The BMW plant in Chennai has offered products since 2007 and is currently making nine models in India which include the 2 Series, the 3 Series Long Wheelbase, the latest 5 Series Long Wheelbase (already started production) and the 7 Series Long Wheelbase. For SUVs, they offer the X1, the X3, the X5, the X7 and the fastest car to be produced in India, the M340i. Made in India, these cars are produced to international standards but also with 50 per cent local content. BMW India has sold over 141,000 cars since 2007 between the two brands of BMW and MINI, and over 32,000 motorcycles under the BMW Motorrad brand. 

Strong line-up of EVs

According to BMW India, it is the only manufacturer in the country that has delivered 2,000 EVs and offers a diverse portfolio of EVs – the i4, i5, i7, iX1 and iX. Two more products have now joined the EV line-up: the MINI Countryman Electric and the first electric scooter, the CE 04. The iX, which is BMW’s biggest contributor, clocked 1,000-unit deliveries followed by the i7 with 500 units. BMW is also working closely to implement destination charging facilities across malls, airports, corporate parks, and resorts. It has set a target of 250 points across the country by the end of 2024.

“I am very happy to be back in India. We see tremendous potential here in India. In 2017, when we brought BMW Motorrad to India, we established one of the most premium motorcycles in the industry. Since its inception, we have been able to sell more than 32,000 units here,” explained Markus Mueller, BMW Motorrad, at the CE 04 scooter launch.

MINI has successfully established itself as a premium small car brand since its launch back in 2012 in India. Since then, 6,684 MINIs have been delivered to customers. The new all-electric MINI Countryman is powered by a lithium-ion battery with a gross capacity of 66.45 kWh. It provides an ample driving range of up to 462km. A smart wall box charger is provided with the MINI, taking 3 hours and 45 minutes to fully charge the vehicle.

The cars will be available as completely built-up units (CBU). “The new MINI family, with a purist design, an immersive user experience, a responsible attitude, and charismatic simplicity, takes driving fun into a new era. MINI’s constant development and its ability to regularly set new trends have established a strong fanbase in India,” said Pawah.

The BMW 5 Series is at the heart of the BMW brand. Globally, it has been the market leader in the prestigious executive sedan segment for years. Around 10 million units of the 5 Series have been sold since the first generation was launched in 1972. The eighth generation of the world’s most successful sedan is more dynamic than ever, featuring a wealth of digital innovations.

“More comfortable, more digital, the all-new BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase provides a completely new expression of modernity, presence, and clarity, featuring unparalleled space and luxurious comfort. India is the first right-hand-drive market in the world to introduce the all-new 5 in its long wheelbase avatar. It is tailor-made to suit the requirements of our premium clientele in India,” explained Pawah.

BMW India Financial Services offers customised and flexible financial solutions designed as per individual requirements. Customers can enjoy value and complete peace of mind with the BMW 360˚ finance plan and other options like monthly instalments, assured buy-back, and upgrade to new products for the benefit of customers.

Talking about the growth with new products and investment plans, Pawah elaborates: “I think the expectation will always be to continue to grow, outpace the market, the segment, and create a more premium market in India. That’s what our vision is. I think with the introduction of all these new products, we are absolutely moving in that direction. In terms of investment, we look at overall investment, we don’t look at it from a model-wise perspective. We have invested in India right from day one when we started with a plant in 2007. So, 90 per cent of what we sell today is locally produced with a 50 per cent localisation level. We are embedded into India with our products, with our customers, and also with the future strategies that we implement to grow.”

With the new products, which include a variety of EVs, BMW is all set to boost its market share in the premium automotive segment.