BMW Starts Local production of MINI Countryman at Chennai Plant

BMW India has commenced local assembly of Mini Countryman in India at its plant near Chennai. Mini brand was first introduced in 2012 Auto Expo, and after one year the German auto giant starts producing Mini locally in India. With this, the British premium brand will start an assembly line outside Europe for the first time.

This has been for the first time that locally manufactured Mini Countryman will be launched in two diesel variants in India - Mini Cooper D Countryman and Mini Cooper D Countryman High. Mini One Countryman new petrol model will also be locally produced at Chennai. However, the rest of the petrol models of the Mini Countryman such as Mini Cooper S Countryman and Mini Cooper S Countryman High will be imported in India as completely built-up units (CBUs). Globally, Mini brand is in operation to over 100 nations, and the Indian market is the 100th one for the company. Since January 2012, Mini has opened five exclusive dealership outlets across Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The locally produced Mini Countryman will hit the Indian auto market by the year-end. This is for the first time mini will be made outside Europe, Robert Frittrang, BMW India MD, said. Locally produced petrol powered Mini One Countryman will be tagged around Rs. 23,50,000 and Rs. 28,90,000 for Mini Cooper D Countryman High.