Hot wheels: BMW’s MINI on its way

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

• Discount UK Shopping

Related Articles

Maruti, Hyundai sales zipRecord Mercedes-Benz sales in JanuaryNew models, rural mkts & low rates propel auto sal...Alto, Wagon R to get new engine

Munich, March 16: Luxury car maker BMW AG would launch its premium classic small car MINI Cooper in India in 2009, Kay Segler, vice-president, brand management, MINI, told FE on the sidelines of the BMW Annual Accounts Conference in Munich. BMW would also relaunch its bikes in India in the next five years, Klaus Berning, senior vice-president, sales, Asia Pacific, Africa and Europe, said.

In 1996, BMW had rolled out the F650 in India, in collaboration with Delhi-based Hero Motors, but the product was withdrawn after sales failed to take off. “That was the wrong product for the Indian market,” Peter Kronschnabl, BMW’s recently-appointed president for India, said. The company, however, is yet to decide on the bikes to be launched in India. Since the BMW MINI Cooper competes with the Mercedes A-class and the Volkswagen Beetle in all global markets, it could pave the way for introduction of these cars in the Indian market, too. The MINI sells at an average price of 21,000 Euros and is likely to be introduced at around Rs 18 lakh in India.

Designed way back in 1959 by Alec Issigonis as an affordable 850 cc car to accommodate four adults, MINI enjoys a cult status across the UK, the US, Germany and Italy.

Worldwide sales of MINI Cooper stood at 2 lakh units in 2005 as compared to 1.94 lakh units of the A-class. MINI came under the BMW banner with its purchase of the Rover group’s auto business in 1994. While it sold MG Rover in 2005, BMW has retained the MINI within its fold. BMW is currently expanding MINI’s manufacturing capacity to 2.4 lakh units by 2008.

The MINI comes in three models—the standard MINI One with a 1.6-litre and 90 bhp engine, the Cooper powered by a 115-bhp version of the same engine and the Cooper S with a supercharger.

BMW’s 100% subsidiary BMW India Private Limited is currently setting up a Rs 110-crore assembly plant in Chennai with a production capacity of 1,750 units per annum. The plant will roll out the first “India-assembled” BMW 3 and 5 series cars as early as 2007.