When Sachin Tendulkar assembled a BMW

While visiting the manufacturing facility of German luxury car maker BMW situated about 55kms from Chennai at Mahindra World City, Singaperumalkoil, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar helped by the engineers at German-headquartered BMW's Chennai plant tried his hands in assembling a luxury car.The BMW 5 series car with the engine and transmission fixed by Tendulkar will probably be the 'single car edition' or 'Sachin edition' rolled out by a car maker."As a child I always dreamt of owning and driving a BMW car," Tendulkar said."I met all the 550 employees (of the factory) and felt the energy. It has been an enriching experience. Thank you very much for making this day special".Taking a spanner, Tendulkar first fixed the propeller shaft with the car engine.He and three other BMW India employees then pushed the table on which the engine was kept towards the car shell that was held by an assembly line conveyor.Once the engine was slotted in its place, Tendulkar then tightened another bolt to fix the two litre engine with the car shell.When queried by Robert Frittrang, managing director, BMW Chennai Plant as to the number of parts that makes up a BMW 5 series care Tendulkar answered correctly as 2,800.The carmaker also announced up to 50 per cent local sourcing of components for its cars made in India, up from 20 per cent, to increase efficiencies and economies of scale.BMW also said it will launch 15 new models this year, some of them new variants of the existing ones, to increase its brand visibility and market share in India.Of the 15 launches lined up, it has already unveiled in February one premium model - the over Rs 2 crore BMW I-8 with electric as well as petrol engine.Some of the major auto-components sourced for local production of cars at the plant are engine and transmission from Force Motors, axles from ZF Hero Chassis; door panels and wiring harness from Draexlmaier India; exhaust systems from Tenneco Automotive India, heating and ventilating, air-conditioning and cooling modules from Valeo India among others. From Force Motors, BMW will be sourcing 2L and 3L diesel engines to begin with, BMW India president Philipp von Sahr said.BMW India is distant No.3 in the country with its two German rivals in the luxury segment, Audi and Mercedes ahead of it.