Practical learning stimulates academic training and broadens the perspective of students extensively. Exposing them to the world of brands, business, innovation and customer relationship is an integral part of quality luxury management education. To build upon such experiences, SP Jain School of Global Management organised an industrial visit for the Master in Global Luxury Goods & Services Management (MGLuxM) Class of February 2020 to BMW Bavaria Motors in Pune on February 22, 2020.

The BMW Group, with its 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries and a global sales network, is the world’s leading manufacturer of premium automobiles and motorcycles. BMW Bavaria Motors is the sole dealer for BMW cars in Pune, Aurangabad and Goa. It runs the largest BMW Aftersales facility in Western India. It has been ranked as the Best BMW dealership in India in 2014 and 2015.

Our Luxury Management students got the opportunity to visit BMW Bavaria Motors' experiential space and understand what goes into the making of one of the finest German cars in the market today. They learnt how BMW’s automobile parts are procured from Germany and assembled locally.

During the visit, our students attended an exclusive masterclass by Vishal Agarwal (Managing Director – BMW Bavaria Motors). He offered insights into the luxury retail environment and shared trade secrets on how to stay competitive in today’s dynamic market.

They also visited the showroom and got the chance to experience the BMW universe first-hand and get a preview of the latest BMW models including the BMW 3 Series Sport. The BWM team provided the students with on-ground insights into the unique design elements and automobile specifications to help them understand the importance of production technology for the ease of driving.

Sharing her experience of the industrial visit, Priyanka Vernekar (Industry Relations Manager – MGLuxM, SP Jain) said, “The trip offered insights on the Luxury (Mass) Auto in India. The team explained how BMW has been successful in maintaining its global corporate look-and-feel for its customers worldwide. They also helped students understand the process of assembly in Pune and the significance of after-sales for customer loyalty. The highlight of the visit was Mr Agarwal’s masterclass where he shared how important it is to let go of ‘inhibitions’ to be successful and why one should have an open mindset to excel in their career.”

The industrial visit to BMW Bavaria Motors enabled students to gain a broader perspective of the brand identity, enhance their classroom learning and dive into the trends set by BMW in production technology and sustainability.