Chennai: German luxury car maker BMW has partnered with auto-component suppliers to increase local content in its cars to around 50 percent.
With the addition of these partnership, the level of localisation of BMW Chennai plant would increase to 50 percent approximately, BMW India said in a statement.
"BMW Plant Chennai is the heart of our India operations. Since 2007, BMW has strengthened its commitment to the Indian market and has continuously increased the number of its local produced car models", BMW Group India, President, Philipp von Sahr said.
"With a strong portfolio of locally produced cars, it is now the appropriate time for us to partner with major Indian auto-component suppliers who will play a significant role in future strategy of BMW Group in India"", he said.
Some of the major auto-component sourced for local production of cars at BMW Plant Chennai are engine and gearbox from Force Motors; Axles from ZF Hero Chassis, door panels from Draexlmaier India,exhaust system from Tenneco Automotive, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning modules from Valeo India and seats from Lear India.
"BMW Plant Chennai takes pride in producing cars that have the same international quality standards as any of the 30 BMW Group production and assembly facilities worldwide," BMW Plant Chennai, Managing Director, Robert Frittrang said.
"We are confident that through our partnership with Indian auto-component suppliers, we will set even higher benchmarks not only in quality but also in cost optimisation", he said.
BMW Group has invested Rs 390 crore at the Chennai plant. It produces BMW the 1 and 3 series, Gran Turismo, BMW 5 and 7 series, X1, X3 and X5. The company has 37 sales outlets across the country, the statement said.
