BMW India may soon start leasing out cars to individual customers not interested in buying luxury cars at ex-showroom prices. The company will lease out cars for specific periods of time, after which customers will be required to return the cars to the company. The cars can then be re-sold in the market. BMW India is already leasing out cars to companies, but this is the first time that it will start a similar programme for individual buyers, said the company’s President, Peter Kronschnabl.

The returned cars can also be used for the company’s upcoming used car business, BMW Premium Selection. Under the new used car programme, cars returned by customers after a few years of use will be refurbished by the company and sold with warranty and a complete service backup.

Meanwhile, BMW India also launched a limited edition version of the Gran Turismo this week. Mr Kronschnabl told reporters on the sidelines of the launch that the company’s finance arm, BMW Financial Services India, would become operational in the middle of 2010.