BMW India is Considering LWB SUVs; Read Here

After witnessing a strong demand for long-wheelbase versions in India’s luxury segment, the German luxury automaker BMW is now considering bringing the LWB SUVs to India. The company currently offers three LWB-based products including the 3 Series Gran Limousine, 5 Series LWB and 7 Series LWB. 

For reference, the 2024 BMW 5 Series LWB was recently launched in India and carries an introductory ex-showroom price of Rs 72.90 lakh. 

The customers’ preferences, especially in India, are now more inclined towards the rear seat experience - which is why a company like BMW that makes “driver’s delight” doesn’t wish to neglect the rear seat experience. 

Sharing his opinion in this regard, Jean-Philipe Parain, Senior Vice President for Sales Regions Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe, stated, “SUVs still make [up] more than 50 percent of BMW’s India sales. So it’s really, really important. And we are looking at all options. We understood that long wheelbase is important for the Indian market; because of the time spent on the road, space is a key feature.”

Until recently, BMW was only selling the LWB versions of the 3 Series and 5 Series were exclusive to the Chinese market, but they were in the left-hand drive configuration. The company also exclusively sells the LWB versions of their SUVs in China including the X1, iX1, X3, and X5. 

To make those India-bound LWB SUVs appropriately priced, the German luxury carmaker will have to make tweaks to their products, so that they could bring those models.

Speaking of stretched BMW cars, its closest rival - Mercedes-Benz - also offers the LWB cars in China, and those models include the C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, and GLC. The only long-wheelbase model sold by Mercedes-Benz India is the E-Class LWB, which rivals the BMW 5 Series LWB. 

Closing Words

So, if BMW India brings the X5 LWB to our shores, the Bavarian luxury SUV will have an edge over the Mercedes-Benz GLE. 

That said, the former has a wheelbase that touches 3100mm, while the latter sold in India has a wheelbase of 2995mm. Therefore, India could be the second market where BMW would exclusively sell the right-hand drive LWB SUVs. 

 

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