BMW prices its electric and petrol flagships identically at INR 1.95 crore

BMW India has launched the new 7 Series range with the petrol 740 M Sport and the electric i7 eDrive50 xDrive M Sport at the same ex-showroom price of INR 1,95,00,000. The performance variant, the i7 M70 xDrive, comes as a completely built-up import at INR 2,65,00,000.

Price parity between the two drivetrains is what the local production decision buys. The i7 will now be assembled at BMW Group Plant Chennai, making India the only country other than Germany where the model is built, and the company can therefore price the electric flagship against its petrol equivalent rather than above it. The M70, which remains imported, sits INR 70 lakh higher.

On the specifications, the i7 eDrive50 carries a net battery capacity of 112.5 kWh and a maximum electric range of up to 728 km on the WLTP cycle, with 455 hp and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 5.5 seconds. The petrol 740 M Sport produces 400 hp and is marginally quicker to 100 km/h at 5.4 seconds. The electric car carries a battery warranty of up to eight years or 160,000 km against a two-year vehicle warranty on both.

The range figure is quoted on WLTP, the European test cycle. BMW India quoted the i5 Long Wheelbase range of 669 km on the Modified Indian Driving Cycle two days earlier. The two standards are not interchangeable, and MIDC returns the more generous number, so the two cars cannot be compared on the figures as published.

"True luxury is not about limiting choices, it is about expanding them", saidHardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India, on offering the 7 Series in both petrol and electric form at the same price

The car was unveiled by the actor Ranveer Singh, who was introduced as BMW India's brand voice.

BMW did not disclose the level of local content in the Chennai-built i7, expected volumes for either powertrain, or how the range is expected to split between petrol and electric.