BMW Group Plant Chennai scores a decade of “Sheer Driving Pleasure” in India

Chennai, India. Today, BMW Group Plant Chennai celebrated 10 years of production excellence in India.

BMW Group Plant Chennai started operations on 29 March 2007. Since then, the BMW Group has strengthened its commitment to the Indian market and has continuously increased the number of its locally produced car models. Up to eight car models can be locally produced on two assembly lines at BMW Group Plant Chennai. Presently, the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, the BMW 5 Series, the BMW 7 Series, the BMW X1, the BMW X3 and the BMW X5 are locally produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai. Till date over 57,000 cars have been locally assembled.

 Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “It is a day of great joy and pride for all of us at BMW Group to celebrate the 10th anniversary of BMW Group Plant Chennai. The sheer driving pleasure of our customers has been shaped with the fascinating portfolio of products built at the BMW Group Plant Chennai, which has laid the foundation for BMW Group’s success story in India. The precision in quality achievements perfectly complement the advanced technology in the cars and the multiple facets of the luxury brand. In the years to come, BMW Group Plant Chennai will play a crucial role in fostering BMW Groups ambitions in India.”

 Celebrating the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the BMW Group has further strengthened its commitment to the Indian market by increasing the level of localisation at BMW Group Plant Chennai to over 50 percent.

 Dr. Jochen Stallkamp, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai, said, “BMW Group Plant Chennai is proud to complete a decade of production excellence in India. I congratulate the team for producing cars with more than 50 percent localisation content and achieving the high international quality standards as any of the BMW Group production facilities globally. Highly qualified employees, remarkably refined systems and the most modern technology ensure that our production quality creates new benchmark in manufacturing of luxury cars in India.”

 Located in Mahindra World City, about 40 Kilometer northwest of Chennai, BMW Group Plant Chennai hosts state-of-the-art systems engineering, more than 500 highly qualified employees and sophisticated manufacturing processes which are the prerequisites for the production of premium cars in keeping with supreme quality standards.

BMW Group India

With its three brands, BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group has its sight set firmly on the premium sector of the Indian automobile market. Along with automobiles and motorcycles, the BMW Group's activities in India comprise of financial services for its premium clientele. Till date, BMW Group has invested 11.3 billion Indian Rupees (€ 167 million) in its subsidiaries in India. (BMW India –INR 4.9 billion (€ 69 million) and BMW Financial Services India – INR 6.4 billion (€ 98 million).

BMW India is a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group and is headquartered in Gurgaon (National Capital Region). The wide range of BMW activities in India include a manufacturing plant in Chennai, a parts warehouse in Mumbai, a training centre in Gurgaon NCR and development of a dealer organisation across major metropolitan centres of the country.

 The total number of employees at BMW Group India is over 650. More than 1,200 additional jobs have been created in the dealer and service network.

 BMW India is the pioneer in bringing luxurious dealerships to India. BMW India has set a decisive course by setting up BMW dealerships of international standards across the country. BMW India has also set very high standards in service quality and customer care. Currently, BMW India has 41 sales outlets in the Indian market.

 BMW India offers ‘BMW Premium Selection’ with the finest range of pre-owned BMW vehicles that are carefully selected and comprehensively examined for quality. BMW Premium Selection vehicles can be ordered through exclusive BMW Premium Selection dealerships at 13 locations in the Indian market.

BMW i stands for visionary electric cars and mobility services, inspiring design and a new understanding of premium that is strongly defined by sustainability. BMW i8, plug-in hybrid sports car, is available at four BMW i dealerships as a Completely Built-up Unit (CBU).

MINI has successfully established itself as a premium small car brand in India. Presently, the MINI model range in India includes the MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door, MINI Convertible, MINI Countryman and the MINI Clubman. MINI has established five exclusive dealerships in India.

 The International Purchasing Office (IPO) established in Gurgaon identifies and assesses potential suppliers for BMW, MINI, and BMW Motorcycles taking into account BMW Group’s requirements for quality, technology and logistics. The IPO strongly focuses on increasing the sourcing of production material (components) as well as IT and engineering services from India to the BMW Group international production network.

BMW Financial Services India is a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group and is headquartered in Gurgaon (National Capital Region). BMW Financial Services India operates with three business lines: Retail Finance, Commercial Finance and Insurance Solutions (as corporate agents). The services offered through BMW Financial Services India are significantly valuable to the premium clientele who require exclusive and flexible financial solutions. Service excellence is the primary focus of operations across all business lines.

 BMW Financial Services India offers solutions for retail automobile financing for BMW customers and multi make customers, financing for fleet owners and commercial financing for BMW dealerships and multi-make dealerships. Commercial finance solutions offered to BMW India dealerships further strengthen operations in the country and reinforce the BMW brand. BMW Financial Services India also offers BMW Lease for individuals and corporate customers. BMW Financial Services India offers insurance solutions (as corporate agents) to its customers through its cooperation partner in India.  

The BMW Group production network

Strong customer demand and the launch of new models resulted in very high capacity utilisation for the BMW Group’s production network in 2016. With 2,359,756 vehicles produced for the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands, production volumes reached a new all-time high. This figure included 2,002,997 BMW, 352,580 MINI and 4,179 Rolls-Royce units. The company’s German plants, which produced more than one million vehicles, are responsible for roughly half of production volumes.

 With its unparalleled flexibility, the leading-edge production system is in excellent shape for the future. Based on Strategy Number One NEXT, it is characterised by a high level of efficiency and robust processes. The BMW Group’s production expertise represents a decisive competitive advantage and contributes to the profitability of the company and its sustainable success.

 Quality and speed of reaction are key factors in the BMW production system, as well as flexibility. Digitalisation, standardised modular concepts and intelligent composite construction testify to the high level of expertise within the production network. At the same time, the production system offers a very high level of customisation and allows customer specifications to be modified up until six days before delivery.

The BMW Group

With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

 In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and 145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 employees.

 The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.