Key highlights
- Mini Countryman CKD production to begin soon in India
- To be manufactured at BMW’s Chennai plant
- The JCW All4 and SE EV will be imported as CBUs
BMW will soon commence the local production of the Mini Countryman petrol version in India at its Chennai-based plant. Read below what to expect from it.
Also read: Hyundai Ioniq 5 facelift spied testing, bigger battery coming soon
Mini Countryman CKD production to start soon
The Countryman is a premium lifestyle SUV that is positioned against cars like the BMW X1, Audi Q3, and Mercedes-Benz GLA. In fact, it shares its platform with the latest X1, which is itself manufactured in India.
The brand has now decided to begin the CKD or completely knocked down production of the Countryman’s petrol iteration in India at BMW’s Chennai plant. Since the X1 is already made here, it will be easier for Mini to make and sell it in India, as it is the most popular version of the Countryman in India.
Moreover, the electric Countryman SE and the John Cooper Works All4 variants, which are positioned as premium iterations, will continue to be imported and sold as the CBU models. However, the CKD production will definitely drive the prices down of the Countryman.
The Countryman petrol is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo engine that makes 269 bhp and 400 Nm, while it is paired with a 7-speed DCT auto gearbox. However, a few online reports hint that this engine could get replaced by a new 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, turbo petrol engine, mated to a 7-speed DCT gearbox.
More details regarding the locally made Countryman will be revealed in the subsequent weeks.
