Bavarian Auto Group المجموعة البافارية للسيارات | |
Type: | Company |
Foundation: | March 2003 |
Founder: | H.E. Dr. Issa Al Kawari |
Defunct: | November 2022 |
Fate: | Bought out and renamed Global Auto Group |
Location City: | Cairo |
Location Country: | Egypt |
Area Served: | Egypt |
Key People: | Farid El Tobgui |
Industry: | Automotive industry |
Products: | Automobiles |
Num Employees: | 1700 |
The Bavarian Auto Group (BAG) was an assembler and distributor of motor vehicles in Egypt. It was founded in 2003, by the Issa Al-Kawari, the financial manager of the Qatari royal family[1] (99%), and Egyptian investor Farid al-Tobgui (1%), who was appointed as BAG's CEO.[2] BAG was known for assembling complete knockdown kits (CKD) of a selection of BMW vehicles for the local market in its assembly plant in 6th of October City, Giza from 2004, in addition to importing other fully built BMW models as well as MINI vehicles.[3] [4] [5] BAG had assembly and distribution partnerships with other manufacturers including Mahindra & Mahindra, Brilliance, Jinbei, and Great Wall.[6] In 2022, BAG investors were bought out by a consortium comprising BMW importers and distributors in Kuwait, Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive, and Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors, and local investors in Egypt, Al-Organi Group and Al-Safi Group.[7] BAG was renamed as the Global Auto Group, and a new BMW and MINI assembly, import and distribution agreement was signed with BMW Group in November 2022. The group has announced the start of assembling luxury models of the BMW brand locally.[8]
The Al Fotouh Company for Vehicle Assembly or short ACVA, was the first step from BMW to manufacturing its vehicles in Egypt alone. It was founded in November 1999 in a small provisional assembling plant near to the current BAG plant. The production line were adopted from the former Egyptian BMW manufacturer Modern Motors in Cairo.