BMW launches 2 bikes, 1 EV, 1 hybrid
GREATER NOIDA: BMW Group India is contemplating the market feasibility of bringing the all new i3s to India. Government outlined vision of emobility and they are rapidly moving towards fullelectric at a really fast pace.
VIKRAM PAHWA, BWM India chief
German luxury car maker BMW on Thursday, unveiled its five-seater sports activity vehicle Mini Countryman, electric car i3s and hybrid vehicle i8 Roadster at the Auto Expo 2018 here.
The company’s two-wheeler arm, BMW Motorrad, announced the launch of two motorbikes ‘F 750 GS’ and ‘F 850 GS’.
Three variants of the Countryman were launched. The company would locally produce all three variants at its Chennai plant, a top official said.
There are two petrol variants -Mini Countryman Cooper S and Mini Countryman Cooper S JCW besides one diesel trim Mini Countryman Cooper SD.
“The second generation all new Countryman offers a unique combination of functionality, everyday practicality and long distance suitability,” said BMW Group India President Vikram Pahwa.
Deliveries would begin from June 2018 and prices would be announcedaccordingly,thecompany said.
BMW sold 431 units of the Mini in India in 2017 and has registered 17% growth.
“The Mini is the perfect fit for urban environment and has become a trailblazer success in the premium small car segment in India,” Pawah said.
On local production, he said that it was right step towards “localising Mini for India and pricing attractively for the customers”.
“In future we would keep reviewing all options for the long term,” he added.
Mini’s petrol and diesel engines are powered by twin turbo technology. The Countryman Cooper S is powered by twolitre four-cylinder petrol engine while the Countryman Cooper SD has a four-cylinder diesel engine.
“This is the beginning of the new product offensive,” he said, adding that BMW has registered a double digit growth despite several challenges.
Meanwhile the ‘F 750 GS’ and ‘F 850 GS’ bikes are priced at ₹12.20 lakh and ₹13.7 lakh, respectively.
The booking for the bikes started on Thursday at BMW Motorrads dealerships and the delivery will start by May this year.
“India is our top future markets and with a remarkable growth of two-wheeler sales here, it presents a huge opportunity for us,” BMW Motorrad Vice President Sales and Marketing Timo Resch told reporters at the Auto Expo here.
For over 90 years, BMW has been leading in terms of technology, Resch said adding that it has all competitive products at competitive price.
He further said the target is to sell 2 lakh units worldwide by 2020 and it will be achieved by entering into new markets like India. In 2017, it had sold over 1.64 lakh motorcycles.
Pahwa said the company has already marked its presence in India and will continue exploring opportunities in the country.
The vehicles will be available as completely built up units (CBU).
Pahwa said: “Our well rounded strategy has put the customer at the centre of all our thoughts and actions and is taking us forward on our journey of growth.”
BMW Motorrad officially started its operations as part of the Indian subsidiary of BMW group in 2017. It is in the process of setting up the team and dealer network in India.
The company also unveiled its electric car i3s and hybrid vehicle i8 Roadster along with a slew of other top-end models.
BMW Group India president Vikram Pawah said the i3s is aimed at the “new era of green mobility” and is designed to exceed the toughest demands of urban mobility.
The i3s has an electric range of up to 280 kms.
“At present, the BMW Group India is contemplating the market feasibility of bringing the all new i3s to India. The Indian government has outlined a vision of e-mobility very clearly and they are rapidly moving towards fullelectric at a really fast pace,” he told reporters.
He added that e-mobility is also the central pillar of BMW Group’s future vision of the world.
Pahwa pointed that the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are the first step towards the eventual move to complete electric mobility and the launch of the i8 Roadster is a step in that direction, while speaking to the media.
The i8 Roadster, which is an open-top two- seater, will be launched in India later in 2018.
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar launched BMW’s 6 Series Gran Turismo Sports Line that will be priced at ₹58.90 lakh (ex-showroom).
The diesel version of the vehicle will be launched in the second half of the year.
The German auto maker also launched M5 that will carry a price tag of ₹1,43,90,000 (ex-showroom).
It also unveiled the X3 that will be launched in India later in the year.
“Even though last year for the Indian automotive industry was full of challenges... but we successfully overcame these headwinds and registered double-digit growth,” Pahwa said.
BMW India sold 9,379 units, clocking a growth of 25 per cent, he added.
“We are very confident of continuing this momentum and our primary goal is to grow the luxury vehicle market in India,” he said.