BMW India managed to sell a total of 7861 units in 2016 accounting 7500 BMW vehicles and 361 units of Mini up by 14 per cent over the total sales in 2015. Major contributors to the sales were the 3 Series Gran Turismo, facelift of which was introduced in October, the new-gen X1 and the flagship luxury limousine, the 7 Series.
BMW India had an eventful last year. The Bavarian manufacturer introduced the latest iteration of the 7 Series flagship saloon last year, the new 3 Series GT and petrol variants of X3 and X5 Series in India. The manufacturer’s Chennai facility even rolled out its 50,000th car last year.
Frank Schloeder, president, BMW Group India, commenting on the Indian sales performance, said, “2016 has not been an easy year for the automotive industry and that applies equally to BMW Group India. During the course of the year, developments in the Indian economy and policy framework shook the mechanisms of the auto industry. BMW Group India was faced with challenges no less than any other automobile manufacturer and was confronted with strong pressure from the beginning of the year. Despite a challenging business environment, BMW Group India has increased sales and market share.”
BMW will introduce the new generation 5 Series sedan in India this year. The seventh generation 5 Series is already undergoing testing in India and is expected to be revealed later this year. The refreshed 6 Series will also be introduced in India soon. BMW’s arch-rival Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, managed to sell 13,231 units in 2016.
