Thailand gets the first batch of Mini Countryman, courtesy BMW Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: The first units of the Malaysia-assembled Mini Countryman have finally arrived on the shores of Thailand. BMW Group Malaysia has exported the consignment to Thailand which includes units of both, MINI Cooper S Countryman and Cooper S Countryman Hightrim.

Harald Hoelzl, the CEO and managing director of BMW Group Malaysia said, “The INOKOM Corporation plant in Kulim, Kedah, which is a partnership between Sime Darby Berhad and BMW Group Malaysia, are among 30 production sites in 14 countries around the world for the BMW Group and is an important touch point for us in the South East Asian region.”

“We have been developing our local assembly capabilities here together with our local partner Sime Darby Berhad and our network of local suppliers with the ambition to support the region and today, we have taken an important step forward,” he added. Hoelzl also said that this trade between the regions is nothing less than an achievement. It’s not only a landmark for the BMW Group but also for the country Malaysia.

The export procedures conform to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) that promotes trade and free-flowing of goods within ASEAN regions. This has also helped the German automaker to utilize its premium production lines to the fullest in the ASEAN region, satisfying demand coming from domestic as well as international markets.

Talking about the models, the MINI Cooper S Countryman comes with features like a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with MINI Connected personal assistant and navigation, a parking assistant and an automatic tailgate that opens via a foot-activation motion sensor situated under the rear bumper. Additionally, it gets 18-inch multi-spoke alloys that are finished in the striking silver shade, leather cross punch carbon black sport seats and a leather-wrapped multi-function Servotronic steering wheel.

The Cooper S Countryman Hightrim, on the other hand, is a bit more stylish. It gets significant chrome on both, outside as well as on the inside. The exteriors are accentuated with the presence of 19-inch edged silver alloys while the interiors are decked up with MINI Yours Piano Black illuminated ambience. Moreover, it gets a MINI heads-up display, a 3-spoke MINI Yours leather-wrapped steering, gearshift paddles, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Harman Kardon HiFi surround sound system and a parking assistant with a rearview camera.

Under the hood, both the MINIs are powered by a 2.0-litre TwinPower turbocharged engine that churns out a max power of 195 PS and a peak torque of 280Nm, mated to an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox.