Germany-based auto company BMW is planning to manufacture its mini SUV called the Countryman, under its marquee MINI at its Indian facility in Chennai. The development will make the Chennai facility the first plant outside Europe to manufacture the MINI Countryman.
BMW is planning to begin production on the vehicle next month and is also planning to commercialise the product. The decision to expand the vehicles production has been made due to the growing demand for premium MINI cars. The MINI is the first premium small car to be locally manufactured in India. The company expects significant growth for the vehicle over the medium and long term.
The MINI Countryman vehicles which will be manufactured at the Chennai facility will meet the same standards of manufacturing at the facilities of the BMW group across the globe. The local production of the MINI has been brought online a year after the vehicle has been launched in the Indian market. Robert Frittrang, the managing director at BMW India said, “It is a very good product for Indian road condition, with high ground clearance. It is also a car in which five persons can travel comfortably”.
The vehicle will be introduced in two variants for the first time in the Indian market.
