Towards the end of last year, after economic recession hit the world badly, General Motors tasted the bitter pill called bankruptcy in the U.S. The company then decided to start off with a fresh approach and innovative strategy. It wanted to see a new dawn for a brighter future. Any guesses what the strategy was? Yes, General Motors planned to set up its used car business. Chevrolet OK was the name and it would sell used cars from General Motors alone as part of the project. Now what? BMW wants to follow.

BMW saw other leading market players rejoicing success with their used car wings. It wants to get a similar feel. We heard that the company will open its first used car showroom in Chennai. When? The inauguration will happen very soon, in April this year. That’s not all. It has plans of opening a second used car showroom in Gurgaon sometime during the second half of this year. Isn’t that a great step to move ahead? The car industry is already enjoying success with the increase in sales it has seen since January this year. February was the best month ever in the history of many car makers.

BMW’s used car business venture, BMW Premium Selection would soon spread the virus to all major cities in India. Who knows, you may soon see one in your city. Isn’t that great? It is indeed going to be a quality business. The proficient BMW engineers and technicians will select cars eligible for resale. The selection would be only after a thorough inspection. Also, the used BMW cars will be sold on warranty. It is probably going to be a comprehensive 2-year or 40,000-km warranty whichever is earlier, 24-hour roadside assistance, test driving, and also individual financing.

What do you think BMW has in mind about the business? BMW expects the used car business to contribute to 30 per cent of the total sales. The company, however, is not new to the used car industry. It sells used cars in the U.S., Europe and Russia under the BMW Premium Selection programme. With the care that the company takes during the selection of used cars, it sure seems like the new step is going to be a success.

The company will be focusing on the car’s health. The engineers will check for details like visible signs of accident damage, defects in paint and tyres, and complete examination of the brake system, shock absorbers, battery and electrical components. Even the mirrors, windows, sunroof, central locking and interior lights, seat belts, fluid levels, clutch, brakes and transmission, wiper blade and washing system will be taken care of. A test drive for performance and noise will be tested.

BMW set up shop in India in 2006. Till date it has successfully sold over 8,000 cars in the country. Its sales target for the year 2010 is over 4,000 units. In addition to the pre-owned car business that it plans to start next month, BMW India will also kick off its financial services. This programme is also expected to drastically reduce the financial burden on car buyers. It will certainly guarantee a well-maintained, first-class automobile with a comparatively low price tag.