BMW plans to set up manufacturing facility at Kochi

James Paul
30 July 2004

The team members are understood to have expressed satisfaction at the facilities in the state, according to government officials. They feel that there is a good chance of Kerala bagging the prestigious unit.

The team led by Wolfram Rehm, senior manager, international operations, had arrived in Kerala on Saturday. Kerala has offered several measures, including 25 acres of land, uninterruptible power supply and potable water to BMW to set up its plant in this port city.

This is the third visit of the German carmaker's team of officials to India in the last one year. The team had also visited Andhra Pradesh on its previous visits. The company officials are looking at the infrastructure and logistics available in this port city.

Cars either assembled or manufactured in Kochi will have to be shipped to destinations like Mumbai and Kolkata and the BMW team is looking at the facilities available here for the purpose. About 35 per cent of the shipments will go to Mumbai while another 35 per cent will be shipped to destinations in North India. The proposal is to set up a 2,000 car per year facility in Kochi.

The team held discussions with industries principal secretary K Mohandas, KSIDC managing director PH Kurien and KINFRA managing director GC Gopala Pillai, among others on Tuesday.

"Discussions are fruitful and talks will continue on Wednesday also," Mohandas said.

The team also met members of parliament, Sebastian Paul and K Chandran Pillai on Tuesday evening and talked about the political situation and labour atmosphere prevailing in the State.