The Goan: Big car and motorcycle companies constantly relyon their motorsport activities to further R&D for their consumer vehicles.But, since BMW has pulled out of F1, how do they manage testing prototypeengines, chassis etc?
Phillipe Von Sahr: The BMW group owes its status as theworld’s most successful manufacturer of premium automobiles to outstandingdevelopment expertise in all areas relevant to driving pleasure, sustainabilityand safety.
The BMW Group strongly believes in its own in-housedevelopment and production expertise for the key components. The subsidiarycompany set up 25 years ago provides the BMW group today with a unique andworld-class centre of competence that secures and expands its technologyleadership as a source of innovations.
TG: Will BMW be looking to compete in the motorcycle segmentin India, by launching bikes like the S1000RR, which has been doing very wellat SBK (World Superbikes)?
PVS: The BMW group has already established itself verysuccessfully in India with a local BMW automobile production and a salesnetwork. Although small, in the recent years, the market for premiummotorcycles in India has shaped up well. BMW Motorrad has opened a new chapterin its successful market strategy by starting sales activities in India.
BMW Motorrad offers the current models of the R and K seriesas well as the superbike S 1000 RR, i.e. premium vehicles in each of therelevant categories. The BMW motorcycles of the R series such as the legendaryenduro bike BMW R 1200 GS enthuse customers with their unique and distinctiveboxer engine in particular.
TG: Where does Goa stand in your ranking?
PVS: Goa is the smallest but one of the fastest developingstates in India and plays an important role in BMW’s market offensive in India.With the launch of Bavaria Motors in Goa in June 2011, BMW India has set a newstandard in the premium car market in the region and is providing high qualityservices to customers in Goa and the Konkan region.
TG: How many cars have you sold this year and what are yourexpectations for the New Year?
PVS: BMW India has delivered 7,389 vehicles till October2012 and maintains a leading position in the luxury car segment in India in2012.
We will continue to focus on maintaining the position, notonly in sales but in everything we do. We are all very emotional when it comesto our cars. We are also very emotional when it comes to the implementation ofour strategy.
TG: You regularly introduce new models, do you think thisaffects the sale of your older models, considering that the second hand carmarket in India for the luxury category is miniscule? What are your plans forthe Indian market for the next five years in terms of launches?
PVS: BMW India is well positioned for the future with a verystrong product portfolio. In order to achieve growth, we will resolutely expandour CKD (Completely knocked-down) product range and thus cover allopportunities in the luxury car segment which are relevant for us. We willlaunch exclusively authentic luxury products, which are differentiated by theiremotional appeal, uncompromising engineering, innovative technology andoutstanding quality.
BMW India will further expand into new arenas of the Indianmarket to secure its growth. Beginning 2013, BMW India will launch the new BMWX1 in the Indian market. In 2013, we will also launch the new BMW 7 Series inChennai.
