SKILL NEXT, a technical training initiative was launched by BMW Group India. This is a part of the company’s 11th anniversary of its Chennai Plant. As a part of this initiative an event was organized at the BMW factory in Mahindra World City around 45kms from Chennai.
Sachin Tendulkar and a 4 member team from the College of Engineering, Anna University were a part of this program wherein they bolted together an engine and transmission unit mating it to a new X3 body.
BMW Group will also be providing 365 engines and transmissions to leading engineering and technical institutes across the country by the end of this year. This will offer these students a hands on experience on some of the most advanced technologies present in BMW engines and transmissions. The engines and transmissions which are being donated, though in working condition, are not upto BMW’s standard for them to be used in their cars. These engine and transmission units were damaged in Chennai floods, said BMW India.
These engines will be handed over to engineering colleges on a first come first serve basis and special precautions will be taken to ensure that these engines and transmissions are used within the campus and exclusively for learning purposes.
These will include the BMW TwinPower Turbo In-Line, 4 cylinder diesel engine and 8 speed Steptronic Automatic Transmission. These engines are currently used in a host of BMW models among which are the BMW 3 Series (320d), BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo (320d GT), BMW 5 Series (520d), BMW X1 (xDrive 20d), BMW X3 (xDrive 20d) and soon to be launched MINI Countryman Cooper D. The 8 speed Steptronic Automatic Transmission is used in the BMW 3 Series, BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, BMW 5 Series, BMW X1 and BMW X3 which are rolled out of the company’s Chennai plant.
The SKILL NEXT initiative will also see 40 after sales Master Technicians conduct “Train the Trainer’ workshops. These will be held at BMW company dealerships across 20 cities.
