BMW eyes sales of 20,000 units in India buoyed on strong demand for luxury cars

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Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India , at the launch of MINI Countryman C at the BMW Plant near Chennai. | Photo Credit: BIJOY GHOSH

German automaker BMW is targeting annual sales of more than 20,000 units in 2026, buoyed by strong demand for luxury vehicles in the Indian market. “BMW sold around 18,000 vehicles, including 800 MINI cars, last year. The company has maintained its growth momentum, reporting a 17% year-on-year increase in sales during the first quarter of 2026,” Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO of BMW Group India, said after launching MINI Countryman C, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that was assembled at BMWs plant at the Mahindra World City, near Chennai. “Last year, we sold around 730 MINI cars. So, this year, we want to double MINI sales,” he added.

Responding to a query on the profile of MINI buyers, he said most customers already own a luxury vehicle and purchase a MINI as an additional car. “We have also seen many customers buying a MINI as a gift for their spouse,” he said, adding that the luxury car segment has consistently outperformed the mass-market segment.

Pointing out that the Chennai plant is well-positioned to support the company’s future growth, he said Tamil Nadu accounts for around 8% of BMW’s overall sales in India. The company plans to launch 26 models in 2026, including 10 all-new products. While the remaining launches will comprise facelifts and new variants of existing models.

Thomas Dose, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai said that production volumes at the facility in Tamil Nadu have grown steadily since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the plant recording new production milestones almost every month. The BMW X1 continues to be the highest-volume model manufactured at the facility, he noted.

The all-new MINI Countryman C will now be ‘Made in India’ and locally produced in a petrol variant at BMW Group Plant Chennai. The car can be booked at all MINI India authorized dealerships and deliveries for the same wi