BMW keen to maintain growth graph

The company has made it clear that they are not chasing the top slot for some more time here, something it lost out to compatriots Audi and then Mercedes since 2012. After many years of volume declines, the German car major had posted a robust 25 per cent volume growth in 2017, creating 9,800 new customers. The numbers include those sold under the BMW and the Mini brands. BMW alone clocked 9,379 units. “I am not chasing the No 1 slot now. That should come on its own in due course. But if no more surprises are in the store like we had from government and the judiciary and from the economy in the past two years, I am sure we will maintain the double-digits growth this year,” BMW Group India president Vikram Pawah said. 

Pawah based his optimism to the product offerings the company has planned in the country with the seven new models. Most of these will be locally assembled at the Chennai plant. “We are also focusing a lot on our lending arm —BMW Financial Services— to get more customers and serve them better. Already 75 per cent of our sales are financed,” he added. On the dealership expansion, as he plans it big here, Pawah said they will add seven more dealers by 2020 taking the total to 50 by then. In the medium term, the company will increase the outreach of its mobile service/ sales unit to 50 cities shortly. 

Terming the Budget and the duty hike on luxe cars as “very disappointing” he said however the company will not pass on the duty hike to customers till end March. “We will look at passing a portion of the duty hike from April,” Pawah said. BMW unveiled its electric car i3s and hybrid vehicle.

i8 Roadster along with a slew of other top-end models at the Auto Expo 2018. It also launched Series Gran Turismo Sports Line that will be priced at Rs 58.90 lakh as well as M5 that will carry a price tag of Rs 1.44 cr (ex-showroom). Besides, it unveiled its five-seater sports activity vehicle Mini Countryman and two motorbikes ‘F 750 GS’ and ‘F 850 GS’.