Mini Cooper Coming to India!!

Y@SH · 26th September 2011, 18:47

Mod Note : The Mini Cooper Official Review has been uploaded at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the new thread. Thanks

Source: IAB Economic Times

BMW India has finally announced that it will officially debut the MINI brand in India. It is also formalizing plans to showcase the MINI at Delhi Auto Expo 2012. According to a report in TheEconomicTimes, BMW will bring all the variants of the MINI including Cooper, Countryman and the Cabrio to India.

They will bring this as a CBU hence prices would be above 25L.

The company plans to open two flagship dealerships, in Delhi and Mumbai.

My question is, Do you think there is a market for such cars in India?

differential · 26th September 2011, 18:52

25 L for a car that costs 10 - 11 L in other markets. for 25L one could end up with a mad JC works mini in other markets.. i guess one has to be a huge mini fan to shell out so much for a 110 - 120 bhp mini (obviously we wont get the JC works cooper). fingers crossed!

HammerHead · 26th September 2011, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y@SH

My question is, Do you think there is a market for such cars in India?

IMO yes. If they sell the convertible for 25 L.

I don't think BMW will be much worried about numbers. It will be like the way VW sells Beetle.

Latheesh · 26th September 2011, 18:55

People will say why spend 25 Lacs for this, it looks like SWIFT.

I see many Beetles here so why not MC? But they will not be able to sell it like Beetle for sure!

bigblackshark · 26th September 2011, 19:05

These are cult cars, and they would sell, the rich and famous would buy them just to show off according to me. Too bad, BMW should look at these cars for the mass market, I am sure many enthusiasts like myself would be interested in buying minis, if only they were locally built and priced economically!

2cents · 26th September 2011, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by HammerHead

I don't think BMW will be much worried about numbers. It will be like the way VW sells Beetle.

VW brought the bug as a brand building exercise, to help them sell the likes of Polo and Vento later. Why would Mini take such an effort, they dont have anything for lesser mortals anyway.

If CBU is Mini's long term, It just doesn't make sense. Especially when big brother is going for higher localization.

puchoo · 26th September 2011, 19:12

could not agree more , it will be a statement for the brand and they will be happy with a few numbers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HammerHead

IMO yes. If they sell the convertible for 25 L.

I don't think BMW will be much worried about numbers. It will be like the way VW sells Beetle.

figo_mba · 26th September 2011, 19:47

I love the looks of the car... If its coming, then to just look at it is a visual treat.

How much I tried to get my Dad's 2007Swift to look like a Mini.
25L or 30L there will be a trickle who would buy it and then we can look and leave that sigh!!

Mini on Indian roads. WOW!

Positron · 26th September 2011, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latheesh

... it looks like SWIFT.

Suzuki modeled Swift based on Mini's shape and design following Mini's massive success in Europe (and US, but mostly Europe).

shankar.balan · 26th September 2011, 19:52

lovely brand iconic automobile
stupid pricing
again aimed only at the blasted poseurs

this is a lovely common persons car anywhere in the developed world - indeed it was envisaged as exactly that - motoring for the masses
same with the beetle which was the original "people's car" - VOLKS WAGEN!
And the Fiat 500 which did the same job in Italy

It is only in this "flash mad" country of ours that all these brands cannot possibly be bought by the common folk

truly idiotic state of affairs in my opinion

sridhar_setty · 26th September 2011, 20:52

Have been waiting for Mini for some time. Should have been at least CKD. They are not going to sell in big numbers and don't need a complex assembly line to be built. Just hand craft assembly might sound a good short term plan towards a long term commitment

puneet_b · 26th September 2011, 22:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latheesh

People will say why spend 25 Lacs for this, it looks like SWIFT.

I see many Beetles here so why not MC? But they will not be able to sell it like Beetle for sure!

Tell those people Its more like ' The Swift looks like the mini '

.
I do hate it when they introduce these cars as CBUs. I reckon there's very little investment involved being the primary reason they do this ?

Latheesh · 26th September 2011, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Positron

Suzuki modeled Swift based on Mini's shape and design following Mini's massive success in Europe (and US, but mostly Europe).

