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#ForzaAlex: BMW Team RLL returns to ‘Daytona International Speedway’ for round two of the 2020 IMSA season.

BMW:#ForzaAlex: BMW Team RLL returns to ‘Daytona International Speedway’ for round two of the 2020 IMSA season.

Munich
.
After a break of over five months, BMW Team RLL will restart
the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA) at the
weekend. Round two of the season will also be held at ‘Daytona
International Speedway’ (USA) where the team took its second
consecutive GTLM win in the 24-hour race in January. In every other
case, the upcoming race would be the singular focus for the team,
but all the thoughts of BMW Team RLL and the entire BMW family are
now with Alessandro Zanardi (ITA), who was severely injured in a
hand-bike accident.

 

Zanardi had made his return to the North American racing scene in
January 2019, competing with BMW Team RLL in a specially-prepared BMW
M8 GTE in the 24 Hours of Daytona. “Alex is loved worldwide,” said
Team Principal Bobby Rahal. “Whichever discipline he competes in, he
goes after it with an indomitable spirit. His time with us at Daytona
last year was something we will always remember.”

Other than in January, round two of the 2020 IMSA season at Daytona
will be a sprint race. John Edwards (USA) and Jesse Krohn (FIN), who
were part of this year’s winning crew at the ‘24 Hours of Daytona’,
will team up again in the #24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE. The #25 sister car
will be driven by Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Bruno Spengler (CAN).
The ‘IMSA WeatherTech 240 At Daytona’ will take place this Saturday,
July 4th and starts at 06:10 p.m. local time (00:10 a.m. on
Sunday CEST).

Quotes ahead of round two at Daytona.

John Edwards (#24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE): “First of all,
our thoughts are of course with Alex Zanardi and his family as we get
ready to restart our season at Daytona. Alex is the most resilient
human being I’ve ever met and his positivity after the adversity he’s
faced is inspiring to anyone he’s around. In terms of our season, it’s
been strange to lead the championship for half a year after only
completing one race, but now we have to earn it again. Daytona in July
will be a much different challenge than running in January, with
different tire compounds required and a much higher demand on our
physical fitness. Our focus now is on the championship so we will be
aiming for consistent podiums every weekend as we restart our season.”

Jesse Krohn (#24 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE): “I have had mixed
feelings over the last few days. My childhood hero and a legend of our
sport is fighting for his life after a cycling accident and this has
been on my mind a lot. Before Alex’s accident I was super excited and
looking forward to going back to racing but over the last few days,
racing has been less on my mind and my thoughts have been with Alex
and his family. Going back to Daytona after our success there in
January is something I have been looking forward to and doing my first
ever sprint race at Daytona will present us with a new challenge. In a
sprint race you are going to need to take more risks than in a 24h
race and this is something we have not had at Daytona before. Overall
I’m looking forward to going back to racing and hopeful to hear some
good news about Alex soon.”

 

Connor De Phillippi (#25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE): “Although
I’m ready to return to the track, my heart is with Alex’s family. He’s
a star that shines on all of us and I’m praying for strength during
his recovery. I’m looking forward to finally get back to the racetrack
with my BMW Team RLL family. I’ve missed the fierce competition and
the feeling of battle alongside my team. We will be aiming to start
where we left off at Daytona in January.”

Bruno Spengler (#25 MOTUL BMW M8 GTE)
: “Alex is in my prayers every night. We shared a car
together in 2015 at Spa and I will remember it for the rest of my
life. He is an idol for me. While the majority of our thoughts will be
with Alex, on Saturday we’ll share our focus with Daytona for a second
time this year. As much as I enjoyed the sim racing season, it will be
good to be back behind the wheel of a real BMW M8 GTE.”

Original Press Release

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The new BMW Motorrad Active Cruise Control (ACC)

BMW:The new BMW Motorrad Active Cruise Control (ACC)

Relaxed cruising with active cruise control, without having to
manually adapt to the driving speed of the vehicle in front – already
available in cars now for many years, but not the standard in
motorcycles to date. However, with the Active Cruise Control (ACC),
BMW Motorrad will soon offer this type of rider assistance system,
thus providing motorcyclists with a completely new, comfortable riding experience.

