Bmw's News From Italy And India

BMW just like other global automakers is searching forthe US market.
quality and affordable source of auto components andBertone is famous for creating styled cars for Alfa
luckily for the German luxury carmaker it has foundRomeo, Abarth, Ferrari, Fiat, Iso Rivolta, Lancia,
one in India. BMW will obtain its auto components fromLamborghini, and Volvo cars. But that is not the only
India and will set up its international purchasing officething that the Bertone is famous for. It is no secret that
also in India to procure its worldwide auto partsthe familial spats occurred within Bertone's
requirements.management that forced Barbara Bertone the
BMW India President, Peter Kronschnabl said in andaughter of Lilli Bertone, who is the company's
interview recently with media persons, "We will beChairman and CEO, to leave the company in March of
setting up an international purchasing office which will2006.
be headed by an expatriate to take care of sourcingAs the saying goes-"Blood is thicker than
components for BMW's global operations."water"---apparently whatever it was that caused the
According to Kronschnabl the proposed internationalseparation of the mother and daughter professionally
purchasing office will become fully operational byhas been worked out. And right now Barbara is again
August this year and will be completely independenttaking an active role in their company as the managing
from that of the company's purchase unit at Chennai,director. Her responsibilities will include going out and
which caters to its India operations.getting Bertone business especially since it hasn't had a
BMW's India purchase unit could work in tandem withmajor job after it stopped producing the Opel/Vauxhall
the international purchasing office or could workAstra Coupe and the Cabriolet in 2005.
individually or together approach vendors depending onAt present the company is working on some minor
products added Kronschnabl. Unfortunately, he refusedwork building a special run of 2,000 MINIs which is still
to answer queries about the quantum of componentsshort for the company. But according to Automotive
that BMW was planning to source from India sayingNews Bertone has told its workers that it may
that it's too early to comment on the matter.produce 400 units of a camper van and a
Butt he did say that the sourcing team would soon visitBMW-powered sports car designed for the US
India to study and decide what kind of componentsmarket.
are to be sourced from this country. He also explainedAutomotive News has also asked BMW about the
that the company has revised its sales target for thisproposed model unfortunately the Bavarian automaker
year attributed to the good response that its newlysaid that they are not involved in the car's
launched 3-Series sedan from its Chennai plant hasdevelopment but they also didn't deny its existence.
been getting. The sales figure has been revised fromIt can be remembered that Bertone did present a 95th
about 1,000 cars to 1,200 units in India for this year. TheAnniversary Concept at the Geneva Motor Show last
company is also planning to roll out its 5-Series modelsMarch, which was based on the Fiat Panda 100HP.
from Chennai plant hopefully this coming June.This two-seat roadster concept could threaten the
On the other news...model that was mentioned to in the Automotive News
Bertone heading to US on BMW's poweredarticle. And by the way Bertone is also the famous
Sportscar?---According to reports from thebrand of the top-of-the-line Bertone oxygen sensor
Automotive News, the Italian coachbuilder Bertone iswhich is equipped on BMW, Mazda, Honda, Toyota,
developing a BMW-powered sports car destined foretc.