Quote:

Originally Posted by puneet_b

Tell those people Its more like ' The Swift looks like the mini '

Two instances:

1) Once spotted a red Mini driven by a young lady on Residency road - my passenger said "nicely modified Swift"

2) Was watching The Italian job - climax chase scene shows 3 modded Minis chasing against each other; my friend walks in look at the scene for few seconds and goes "looks like Swift copy"

now beat that!!

karty_83 · 27th September 2011, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y@SH

My question is, Do you think there is a market for such cars in India?

Market, Yes for sure. But at this price, No.

As CBU it ll only end up with the rich and the famous. Had it been in the price range of 10-11 lac, may be it could have got the numbers too.

akhilesh51 · 27th September 2011, 11:38

Shouldn't BMW 1 series make more sense at that price. Atleast, that would correlate to their existing brand presence.

26th September 2011, 18:47	#1
Y@SH BHPian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Mumbai Posts: 454 Thanked: 909 Times	Mini Cooper Coming to India!! Mod Note : The Mini Cooper Official Review has been uploaded at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the new thread. Thanks Source: IAB Economic Times BMW India has finally announced that it will officially debut the MINI brand in India. It is also formalizing plans to showcase the MINI at Delhi Auto Expo 2012. According to a report in TheEconomicTimes, BMW will bring all the variants of the MINI including Cooper, Countryman and the Cabrio to India. They will bring this as a CBU hence prices would be above 25L. The company plans to open two flagship dealerships, in Delhi and Mumbai. My question is, Do you think there is a market for such cars in India? Attached Thumbnails Last edited by GTO : 7th July 2012 at 14:27. Reason: Adding link to official review
	(2) Thanks

26th September 2011, 18:52	#2
differential BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: coimbatore Posts: 240 Thanked: 230 Times	Re: Mini Cooper Coming to India!! 25 L for a car that costs 10 - 11 L in other markets. for 25L one could end up with a mad JC works mini in other markets.. i guess one has to be a huge mini fan to shell out so much for a 110 - 120 bhp mini (obviously we wont get the JC works cooper). fingers crossed!
	() Thanks

26th September 2011, 18:55	#4
Latheesh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: CNN/BLR Posts: 4,243 Thanked: 10,081 Times	Re: Mini Cooper Coming to India!! People will say why spend 25 Lacs for this, it looks like SWIFT. I see many Beetles here so why not MC? But they will not be able to sell it like Beetle for sure!
	() Thanks

26th September 2011, 19:05	#5
bigblackshark BHPian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Mumbai Posts: 98 Thanked: 74 Times View My Garage	Re: Mini Cooper Coming to India!! These are cult cars, and they would sell, the rich and famous would buy them just to show off according to me. Too bad, BMW should look at these cars for the mass market, I am sure many enthusiasts like myself would be interested in buying minis, if only they were locally built and priced economically!
	() Thanks

26th September 2011, 19:47	#8
figo_mba BHPian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 467 Thanked: 214 Times View My Garage	Re: Mini Cooper Coming to India!! I love the looks of the car... If its coming, then to just look at it is a visual treat. How much I tried to get my Dad's 2007Swift to look like a Mini. 25L or 30L there will be a trickle who would buy it and then we can look and leave that sigh!! Mini on Indian roads. WOW!
	() Thanks

26th September 2011, 19:52	#10
shankar.balan BANNED Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,368 Thanked: 23,148 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/2 (8)	Re: Mini Cooper Coming to India!! lovely brand iconic automobile stupid pricing again aimed only at the blasted poseurs this is a lovely common persons car anywhere in the developed world - indeed it was envisaged as exactly that - motoring for the masses same with the beetle which was the original "people's car" - VOLKS WAGEN! And the Fiat 500 which did the same job in Italy It is only in this "flash mad" country of ours that all these brands cannot possibly be bought by the common folk truly idiotic state of affairs in my opinion
	(3) Thanks

26th September 2011, 20:52	#11
sridhar_setty BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: https://t.me/pu Posts: 104 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Re: Mini Cooper Coming to India!! Have been waiting for Mini for some time. Should have been at least CKD. They are not going to sell in big numbers and don't need a complex assembly line to be built. Just hand craft assembly might sound a good short term plan towards a long term commitment Last edited by sridhar_setty : 26th September 2011 at 20:53.
	() Thanks

27th September 2011, 11:38	#15
akhilesh51 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jaipur, RAJ Posts: 631 Thanked: 339 Times	Re: Mini Cooper Coming to India!! Shouldn't BMW 1 series make more sense at that price. Atleast, that would correlate to their existing brand presence.
	(1) Thanks