BMW's Deemed "Unfit" in India's Automarket

PlanoA4 submitted on 09/18/2006 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 12:12 PM
from: economictimes.indiatimes.com

[49] user comments | category: Spy Shots

Tags: BMW Unfit

BMW Unfit

Germany’s luxury car maker BMW’s plan to drive into India has hit a peculiar roadblock. No, it’s not the low fuel quality that most global car brands crib about, or the potholed face of Indian roads, but a technological advancement that has, in fact, won BMW several accolades the world over — run-flat tyres.

This technology has made a spare-wheel — popularly called stepney — inside its car trunks redundant. All BMW cars are designed with no space for storing a spare-wheel — an advancement that threatens to make these cars “unfit” for Indian roads under government regulations.

Here’s how: Indian regulations make it mandatory for every manufacturer to provide a spare-wheel with the cars they sell in India, else the vehicle would not be homologated — or declared road-worthy. The same has been holding back the homologation certificate for BMW cars at certifying authority, Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

“We are in constant dialogue with ARAI and are trying to educate them about run-flat tyres, and the fact that our cars are globally sold without a spare-wheel,” says BMW India president Peter Kronschnabl.

A punctured run-flat tyre can run for 200 km at a speed of about 80kmph, without the car losing stability or facing any safety risk, before it has to be replaced. “We have successfully tested our vehicles on Indian roads using these tyres,” he says. BMW drove its 3-Series and 5-series cars for over 25,000 km on Indian roads. “We feel we will be able to convince ARAI and our customers about this technology. Or else, we will have to find an alternate route. It’s still possible to provide a spare-wheel in the 5-Series, but it’s going to difficult to fix it in a 3-Series,” he adds.

BIG IS BEAUTIFUL

BMW is investing Rs 110 crore to set up a plant in Chennai, with an initial capacity for 1,700 units per annum. While deliveries of 3-Series cars would start by February-March 2007, the 5-Series cars would be available by May-June. It is also exploring the feasibility of introducing the premium compact car brand Mini in India. But the firm has decided to steer clear of the compact car market with its BMW brand. It produces compact cars under 1-Series in Europe.

“The BMW badge will be used for only premium sedans. We feel there is not enough market for a BMW compact car as it will be too high priced for India. So, the 1-Series will not be rolled out in India,” says Kronschnabl.

BMW would begin production of cars in India early next year, and expects to sell around 1,000 units in its first full year of operation.
Read Article

Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]

BMW530i - 9/18/2006 12:16:58 PM

-1 Boost

This is something that has continually annoyed me over the last several years. More and more carmakers are resorting to run-flats which limit the range and speed you can travel in case they're activated after a tire puncture.

What happened to the good old spare tire? :(

reply to this comment

bigslick83 - 9/18/2006 12:34:37 PM

+2 Boost

run flat tires are safer hands down. people are killed or injured everyday stopped on the side of the road changing tires. this also reduces headaches like tow bills and damaged rims from driving on a flat tire while trying to pull off the highway or other roads. maybe this is jsut a cover up because bmw uses too many cows to make their leather seats. and cows are sacred to indians. that what i think anyway.

reply to this comment

BMW530i - 9/18/2006 12:37:56 PM

+2 Boost

run flat tires are safer hands down. people are killed or injured everyday stopped on the side of the road changing tires.
=============================

That's because we are not as well trained in the art of driving as the Europeans. When I rented a car for the first time over there, the clerk told me that in case of a flat tire, I must put the warning triangle 100 meters behind the car and in addition wear an orange jacket that was provided inside the car: to alert other drivers.

In India, I don't think something like this exists. And here in the US, Drivers Ed = LMAO...

reply to this comment

BMW530i - 9/18/2006 12:46:25 PM

+2 Boost

Love that picture, Plano!
====================================

See Will? You're doing it again. PROVOKING.