The new BMW Motorrad Active Cruise Control (ACC). Cruise control with
distance control for maximum comfort and best possible safety when
riding a motorcycle.

ACC is a novel rider assistance system that was developed in
cooperation with the partner, Bosch. The many years of experience with
passenger car driver assistance systems of both companies could be
applied selectively here and used for motorcycle applications. The new
ACC provides maximum comfort for the demanding touring motorcyclist by
automatically regulating the speed set by the rider and the distance
to the vehicle driving in front. The system automatically regulates
the vehicle speed when the distance to the vehicle in front is reduced
and keeps the distance defined by the rider. This distance can be
varied in three stages. Both the riding speed as well as the distance
to the vehicle in front can be set conveniently using a button. The
individual settings are displayed on the TFT instrument cluster. The
new BMW Motorrad ACC has two selectable control characteristics:
comfortable or dynamic, in which the acceleration and deceleration
behaviour is changed accordingly. The distance control can also be
deactivated in order to be able to use the Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC).

When cornering, the speed is automatically reduced by the ACC if
required and a comfortable lean angle is aimed at. With an increasing
lean angle, however, the braking and acceleration dynamics are limited
in order to maintain a stable rideability and not to unsettle the
rider by abrupt braking or acceleration. The BMW Motorrad ACC is a
rider assistance system that leaves the responsibility with the rider
and allows him to intervene at all times. That is also because the new
ACC only responds to moving vehicles. Stationary vehicles – like at
the end of a traffic jam or at traffic lights – are are not
considered. In such cases, the rider has to do the braking.

Original Press Release

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Interview with Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG: “We will be taking sustainability to a whole new level”

BMW:Interview with Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG: “We will be taking sustainability to a whole new level”

Munich. When it comes to sustainability, major
corporations have a key role to play. The BMW Group acknowledged this
fact long ago and outperforms industry rivals by far in terms of CO2
emissions per vehicle produced. But as new powertrains such as
e-drives gain momentum, the approach to sustainable vehicle production
is changing. In an interview, BMW AG Management Board Chairman Oliver
Zipse explains the BMW Group’s ambitious goals and outlines what
aspects of sustainability will be the key focal points in the future.

Mr Zipse, ever since your first public appearance as BMW CEO
at the IAA International Motor Show, you have underlined the
importance of climate and environmental protection. You’ve been in
the job almost a year now and the world is in the midst of a crisis
unlike anything we’ve seen before. How much room does that leave for sustainability?

The coronavirus pandemic has thrown the global economy off course
within a very short space of time, and this has also led to
significant cutbacks in a number of BMW Group projects. But as I have
always made clear: There can be no compromise when it comes to climate
and environmental protection. It is a decisive topic for the future of
our society. That’s why it is so important to set the right course now
in these challenging times. In fact, we will even be stepping up the pace.

 

What does that mean exactly? The BMW Group had set itself
targets for emissions reductions by 2020.

Those were for resource consumption and the emissions we generate
directly as a company – for example, from production. We were very
successful: We lowered energy consumption per vehicle produced by more
than 40 percent and were even able to reduce waste and CO2
emissions by over 70 percent. It’s also no coincidence that our
CO2 emissions per vehicle produced are much lower than for
the rest of the German auto industry, for example. In short, we met
nearly all our targets last year already. So, we were able to start
developing a completely new sustainability strategy for the future
earlier than expected.

And what does it look like?

I don’t want to reveal all the details today before the final formal
decisions are made, but I can tell you that the approach is radically
holistic: We will be taking the topic of sustainability to a whole new
level. What we aspire to remains the same: We are focused on having a
real and transparent impact. That’s why we will once again be setting
ourselves clear and measurable goals – but, this time, they will
extend far beyond our direct sphere of influence.

 

You’ll have to give us a concrete example.

