Make in India: BMW rolls out 50,000th car from Chennai Plant

There was once a time in India when buying fancy European cars was an actual luxury, reserved only for the elite. But then came globalisation and, voila, a plethora of foreign automakers actually set up manufacturing facilities in the country. And with that, several manufacturers have continuously attempted to push up their levels of localisation. One of them, the German luxury carmaker BMW has now rolled out its 50,000th car locally produced in India, informed a press release on Thursday. 

It was a unit of the all-new BMW 7 Series that received the distinction of being this very set of wheels. Launched at the Auto Expo 2016, the all-new BMW 7 Series caught the eye of moneyed luxury enthusiasts with its futuristic technologies including Touch Command System, Wireless Charging, Sky Lounge and Remote Control Parking.

On the occasion, managing director of the BMW Plant Chennai, Dr Jochen Stallkamp said, “It is with great pride that we are rolling-out the 50,000th car locally produced at BMW Plant Chennai. Each and every BMW that is locally produced is of the same international standards as anywhere else in the world and brings a smile on the faces of our customers.”

In a bid to jump on the ‘Make in India’ bandwagon, the Bavarian manufacturer has also increased the level of localisation at BMW Plant Chennai by up to 50 percent, added the release. 

The Chennai plant of BMW, having commenced operations in 2007, currently produces eight different car models. The list includes the likes of 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.