"No Plans For Punjab Plant": BMW Contradicts Bhagwant Mann's Claim

BMW said it is firmly committed to its Indian operations, but has no plans to set up an additional unit in Punjab

German automaker BMW today said it has no plans of setting up a manufacturing unit in Punjab, contradicting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's claim yesterday that the auto giant would be setting up a manufacturing facility for auto parts in the state. There has been no reaction from the Punjab government yet on the BMW statement. The efforts of CM @BhagwantMann to rope in major investments from Germany bore fruit as leading auto giant @BMW agreed to set up its auto part manufacturing unit in state. CM showcased Punjab govt's exemplary work to promote industry after which BMW agreed to set up unit in state pic.twitter.com/TiCAfqFnD0

Clarifying its stand, BMW issued a statement, saying that "it is firmly committed to its Indian operations with its manufacturing plant in Chennai, a parts warehouse in Pune, a training centre in Gurgaon", apart from its well-developed dealer network across major Indian cities. "But it has no plans for setting up additional manufacturing operations in Punjab," the statement said.

Mr Mann's announcement came after his visit to the BMW headquarters in Munich yesterday. The government had said in a statement that after Mr Mann "showcased the government's exemplary work to promote industry in the state", BMW group agreed to set up its auto component unit in state. It added that the Punjab plant would be BMW's second unit in India after the one in Chennai.