KOLKATA - German automobile major BMW AG is doubtful about launching its “Mini” small cars in India this year, a top official said here Thursday.
BMW’s luxury hatchback cars that cost around Rs.20 lakh ($41,068) are coming under the Mini brand.
“Talks are still on regarding the launch of Mini brand over here. Market for such cars hasn’t developed in the country yet,” BMW India president Peter Kronschnabl told reporters during the launch of BMW X6 - a sports activity coupe.
He further said the company would assess the Indian market at the end of 2009 and take a call whether to launch Mini cars in India or not.
The Munich-based car last year decided to postpone the launch of Mini small cars for a year.
“If we decide to launch Mini in India, we have to make significant investment into it as the car having a separate brand identity than other BMW cars, have to be showcased through a separate dealers’ network,” Kronschnabl said.
The company sold 2,908 vehicles in India in 2008 and plans to sell more than 3,000 units in 2009, he said.
At present, BMW India has 13 dealers in the country.
“BMW India will further expand operations in 10 additional cities by the end of 2010, which will include dealerships in the markets of Ludhiana, Bhubaneswar and Jaipur,” Kronschnabl added.
He expressed hope that India’s luxury car market would recover in the second half of 2009.
“We feel factors like political stability, pick-up in the reform process and the likely general recovery of the global economy will help us better in the second half of the year than what the industry achieved in the first six months,” he said.
During January-June, only 7,400 luxury cars were sold in the country, a growth of just two percent over the like period last year.
Out of this, BMW sold 1,747 cars, posting a growth of 12 percent.
“While we have grown satisfactorily, a 2 percent industry growth is worrisome,” Kronschnabl said.
The company plans to source engineering services and components, which involve casting and forging from India for its worldwide ancillaries requirements and would sign deals with India’s engineering, casting and forging companies by the year-end, he said.
The German car maker would launch Z4, a sports car, in the country in October this year, Kronschnabl added.
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