Sachin built BMW 5 Series car

BMW activities in India include the manufacturing plant in Chennai, a parts warehouse in Chennai, a training Centre in Gurgaon. The company has 40 sales outlet in India. Some of the major auto components sourced for local production of cars at BMW Plant are engine and transmission from Force Motors, axles from ZF Hero Chassis; door panels and wiring harness from Draexlmaier India; exhaust systems from Tenneco Automotive India, heating and ventilating, air-conditioning and cooling modules from Valeo India. After formally assembling a 5 Series car, Tendulkar said, "I am an avid BMW enthusiast and have been driving BMW cars since a very long time. But the experience of making a BMW with my own hands is unforgettable. "I am impressed by the high quality standards followed at BMW Plant Chennai that ensure impeccable performance of a BMW." BMW Plant Chennai, Managing Director, Robert Frittrang said as many as 2,800 parts go into making of BMW 5 series car and more than half of the parts were locally produced. On the employee strength at the plant, Frittrang said: "We have about 550 people. Actually BMW cars in Chennai plant are Made in India and Made by Indians." To a query from Tendulkar on the cars made in India and those BMW cars made in any other manufacturing plant, Frittrang said: "I have been with BMW for 20 years to secure the quality of BMW. I can guarantee that the car built in India is the same as a car built in BMW factory anywhere in the world." On increasing the local content of the cars assembled at the plant, Tendulkar said: "Basically, I am a car enthusiast and I have seen same precision and passion in these guys (plant employees). As an Indian I am extremely proud that 50 percent of components are built in India".