BMW News

 A year after introducing its popular Mini range of cars in India, BMW has begun the local production of the Mini Countryman at a factory in Chennai.

"A new chapter is set to be written in Mini's global success story as cars roll off an assembly line outside Europe for the first time," BMW India said in a statement.

BMW's Chennai plant, spread on a 40-acre land at Mahindra World City in Singaperumalkoil, currently produces the BMW 3 series, BMW 5 series, BMW X1, and BMW X3. Besides Mini Coopers, the company will also produce BMW 7 series and the BMW 1 series, the statement said.

"With the production of Mini Countryman at the BMW Plant in Chennai, Mini is the first premium small car to be locally manufactured in India and expects significant growth over the medium and long-term," BMW said.

The new MINI production facility has been brought on stream just a year after the start of Mini sales in India and would help meet the growing demand, the company said.

Initially built in two diesel variants: Mini Cooper D Countryman and Mini Cooper D Countryman High, the Chennai factory will also produce a petrol variant.

However, the car maker said the Mini Cooper S Countryman, Mini Cooper S Countryman High will still be imported to India as a completely built units, along with the petrol variants of the Mini Cooper, Mini Cooper S,and mini convertible.

The MINI Cooper range of cars currently available in India are priced between Rs 26.6 lakh ($47,876) for the base variant and Rs 37.50 lakh ($69,052) for the top end model.

India is the 100th market for the BMW Mini and the car maker has established five exclusive outlets in the country, the release added.––Paul Duchene