Made in India

[macmook]

I just noticed an eBay auction (item: 110374720471) for a 2009 BMW 135i coupe with 9 miles on it. The auction just ended without meeting the reserve. The BMW dealership selling the vehicle is in Santa Barbara, CA.

But more strange is the manufacture location:

"Where Built: Channai, India"

Is that possible? Did BMW manufacture series 1 vehicles in India? I realize they had a plant coming online in India back in 2006, but I thought the 135s were made in Leipzig.

Any thoughts?

Regards,

Alex

[bimmerfile]

Who yah gonna believe? BMW or an eBay listing?

[macmook]

I agree. My manufacture plate states "Leipzig". But the listing was placed by a legitimate BMW dealer in CA. The vehicle is also listed in their inventory on their own online site. But no build location is specified.

I just wondered if BMW was indeed manufacturing 1 series in India, and if so were they being imported to the west coast.

The Channai plant has previously built 3 & 5 series for domestic India consumption.

???

[JHZR2]

Yikes!!! I hope not... at least without a multiple tens of thousands of dollar discount.

Their labor at an Indian plant is likely 1/10th that of a german plant. If they were going to pull such a stunt, they had better pass the savings along.

[MikeT]

That's bizarre, but the VIN (WBAUC73549VK80172) indicates that the vehicle is indeed made in Germany since German VINs start with "W" while Indian VINs start with "M." Also, Leipzig's plant code "V" is in there (the 11th digit).

[macmook]

That makes sense. I guess the dealer screwed up. But I wonder why they would explicitly state India? How would that even exist in their database? Are any of the domestic BMW models made in India coming to the states?

As was said in a previous response, labor and benefit costs are a significant portion of the cost of manufacture of a vehicle. The cost of comparable models India vs. Germany would have to be significantly different.

[x97Melbourne]

maybe thats why no one wanted it

[BlackjackMulligan]

Me thinks its a typo

[IndyMike]

Probably picked up via the India Delivery Program.

I seem to recall a ad not long ago to the effect, "Have decaf tea with the Dalai Lama and drop-off your car in New Delhi, Bombay or Tibet."

[MOCKBA]

Most of software including this web site made in India. I do not see a problem. I want to remind that Lepzig is on Eastern part of Germany anyway.
Unfortunately dealers have no idea what they sold, when I looked for BMW, first I started from 3 series, and a dealer was surprised finding that some cars made in German some in South Africa, and South Africa made is $1K more expensive.

[cagekicker]

TYPO???

[turner23]

Mine too was built at Leipzig according to my CA, and VIN. Another check is to track your vehicle as it travels to America...If you believe the tracking information, which I think is through a GPS system, it couldn't possibly come from India. And I seriously doubt BMW would build a car in India, ship it to Germany, and then to the States all to save a buck.

IMO

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted by MOCKBA

Most of software including this web site made in India. I do not see a problem. I want to remind that Lepzig is on Eastern part of Germany anyway.

Its a matter of the model for saving costs/maximizing profit and minimizing price.

In the auto industry, there is seemingly little compelling benefit to a third-world made car vs. a first-world made car, comparing apples to apples.

If the significantly increased profits and significantly lower costs due to wage rates, labor costs, benefits, etc. were passed along as they are in other areas, it would be one thing. However, seemingly they are not.

There is a value proposition from the standpoint of cost to the buyer vs. unemployment, taxes paid, etc. At least first-world made items have taxpayers and laborers that are caught in the same "deal" that we are. It means they are getting screwed a different way, but I feel more for them than the folks willing to work for a few dimes-a-day, and not really doing anything for me...