BMW India said it wants to be a leader to grow the luxury car segment, and was not just targeting to be number one in terms of sales.
"When we came to India in 2007, there was hardly any market for luxury cars. We invested in products, dealer networks, and customer experiences to create a market. That is exactly what we are going to do now. We want to be the leader to grow the (luxury car) market. We are not talking about just being the number one. When we are talking about such a small market, being number one is not a great achievement," Vikram Pawah, president of BMW Group India, told DNA at the launch of its new dealer partner in Ahmedabad.
BMW India sales grew 25% in 2017, nearly double of the overall auto industry growth of 13-14%. In the first quarter of 2018, BMW sales rose 11%.
"Our biggest ever product offensive will start now. We showcased all our three brands – BMW, Mini and Motarrad – at the Auto Expo. We launched nine products at the Expo, and we also showcased seven more products that will be launched this year. We are not just creating new segments, but are redefining them," said Pawah.
In all, BMW India offers 36 models at present, of which 27 models are imported, while the rest are manufactured at its Chennai plant. Pawah said that over 95% of the cars they sell in India are manufactured locally.
The BMW chief also said that an increasing number of customers are now opting for petrol cars over diesel-powered ones.
"It is too early to call it a trend, but petrol models are becoming very popular. We are seeing change at a very fast pace, but the overall size is still very small," Pawah added.
...& ANALYSIS
- The luxury carmaker says its biggest ever product offensive will start now
- In the first quarter of 2018, BMW sales rose 11%
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 "BMW India")
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