BMW launches Gran Turismo in Bangalore at 63 lakh

05/02/2010 - 09:29 gran turismo, BMW Shrawan Raja

The Gran Tourismo will be sold in limited numbers, and we sense to known customers

India may well be pegged to lead the next automobile revolution – playing host to innovations – and of course, becoming the small car hub. But ask BMW why it has no plans of bringing its 1 series into the Indian market and they’ll say India is not ready yet and thus we have no plans! Does that mean we are yet be a mature market for luxury cars? Yes.

That however, has not stopped BMW from planning out an expansion. For, BMW today (3 FEB, 2010) launched its limited edition Gran Turismo, priced at Rs 63 lakh and also revealed it’s plans of bringing the X1 series here by the year-end through the CKD route.

The limited edition Gran Turismo car, equipped with a 3.01 litre diesel engine will be brought as a completely built-up unit (CBU) from the firm’s plant overseas.

This is not it! With 41% market share in the luxury car market in the country, BMW also plans to increase its dealerships to 22 from the current 12. These are besides the company’s plans to venture into the pre-owned cars business – for which it is planning an exclusive store in the Delhi-Gurgaon region.

Q&A with Peter Kronschanbl, President BMW India

1. Cars sold last year? : 3,196 units
2. Market share? : 41 per cent
3. Growth projections? : double digit for the coming year
4. Other expansions? : creating a standalone financial services entity, expanding capacity at the Chennai plant from the existing 3,000 units per annum, expanding dealership network to 22 from 12.
5. On bringing the 1 Series to India : We have no plans yet as we don’t see the market for that particular in the country as of now.