New Delhi – Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, visited the famous BMW facilities in Munich, Germany, on Wednesday. He took a guided tour of BMW Welt and the main BMW plant. This was part of his five-day trip to Germany, where he is also meeting Indian community members and party leaders.
During the tour, Rahul Gandhi saw classic cars like the small and cute Isetta bubble car from old times and the latest modern models. He looked at how BMW makes vehicles with advanced machines and skilled workers. One big highlight for him was seeing a 450cc motorcycle made by TVS Motor Company in partnership with BMW. This bike is now produced at TVS’s factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
A Proud Moment for Indian Engineering
Rahul Gandhi shared a video of his visit on social media. In the video, he said, “I had the chance to see BMW’s world in Munich with a tour of BMW Welt and the plant. It was amazing to watch world-class manufacturing from close. A special part was seeing TVS’s 450cc motorcycle, made together with BMW. It felt good to see Indian engineering shown on a big global stage.”
The partnership between TVS and BMW started more than 10 years ago. They have made popular bikes like the G 310 series – the G 310 R, G 310 GS, and G 310 RR. These are built in India at the Hosur plant and sold in over 100 countries. Just last month, they crossed a big milestone of 200,000 units made together. Now, the new BMW F 450 GS adventure bike has also started production there. This shows how Indian companies can work with global brands and make high-quality products.
Call for Better Manufacturing Ecosystems in India
Rahul Gandhi used this visit to talk about India’s own manufacturing sector. He said manufacturing is very important for any strong economy. It creates good jobs and helps the country grow faster. But he pointed out that in India, manufacturing is not growing as it should. “Sadly, our manufacturing is declining. It should actually be going up,” he said in the video.
He added, “India needs to start producing more. We must build strong systems for manufacturing and create high-quality jobs for many people.” Rahul Gandhi stressed that just seeing advanced factories abroad is not enough. India needs similar setups at home to give opportunities to young people and boost the economy.
Experts say India’s manufacturing share in the total economy is around 16-17 percent right now. The government wants to raise it to 25 percent in the coming years. But many feel more support is needed for small and medium businesses, better skills training, and easier rules to make this happen.
Background of the Germany Visit
Rahul Gandhi reached Germany earlier this week for a trip from December 15 to 20. The main aim is to meet leaders of the Indian Overseas Congress and talk to Indians living in Europe. He will address a big event in Berlin and discuss issues faced by NRIs. The visit also includes meetings with German officials.
This trip has seen some political talk back home, with the BJP questioning the timing during the Parliament session. But Congress leaders say it is important for reaching out to Indians abroad and learning from other countries.
What This Means for India-Germany Ties
India and Germany have good relations in business and technology. Many German companies like BMW, Siemens, and Mercedes have big operations in India. The TVS-BMW tie-up is a great example of how partnerships can help transfer skills and create jobs. Rahul Gandhi’s visit puts light on such success stories while reminding everyone that India can do even more in manufacturing.
As Rahul Gandhi said, seeing Indian engineering in a top German brand like BMW is a matter of pride. But to make more such stories, India needs to focus on building strong factories, training workers, and supporting companies big and small.
Reactions from Leaders
Congress shared the video widely, calling it a proud moment. Senior leader Sam Pitroda was seen with Rahul Gandhi during the tour. From the industry side, TVS Motor Company has often spoken about how the partnership with BMW has helped them grow globally.
BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch recently said the 200,000-unit milestone shows the strength of working with TVS. “Our bikes like the G 310 series are loved worldwide because of this partnership,” he noted.
Looking Ahead
Rahul Gandhi’s message is clear: India has the talent and potential. What is needed is better planning and support to turn that into more factories and jobs. His Germany visit shows one way – learning from successful models abroad and bringing ideas home.
As the country aims for faster growth, talks like this on manufacturing will keep coming up. Young Indians especially want more good jobs in making things, not just services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did Rahul Gandhi do during his BMW visit in Munich?
Rahul Gandhi took a full guided tour of BMW Welt, where classic and new cars are displayed, and the main BMW plant where vehicles are made. He saw old models like the Isetta and modern ones. He also looked at motorcycles, including the TVS-BMW 450cc model.
Why was the TVS motorcycle a highlight for him?
The 450cc bike, likely the new F 450 GS, is made in India at TVS’s Hosur plant through a partnership with BMW. Seeing Indian-made products in a global brand like BMW made him proud of Indian engineers and workers.
What is the TVS-BMW partnership about?
It started over 10 years ago. TVS makes BMW’s smaller bikes like the G 310 series in India. These are sold worldwide. Recently, they made 200,000 units together, and now the F 450 GS is also produced in Hosur.
What did Rahul Gandhi say about India’s manufacturing?
He said manufacturing is key for strong economies and good jobs. But in India, it is declining instead of growing. He called for building better systems to produce more and create jobs at a large scale.
Is India’s manufacturing really declining?
The share of manufacturing in India’s GDP is around 16-17 percent now. It has stayed about the same or dipped a bit in recent years. Many experts agree it needs to grow faster for more jobs.
What is the purpose of Rahul Gandhi’s Germany trip?
It is a five-day visit to meet Indian Overseas Congress leaders, talk to NRIs in Europe, and attend events in Berlin. The BMW tour was part of learning about advanced manufacturing.
How can India improve its manufacturing?
By supporting small businesses, training workers, making rules easier, investing in technology, and encouraging partnerships like TVS-BMW. This can help create more jobs and make India a bigger player globally.