BMW India to launch 15 models in 2015 to arrest sales decline - Report

08/02/2015 - 02:21 | ,   | Aravind Jayachandran

Models include new i8, refreshed 3-Series and 6-Series, as well as the X5M and X6M.

BMW India has announced that they are looking to arrest the two-year sales decline by introducing new as well as refreshed models in the Indian market, and tackle heavy competition faced by rivals like Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

2015 BMW i8 front three quarters at the 2014 Thailand Motor Expo
Models to be announced include the new i8 Hybrid sports car, that launches on February 18.

The Munich-based car manufacturer ended the year 2014 by pushing out 6,812 units, as compared to Mercedes-Benz India’s 10,201 units and Audi India’s 10,851 units. BMW is looking to re-emerge in the competition by announcing plans of partnering with seven local parts suppliers for increased localization, which could help them price their products more competitively.

BMW India is planning to launch 15 new models and variants this year, which include the highly anticipated i8 hybrid sports car, refreshed 3-Series and 6-Series (includes the M6 GranCoupe), and the recently announced high performance M variants of the X5 and X6 - the X5M and X6M.

Phillip von Sahr, president of BMW India, said that a "new era is coming", as far as their business strategies are concerned. He was also quoted saying,

We do not want to play in the volumes category with low-cost entry models. Unlike some of our competitors, BMW India's focus will be on having a profitable business through sale of higher-end cars, but without discounts.

2015 BMW X5 M front three quarters at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show
Other models to be launched this year include the X5M and X6M duo,

Also Read: 2016 BMW 7 Series (India-bound) spotted testing

Other than the high end CBU models (M performance cars, Z4, 6 Series), BMW imports CKD kits for the 1, 3, 3 GT, 5, 7 Series as well as the X1, X3 and X5, that are manufactured in other countries and then assembled at BMW’s plant in Chennai, which has an annual capacity of 14,000 units.

[Source: TOI]

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