I won't argue with you, but I think you just pissed off other Beemer fans.

reply to this comment

thecar - 9/18/2006 12:58:17 PM

+1 Boost

"run flat tires are safer hands down. people are killed or injured everyday stopped on the side of the road changing tires."

That's not me , that will be BMW road side assistance ppl.

the problem is BMW did not give more trunk room (at least not increased by the size of the spare tire) after dropped the spare tire. We have preblem to get a new RF Tires during sundays and long week end already, u think they will stock enough in india? no flipping hey.

It's fine to equip with RF tires , its not okay to disallow ppl to have a spare tire well / storage place.

reply to this comment

BMW530i - 9/18/2006 1:18:25 PM

+1 Boost

For all YOU know, I could have meant that in a sarcastic tone! (like you always do?)
===========================================

Knowing YOU, you were serious.

reply to this comment

BMW530i - 9/18/2006 1:41:02 PM

0 Boost

You don't know me at all.
============================

I work for the CIA. I know all there is to know about you. For one, you don't drive a Lexus LS430 as you claim but a Kia Rio. I won't embarrass you though. Whoops, just did.

reply to this comment

BMW530i - 9/18/2006 1:46:44 PM

0 Boost

52. ;)

reply to this comment

Rupert - 9/18/2006 2:05:59 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

52?? but you're cool????
you're the same age as my dad, interestingly.

reply to this comment

BMW530i - 9/18/2006 2:19:28 PM

+1 Boost

52 years old and proud of it. ;)

I mentioned that before. Guess no one read that post...

reply to this comment

MunichRob - 9/18/2006 2:26:27 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Yeah Will... you've just proven the age demographics of the BMW & Lexus drivers.

reply to this comment

bigslick83 - 9/18/2006 2:50:22 PM

+1 Boost

did anyone see about the cows and the leather?
thats what this really is about!!
who agrees with me?
serious you have to wait in the damn road if a cows standing there. u cant shoo them away like will, you have to stay there, and get dirty looks if u honk. i know its their religion or genises or whatever but its freaken stupid. if bemmer sells cars there i bet they have to have cloth seats. or fake leather, but thats still prob offensive

reply to this comment

kart1 - 9/18/2006 4:01:37 PM

+2 Boost

bigslick83 - yea that is exactly what this is about.
Why does MB sell over there then? The model listing does show Leather seats. Nice analysis.

reply to this comment

audirevolution - 9/18/2006 4:09:49 PM

+2 Boost

Indian people LOVE mercedes.

BMW530i?

does will really drive a kia?!
And how would you be able to find that out?

reply to this comment

audirevolution - 9/18/2006 4:10:49 PM

+1 Boost

Also, if you can, find out what M6willruleoveryourass really drives. He keeps claiming he has a zonda.

reply to this comment

bmtrblu - 9/18/2006 4:12:59 PM

+1 Boost

India is a visionary country.

reply to this comment

GermanNut - 9/18/2006 4:17:54 PM

0 Boost

Logical, Audi already has it made and I consider BMW a crap company when compared to Audi.

That is my opinion.

reply to this comment

audirevolution - 9/18/2006 4:36:32 PM

+1 Boost

Will.

Then BMW530i was just joking? He doesnt work for the CIA?

and out of curiousity how does your wifes 300c drive?

reply to this comment

KeyserSoze - 9/18/2006 4:53:15 PM

+2 Boost

Will & BMW530i you guys are cool! I just love your sense of humor. You make Autospies interesting.

reply to this comment

KeyserSoze - 9/18/2006 4:55:05 PM

+1 Boost

humour is what I meant to say sorry, my mistake

reply to this comment

Rupert - 9/18/2006 4:58:05 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

i don't think the india leather thing is that bad, my indian friends have a ton of leather (one has 4 leather jackets and many leather shoes, and leather interior on the cars).
so you like your 300c? i like it, it looks very cool. what engine? the 3.5? we get that but the 3.0 crd is honestly soo much better, and faster. not to be rude about your car or anything will ;)

reply to this comment

bigslick83 - 9/18/2006 6:34:31 PM

+1 Boost

um stfu logical really. the indian god fell in love with a girl, and the girl was a shapeshifter of sorts, so she would turn into a bird, and their god would find her and turn into a bird and would mate with her and that started the birds. then she would turn into a dog and mate and make the dogs. etc.... untill the final animal was a cow. so they think their gods spirit or something is traped into a cow, that is why they are sacred.

