The BMW X1 has opened-up an all new segment in the Indian SUV market. The BMW X1 is placed as an entry-level premium SUV. The BMW X1 is priced between Rs 22 lakh to Rs 29 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. Other manufacturers including Audi are now scrambling to launch a product in this segment. Audi has plans of the Q3 which could be launched by 2012.
Mercedes Benz has been fairly quite since the launch of the BMW X1. But now, even Mercedes Benz is planning a SUV in the entry level segment. According to The Hindu, who are quoting Mr. Peter Honegg, MD and CEO Mercedes Benz India saying that the X1 rival from Mercedes Benz will arrive in 2013-14.
The Mercedes Benz GLC will take on the X1 in India. The GLC will be primarily front-wheel-drive to keep the costs down and will feature an inline 4 cylinder engine mated to a 7 speed automatic. The GLC crossover will come packed with the latest safety features as well and Mercedes Benz will try to make this the car’s USP.
Secondly, Mercedes Benz is also weighing in on the GLK to take on the BMW X3. As we all know, BMW is the current leader in the premium segment in terms of sales. Mercedes Benz will be keen to get on top once again. At the moment GLK is only available with left-hand-drive hence, Mercedes will have to wait for the new model to arrive before launching it in India.
All said, we will see a host of SUVs driving in to the Indian market which will offer premium luxury at an affordable price. BMW has sold 338 units of the X1 in the months following January 2011 till March 2011. Demand for the X1 is so high that BMW is struggling to keep up with the orders. This shows how much potential the segment has to offer and hence automakers like Audi and Mercedes Benz will try to capitalize on it.
Until the Q3 and the GLC arrive, BMW will have the upper hand but, only if they manage to keep the waiting period for the X1 under control. BMW has already begun scaling up the current capacity at the Chennai plant. The company plans to setup a second plant in the country which will come online after 2015 and cars like the next-generation X3 and X1 will roll out from the new facility.