BMW celebrates 11th anniversary of their Chennai plant with the launch of Skill Next initiative

BMW India celebrated the 11th anniversary of their Chennai Manufacturing facility with the launch of the Skill Next initiative. This technical skilling initiative from the Bavarian carmaker will provide 365 engines and transmissions to the engineering and technical institutes across the country. 

BMW aims to provide a hands-on training to the young and aspiring engineers with this corporate social responsibility (CSR) event. The Munich-based carmaker will conduct a ‘Train the Trainer’ workshop at the BMW dealerships in more than 20 states as a part of this initiative. There will be 40 aftersales master technicians provided by the carmaker who will carry on these events.

The engine provided by BMW will be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel motor and the transmission will be the eight-speed Steptronic automatic unit. BMW states that the same combination of motors have been powering around 50,000 vehicles on Indian roads since 2007.  This powertrain currently powers six locally manufactured vehicles – 320d, 320d GT, 520d, X1 xDrive 20d, X3 xDrive 20d and the Mini Countryman (local production of the Mini will commence soon). 

The Train the Trainer workshop is devised by professional trainers from BMW Group India Training Centre and BMW Group Plant Chennai. The carmaker further asserts that the workshop will be a combination of classroom sessions as well as hands-on practical sessions. 

The students of College of Engineering, Anna University together with Sachin Tendulkar, the brand ambassador of BMW, assembled the engine and transmission on the new X3 at the main assembly line of the Chennai plant.