To contribute effectively to climate protection, we will need to
improve our products’ overall environmental balance – from resources
to recycling. As e‑mobility gains more and more traction, the focus of
CO2 reduction will shift to upstream added value – and,
especially, the energy-intensive production of high-voltage batteries.
Up to 40 percent of a fully-electric vehicle’s CO2
emissions come from battery cell production alone. Depending on where
they are produced and the electricity mix used there, about a third of
these emissions come from power consumption directly at the cell
manufacturer. This is a major and very effective lever for reducing
CO2 – so that is precisely where we are focusing our efforts.

 

How is this supposed to work? The BMW Group doesn’t produce
cells itself.

As a leader in sustainability, what we say carries a lot of weight
with our suppliers – and we can then leverage this reputation. We now
have a contractual agreement with our cell manufacturers that they
will use only green power to produce our fifth-generation battery
cells. Later this year we will launch this technology with the BMW iX3
and then roll it out across our product line-up – including the BMW
iNEXT and BMW i4 next year. As volumes increase, the use of green
power will save around ten million tonnes of CO2 over the
next decade. For comparison, that is roughly the amount of CO2
a city of over a million inhabitants, like Munich, emits per year.

 

Does that mean CO2 reductions will only come from suppliers?

It works best when manufacturers and suppliers work together. The
only way we can motivate our partners to take these kinds of steps is
by continuing to lead by example. This is what we are very clearly
doing with our new strategy. The successes we are having – here and
now – underline how important this topic is to us: In addition to
reducing resource consumption and emissions significantly, we are also
fully on track to meet our CO2 fleet targets in the EU.
This will also be the first year all plants operated by the BMW Group,
as well as our BBA joint venture in China, will obtain their
electricity exclusively from renewable energy sources. Our partners
know we aren’t satisfied with just making announcements for the
distant future. We deliver and will continue to do so.

How can the public check that you are continuing to deliver?

This previously took place through our Sustainable Value Report – and
is another area where we are now taking the next step: Starting next
year, we will be integrating the topic of sustainability into our
Annual Report. This not only sends a clear signal that we consider our
business model and sustainability to be inseparable – but also that we
will be subjecting our sustainability activities to even broader
external and independent review than in the past.


 


 

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Max-Morten Borgmann, Corporate Communications

max-morten.borgmann@bmw.de, Telephone: +49-89-382-24118

Eckhard Wannieck, head of Corporate and Culture Communications

eckhard.wannieck@bmwgroup.com,
Telephone: +49-89-382-24544

Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com

Email: presse@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly
facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.

In 2019, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million passenger vehicles and
more than 175,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2019 was € 7.118 billion on revenues amounting to
€ 104.210 billion. As of 31 December 2019, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 126,016 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmwgroup/

Original Press Release

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The “Green Hell” is paradise for the new MINI John Cooper Works GP.

BMW:The “Green Hell” is paradise for the new MINI John Cooper Works GP.

Munich. Fascination and awe shine through when racing
drivers speak about the “Green Hell”. The Nürburgring
Nordschleife is regarded as a particularly challenging track. Its
spectacular bends, ascents and descents embedded in the wooded
landscape once prompted the triple Formula 1 champion Jackie Stewart
to coin the track’s nickname by which it is still fondly known today.
For MINI development and test engineers, the Nordschleife is the
ultimate performance indicator for every new model of the British
premium brand. They dedicated themselves with particular intensity to
testing the driving dynamics of the new MINI John Cooper Works GP
(combined fuel consumption: 7.3 l/100 km; combined CO2
emissions: 167 g/km). Lap after lap they fine-tuned the engine,
chassis and aerodynamic properties until finally it was obvious that
the new MINI John Cooper Works GP makes the legendary “Green Hell” a
paradise for every motor racing fan.

