BMW is all set to introduce the iX electric crossover in our market next month as a completely built unit (CBU) and has suggested that the government should reduce import duties on electric vehicles (EVs) for a limited period or on limited units. According to its senior official, the move can help to pace up EV adoption and in-turn the carmaker could consider local manufacturing of these EVs. The company also says that it will help automakers to bring in new technologies to our market even quicker. BMW believes that demand is the key for local manufacturing and it will help automakers to keep a check on the prices of its EVs.
Also Read: All-Electric BMW iX To Make Its India Debut In December 2021
BMW says that the move will help in faster adoption of EVs.
Vikram Pawah, President & CEO - BMW Group India told PTI, "What we always do is we create demand for a model and then localise it. We believe these new technologies also have a potential to be localised in future but you need to create a mass demand for that critical mass (for local manufacturing to be viable). Then we can localise by that time these technologies which are mature and then we can apply it into the country. "For that what we are seeking from the government is very simple thing, that yes, let us have some reduction in import duties, but only for limited time or limited quantities."
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The BMW i3s is being tested in India for quite some time.
Currently, India imposes 100 per cent import duty on fully imported cars with CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) value more than USD 40,000 and 60 per cent on those costing less than the amount. Amongst the German trio, only BMW is yet to launch its electric vehicle in India, while both Mercedes-Benz and Audi have already introduced a range of EVs in our market, as CBUs. That said, the Bavarian carmaker has been testing the BMW i3s EV in India for quite some time and has said that it will launch three new EVs in the next six months in our market, including the new BMW iX.
