Expected Price Rs. 2,25,000 - Rs. 2,50,000
This would be an ideal replacement for the Italian inspired 3-wheeler autorickshaws made by Bajaj and others.
BMW to assemble Mini cars in India
BBC News - BMW to assemble Mini cars in India
BMW is to begin building the Mini in India, in a move that suggests confidence in the country's emerging car market.
The German carmaker said Mini Countryman models would be rolling off the production line at its plant in the port city of Chennai later this year.
It described India as an "increasingly significant market" for the BMW Group,
Car sales in India have grown rapidly in recent years, attracting investment from major brands.
BMW has operated its own sales company in India since 2007, and began selling the Mini in the country in 2012.
It sold just over 300 Minis in the first year.
Savings on tariffs
BMW said the decision to move production there was in line with its "production follows the market" strategy.
Analysts suggest the move will help BMW save on import duties.
Continue reading the main story
Mini's strategy
The Mini factory in Cowley will remain at the heart of the carmaker's operations
BMW Group is increasingly making cars close to where its customers are
The Indian market is central to Mini's growth strategy
100 years of carmaking in Oxford
India charges 100% tariffs on the import of fully built cars, but just 30% on cars assembled domestically from imported parts.
Currently, the Mini is built in the UK and Austria, while BMW's Chennai plant already makes several BMW models for the Indian market.
Weaker market
Mini's move suggests growing confidence in the Indian market, where car ownership is just 1.5 cars per 100 people in one of the world's fastest growing economies.
But although sales have risen strongly in recent years, the latest figures suggest the market is experiencing a sharp slow-down.
Figures released last week by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers showed sales fell by 6.7% over the last 12 months - the first fall in a decade.
That has forced some domestic brands to cut production and showroom prices.
^^
BMW is now a mass manufacturer of 'mass luxury' brands. Used to be an elite, niche player.
However, it can seed the Indian market with a watered down, Maruti-Hyundai bashing Bharat Mini a la Bharat Benz.
In 20 yrs., said end users will grow up to buy the other mini series cars, and some will jump onto the BMW bandwagon too.
Or BMW could sit pretty and take the customers off the top, why risk?