BMW launches the all new BMW Active Hybrid 7 sedan

Gurgaon: German luxury car maker BMW launched the all new BMW Active Hybrid 7 sedan in India priced at Rs 1.35 crore (ex-showroom Delhi). The vehicle, which comes as a completely built unit, would be available for sale across the country.

"The all new BMW ActiveHybrid 7 introduces a fundamentally new driving experience in the luxury segment that India has never seen before," BMW Group India President Philipp von Sahr told reporters here. It is the perfect choice to savour the agility and performance of a BMW 7 Series in a hybrid vehicle, without having to compromise in any way on comfort and spaciousness, he added. The electric motor and petrol engine of the vehicle work in unison supported by a lithium-ion battery and coordinated hybrid system, the company said.

The car comes with various luxury features, including folding tables integrated in the back rest of the front seats and massage function in rear seat. Commenting on the future launches, Sahr said the company would launch the M3 sedan, M4 Coupe and the M5 sedan in 2014. "Taking a further step in sustainable mobility, BMW India will also introduce i8 in 2014," he added. The company also plans to expand dealer network in the country by 2015 end. "BMW India will aggressively expand it'd dealer network by increasing the number of outlets to 50 across major metros and emerging markets," Sahr said.

When asked about the company's sales performance in the first six months of 2014, von Sahr said: "We are focusing on long term profitability and so we do not look at numbers in a specific month. The idea is to grow in a sustainable manner." He added that the first six months of 2014 were similar to the 2013 but things have started to look up in the second half of the year.

"We are witnessing more traffic into showrooms. Definitely the mood has changed for better. We expect the second half of the year to be better in comparison to the first half," von Sahr said. When asked about the growth of luxury car segment in the country, von Sahr said: "The segment is growing in a stable way. Currently, the market stands at around 30,000 units per annum but the potential is much higher. There are lots of people who can afford luxury vehicles but are not buying as they are investing the money elsewhere." BMW has 100 per cent confidence in the long term growth potential of the Indian market, he added. The company, which launched a total of six models last year, is looking to introduce nine models in the current year, von Sahr said.