BMW to make X1 SUV at China venture's new plant

Shanghai, March 8 (Gasgoo.com) BMW and Chinese partner Brilliance Auto recently confirmed that the new factory of their venture BMW Brilliance produce the BMW X1 SUV, among other models which will include the BMW 1 Series and stretched BMW 3 series, media reported.

Earlier this year, BMW Brilliance stopped manufacturing the BMW 3 Series cars to expand the venture's capacity and began importing the BMW sedans in large quantities to pick up the sales. The new factory will be coming back on stream soon for a new range of models, one of which will be the BMW X1 SUV.

At the 2010 Geneva Auto Show last week, BMW Chairman and CEO Norbert Reithofer revealed that the luxury BMW X1 would be the third BMW model to be made at the company's China venture. Both sides' executives at BMW Brilliance have not denied the news while expressing their pleasant surprise at it.

The X1 will rival the soon-to-be-launched Audi Q5 in China and also the VW Tiguan SUV which have all entered China's premium compact SUV segment in recent months via import but all will be locally built late this year, said China Car Times.

Reportedly, BMW Brilliance will expand the line up to include the BMW 1 Series, BMW X1 SUV, lengthened BMW 3 Series, and also possibly the MINI (though it is unlikely to leave its traditional UK production line).

BMW 3 Series and 5 Series sedans have been made at the venture based in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang. The stretched BMW 3 Series sedan will be launched in August to take on the Audi A4.