Exclusive: BMW India suspends assembly of Mini

Two years after starting assembly operations of the Mini Countryman at its Chennai plant, BMW India has suspended assembling the premium hatchback. It was the sole Mini model in a portfolio of four models which was assembled here, this for the first time outside Europe.

After a strong initial start, when it received over 100 bookings even before the inauguration of the first Mini showroom in India, the brand's sales drive slowed down.

A company spokesperson cites generation change of the model as the reason for the suspension of assembly. However, reports say that the next-generation Countryman will come only next year. All Mini models are currently sold in India only through the completely built-up unit (CBU) import route.

Since its India launch in 2012, the Mini brand has sold only 1,123 units till the end of 2014. India is the 100th market for the brand which has its roots in the UK. India, so far, has not proved to be a good market for premium compact car brands like the Mini. There are examples like Volkswagen's Beetle and Fiat's 500 which were launched but both failed to attract many buyers.