BMW’s Mini likely to come to India by 2009
02 Feb 2008
Tokyo: BMW might launch a premium compact range of cars under its Mini brand in the Indian market by 2009.
According to David Panton, senior vice president, Asia Pacific (other than China), Middle East, Eastern Europe, Caribbean and Africa, the company is ''positively reviewing it'', and ''it is only a question of when do we bring it to the Indian market.'' Panton said that though the companies decided not to launch the range in countries such as Brazil, such a scenario was not a possibility in the Indian context.
The Mini brand was acquired by BMW in 1994. The range retails via an ''independent Mini dealer network'' that spans 70 countries. Peter Kronschnabl, President, BMW India affirmed that the same retail model would follow in India as well. Though dealers could be common, showrooms for the Mini and BMW would be independent, as is the case globally.
Reports indicate that BMW has already done a feasibility study, and would make an announcement on a possible launch in the Indian market in around the next two-three months.
If the Mini were to be imported into India, the pricing would work out to around Rs20-25 lakh. In an interview with domain-b during the Auto Expo '08, New Delhi last month, Peter Kronschnabl, President, BMW India had expressed concerns about the Indian market being ready for ''a hatchback car with a premium price'', referring to the BMW 1 series. (Also see: Interview: Peter Kronschnabl, President, BMW India. )
