh (all India ex showroom). The car will be produced as a CKD (Completely Built Unit) in the company's Chennai plant. BMW has recently increased the plant's capacity from 10,000 units to 11,000 units in March this year. The deliveries of the xDrive20d will start in September and xDrive30d in October, a month later. So far the company has invested Rs 1.1 billion in the country. The number is expected to go up to Rs1.8 billion by end of 2012. BMW also plans to expand its dealer network to 40 from the current 24 by end of next year.