that is a very simplified explaination. you being so knowledgable should already have known that, so why were you calling me ignorant? for making fun of indians religion? yet here you make fun of people from the south. hypocrite

reply to this comment

S4cabriofox - 9/18/2006 6:34:36 PM

+2 Boost

logical-

Why the hell do you have to bring up Audi in every single article?

GermanNut-

You CANNOT claim that you think BMW is a crap company, when you're buying a 335! Put your head on straight, please!

reply to this comment

kart1 - 9/18/2006 7:34:04 PM

+2 Boost

I won't go into the debate of making fun of people. However, I would like to know, bigslick83, where did you get that story from???

reply to this comment

huu76 - 9/18/2006 7:43:39 PM

0 Boost

BMW's no longer have spares, not even a donut? Runflat or not, sounds like cost cutting (I'll say the same if Lexus cheaps out too).

Tires for my Jeep are $200 a piece. If runflates cost say $25 extra for each, that means they're saving themselves $100 by skimping. Bastards.

bigslick,
I can assure you, no cow has ever touched leatherette.

reply to this comment

BMW530i - 9/18/2006 7:55:23 PM

+2 Boost

I DON'T WORK FOR THE CIA. I was joking about that. And Will doesn't drive a Kia. He drives a Trabant. :p

reply to this comment

silverarrow2 - 9/18/2006 8:34:44 PM

+2 Boost

For all that money they give them their spare tire.
It's their country they have the right to force their regulation. The American companies did the same thing to the Japanese early on out of jalousy.
After what is 200 kms? some of these people drive longer than that and what if they do not wish to stop for their own security?

reply to this comment

GermanNut - 9/18/2006 8:39:02 PM

0 Boost

I just love playing devil's advocate and seeing both sides steam with fury and anger towards the other side.

Logical, call me a future BMW owner. Does that make you happy?

reply to this comment

M6willruleoverurass - 9/19/2006 1:49:52 AM

+1 Boost

They have roads in India??? Since when?? lol, jk.

reply to this comment

vdiv - 9/19/2006 4:49:29 PM

+1 Boost

Will is a Toyota bitch. Learn to ignore him :p

reply to this comment

vdiv - 9/19/2006 5:10:25 PM

+1 Boost

Apparently a troll bitch as well ;)

The "Muppet" is "Trekie Monster" from "Avenue Q"

Loser indeed because I fell for Toyota's BS and was stuck with one for almost 4 years. Never again.

Coward? I'm still here, hit me ;)

reply to this comment

bigslick83 - 9/20/2006 3:13:11 PM

+1 Boost

"The Indians also had the concept that any animal can be reproduced and evolved only from pre-existing animal, which is also the hypothesis on which organic evolution theory relies. According to Brihaddraoyaka Upanishad, Virdjan got bored of solitude and adopted binary division like an ameba and became two individuals, one of them acting like male and other the female. As the time passed by, these individuals assumed different animal forms such. as ants, cattle, donkey, goats and pigs. Thus, the whole world was populated by evolving one group of animals into another. However their classification of animal world was on the basis alone, as they did not believe of external forms in killing and dissecting the animals for their study. "

this was taken from some website about hindu animal creativity.

i was told the story in my previous comment by an uncle who has traveled the world and stayed in india for about 5 years. this he assured me was the equivilent to our adam and eve story from sunday school class and was just lore to the majority of the denominations

reply to this comment

To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).

	PlanoA4 Vorsprung durch Technik
	View My AgentPage