BMW, the German luxury car maker, is negotiating with the authorities in India with regard to the possible construction of a manufacturing plant on the sub-continent, a company spokesman said Thursday. Nevertheless, no contract had yet been signed on the matter, the spokesman added. According to the Indian daily Business Standard, BMW is preparing to build a assembly plant in Chenglepet in Tamil Nadu for one billion rupees (around 18 million euros or $22 million). The newspaper quoted sources close to the project. BMW said last year that it aimed to expand in India where it is currently only represented via three independent dealers.