After rejecting the idea twice it’s going to be third time lucky for Mini in India. The BMW Group company had carried out two feasibility studies in the past, since 2006 – the outcome of both had resulted in India plans being shelved.
Now the Indian market is showing massive growth in the automobile space. So Mini has finally decided its time to take a second look at it its India agenda.
The company will debut its brand in India with the help of parent BMW of course. A number of existing BMW dealers have been identified as suitable to take on the Mini business too. Only a few of the select metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore are likely to get a single Mini dealership in 2011.
Mini would first introduce the iconic Cooper hatch in two or three variants. These cars would be direct imports from the company’s Cowley plant in Oxfordshire, UK. Following the introduction of its flagship cars, Mini will launch the Countryman variant which will be assembled locally at the BMW plant in Chennai. The Countryman is the first Mini to be assembled outside of the UK to begin with, as its being built in Graz, Austria by Magna Steyr under contract. This will give Mini pricing power, and the ability to get aggressive and rack up some volumes.
Source: NDTV
