BMW scraps plans to launch 'Mini' in India by '09

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New Delhi, April 20:: German luxury car maker BMW has scrapped plans to launch premium small car 'Mini' in India by 2009, citing feasibility reasons.

"Last week, we have taken a decision to scrap plans to bring Mini by 2009. After the feasibility study we had undertaken, it is clear to us that it will not be viable to bring the car that soon," BMW India India President Peter Kronschnabl said.

He, however, reiterated that the company has not completely abandoned the plan to bring Mini in India.

"Probably in another one to one-and-a-half years, we will have a re-look at the issue and assess the market again," he said.

BMW had initially planned to bring Mini by 2009, before which it had commissioned a market research to see the viability of launch the product in the country.

"What we have found is that Mini being a small car coming at a high price of approximately above Rs 20 lakh, it is not going to be a viable option at the moment," Kronschnabl said.

Considering the price sensitive Indian market, there has been a debate as to whether such small car, despite its lineage, will be accepted at such a high price.

He said BMW will be focusing on bringing in new product variants in India to add to its already impressive growth.

"Soon we will be launching the 4.8 litre X5 to widen our portfolio," he said. The vehicle is expected to be priced around Rs 80 lakh.