With the government’s special attention to popularize EVs in the face of acute air pollution in Indian cities, automakers players are considering plans to tap the promising EV market in the country. While a number of global automakers are earmarking their EVs sold in global markets for India, Indian automakers are readying with their own range of EVs. In fact, BMW Group was the first luxury carmaker to sell an all-electric car with its i3 in the country.
BMW’s British brand Mini showcased in July its first EV, the Mini Cooper SE for the global market with a starting price of $29,900 (Rs 21.5 lakh, approx.). Amidst the struggling automotive market in the country where passenger vehicle sales have declined 21 percent this fiscal till the end of October, Mini has been able to keep its sales up, albeit on a much smaller base.
The company sold 700 units in India in 2018, a 40 percent jump over the preceding year. The country is the second-largest market for Mini under Roca’s domain after Japan.
Presently, Mini has 10 outlets in the country. To further boost sales, BMW is taking innovative steps such as mobile stores which and in the current fiscal the company has visited 30 cities with stores on wheels.
In the first quarter of 2020, Mini will launch the new Clubman in India, bringing its portfolio in the country at par with other global markets. According to Francois Roca, head of Mini in Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa regions, the company wants to leverage its local presence with its Chennai plant and offer cars at much affordable price tag. However, Roca mentions that the country has a long way to go in establishing the charging infrastructure for mass-adoption of EVs.
