BMW 1 Series facelift "could be" launched in India this year - IAB Report

The facelifted 1 Series debuts at the Geneva Motor Show.

BMW's entry-level model, the 1 series hatchback, has undergone a facelift for this year, which will be showcased for the first time at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show which starts on March 3.

In India, the BMW 1 Series is assembled at the company's plant in Chennai from CKD kits.

We spoke with Mr. Philipp von Sahr, President of BMW India, to talk about the launch of the facelifted 1 Series in India. According to von Sahr, the 1 Series facelift "could be" part of the 15 new launches that will take place this year. But he refused to divulge an exact launch date of the new model.

Some of the cars that will be launching this year are premium high performance cars, such as the 6 Series facelift (including facelifted M6 GranCoupe), and the X5M and X6M duo. According to Frank Schlöder Director of Marketing, BMW India, the launch of performance and expensive models in a nascent segment is to build the brand image and preview to average customers the capabilities of their products; to give it a distinct, premium image in India.

Also Read: BMW X4 currently ruled out for India – IAB Report

If the 1 Series facelift is part of the brand's 15 new launches, a launch can be expected towards the end of the year. Like the outgoing model, it will follow the CKD route, and could benefit from BMW's aggressive parts localization, which was announced this year.

Competitors: Mercedes A Class, Audi A3 Sedan
Expected Price: INR 25-30 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch date: By end-2015 (expected)