| BMW just like other global automakers is | | | | Automotive News, the Italian coachbuilder |
| searching for quality and affordable source | | | | Bertone is developing a BMW-powered sports |
| of auto components and luckily for the German | | | | car destined for the US market. |
| luxury carmaker it has found one in India. | | | | |
| BMW will obtain its auto components from | | | | Bertone is famous for creating styled cars |
| India and will set up its international | | | | for Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Ferrari, Fiat, Iso |
| purchasing office also in India to procure | | | | Rivolta, Lancia, Lamborghini, and Volvo cars. |
| its worldwide auto parts requirements. | | | | But that is not the only thing that the |
| | | | Bertone is famous for. It is no secret that |
| BMW India President, Peter Kronschnabl said | | | | the familial spats occurred within Bertone's |
| in an interview recently with media persons, | | | | management that forced Barbara Bertone the |
| "We will be setting up an international | | | | daughter of Lilli Bertone, who is the |
| purchasing office which will be headed by an | | | | company's Chairman and CEO, to leave the |
| expatriate to take care of sourcing | | | | company in March of 2006. |
| components for BMW's global operations." | | | | |
| | | | As the saying goes-"Blood is thicker than |
| According to Kronschnabl the proposed | | | | water"---apparently whatever it was that |
| international purchasing office will become | | | | caused the separation of the mother and |
| fully operational by August this year and | | | | daughter professionally has been worked out. |
| will be completely independent from that of | | | | And right now Barbara is again taking an |
| the company's purchase unit at Chennai, which | | | | active role in their company as the managing |
| caters to its India operations. | | | | director. Her responsibilities will include |
| | | | going out and getting Bertone business |
| BMW's India purchase unit could work in | | | | especially since it hasn't had a major job |
| tandem with the international purchasing | | | | after it stopped producing the Opel/Vauxhall |
| office or could work individually or together | | | | Astra Coupe and the Cabriolet in 2005. |
| approach vendors depending on products added | | | | |
| Kronschnabl. Unfortunately, he refused to | | | | At present the company is working on some |
| answer queries about the quantum of | | | | minor work building a special run of 2,000 |
| components that BMW was planning to source | | | | MINIs which is still short for the company. |
| from India saying that it's too early to | | | | But according to Automotive News Bertone has |
| comment on the matter. | | | | told its workers that it may produce 400 |
| | | | units of a camper van and a BMW-powered |
| Butt he did say that the sourcing team would | | | | sports car designed for the US market. |
| soon visit India to study and decide what | | | | |
| kind of components are to be sourced from | | | | Automotive News has also asked BMW about the |
| this country. He also explained that the | | | | proposed model unfortunately the Bavarian |
| company has revised its sales target for this | | | | automaker said that they are not involved in |
| year attributed to the good response that its | | | | the car's development but they also didn't |
| newly launched 3-Series sedan from its | | | | deny its existence. |
| Chennai plant has been getting. The sales | | | | |
| figure has been revised from about 1,000 cars | | | | It can be remembered that Bertone did present |
| to 1,200 units in India for this year. The | | | | a 95th Anniversary Concept at the Geneva |
| company is also planning to roll out its | | | | Motor Show last March, which was based on the |
| 5-Series models from Chennai plant hopefully | | | | Fiat Panda 100HP. This two-seat roadster |
| this coming June. | | | | concept could threaten the model that was |
| | | | mentioned to in the Automotive News article. |
| On the other news... | | | | And by the way Bertone is also the famous |
| | | | brand of the top-of-the-line Bertone oxygen |
| Bertone heading to US on BMW's powered | | | | sensor which is equipped on BMW, Mazda, |
| Sportscar?---According to reports from the | | | | Honda, Toyota, etc. |