BMW will increase its investment in India to US$40m by the end of 2012 and start assembling the X1 SUV at its local plant by the end of this year, a top official said.
BMW established the plant near Chennai in 2007 with capacity of 5,400 units per year. The plant produces petrol and diesel 3 and 5 series sedans.
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By the end of 2010, the plant will also start producing the X1, Andreas Schaaf, the president of India operations, told the Indo Asian News Service. It rolled out its 10,000th unit on Wednesday.
Schaaf said the company aims to maintain its leading position in the Indian market by embarking on a second wave of local strategy.
“We are confident that we will be able to increase sales substantially over the coming years with new products, now produced in India and the ongoing expansion of our dealer network to reach out to more of our potential buyers,” he said.
The company will also increase the number of dealerships to 22 from the current 18 by 2011.