Naturally the “Ring” owes its original name to the medieval castle of
Nürburg constructed in the 12th century on a hill surrounded today by
the Nordschleife. The most beautiful view of the castle ruins is from
the village of the same name not far from the entrance to the race
track. Otherwise, it is the new MINI John Cooper Works GP that becomes
the photo scene of choice as it arrives for the so-called tourist
drive on the Nordschleife. The closer it gets to the “Ring”, the more
thrilled motor sport enthusiasts are, with smartphones at the ready,
to encounter this true rarity.

The new MINI John Cooper Works GP, produced in a small series of
3,000 units is the tradition-steeped brand’s fastest, most powerful
model ever approved for road use. It takes extreme driving pleasure in
a MINI to a whole new level. Testers even managed to drive a prototype
of this extreme athlete round the almost 21 kilometre track in less
than eight minutes. This beat the predecessor model’s best time by
almost half a minute. They equipped the production vehicle with all
the qualities necessary to ensure that even Nordschleife novices can
experience the exhilarating race feeling in the new
MINI John Cooper Works GP straight away. Thus on its return to the
“Green Hell”, it quickly becomes clear that the latest
John Cooper Works model outshines the competition in the small car
segment not just in terms of longitudinal and lateral acceleration,
but its greatest trump card is its precisely controllable handling at
all times even in the driving dynamics limit range.

The distinctive appearance of the MINI John Cooper Works GP already
impresses at the start line: Carbon wheel arch trims, a roof spoiler
with double-wing contour, large 18” lightweight forged wheels and a
10 mm lower suspension than the MINI John Cooper Works hint
unmistakably at the dynamic potential of the exclusive two-seater.
Pressing the accelerator pedal merely confirms this impression:
Sprinting towards the Tiergarten, it takes just 5.2 seconds to reach
the 100 km/h speed mark in the digital instrument panel display. A
4-cylinder turbocharged engine with 225 kW/306 hp and a maximum torque
of 450 Nm delivers this irresistible forward thrust. The concentrated
energy reaches the front wheels fitted with model-specific
high-performance tyres via an 8-speed Steptronic transmission which,
complete with integrated differential lock, ensures the loss-free
conversion of the drive torque into thrilling performance.

The advantages of the precise force distribution between the drive
wheels also manifest themselves in the Hohenrain chicane. The steering
of the new MINI John Cooper Works GP is remarkably agile and enables
it to accelerate dynamically out of every corner with no oversteering
or understeering tendencies. The sports brake system also inspires
immediate confidence. The precise controllability and powerful grip of
the 4-piston fixed-caliper disc brakes on the front wheels and
single-piston floating-caliper disc brakes on the rear wheels
decelerate the vehicle before it enters the ensuing, slightly downward
left turn. By now at the latest, respect for the high performance of
the new MINI John Cooper Works GP is transformed into unadulterated
driving pleasure. The combination of right-left bends in the
Hatzenbach is a pleasure too, as are the subsequent crests and the
sharp right turn beyond the Schwedenkreuz.

The tight engine mounting, the extremely rigid body structure and
suspension connection and the suspension technology refined with John
Cooper Works’ racing expertise empower the new MINI John Cooper Works
to deliver impressively precise steering behaviour. As if pulled by a
string, it races through the winding track sections after Fuchsröhre
and Adenauer Forst, successfully finding the racing lines almost
effortlessly even in the Klostertal bend and in the Caracciola
carousel. The large track widths and increased model-specific camber
values for the front and rear wheels promote the transmission of
cornering forces and facilitate breathtakingly high lateral
acceleration values. In GP mode, activated by means of a toggle
switch, the intervention thresholds of the Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) system are also increased to give the driver even more scope
when approaching the limit range.

At 265 km/h, the top speed of the new MINI John Cooper Works GP is
totally unlimited. And on the home stretch between Galgenkopf and
Döttinger Höhe, it becomes apparent that the top athlete within the
small car segment remains steadfastly on the chosen course even in
high-speed mode. As well as the model-specific front apron, above all
its distinctive roof spoiler plays a key role in reducing lift
accordingly and guaranteeing aerodynamic balance even when cornering
at particularly high speeds. However, the indispensable functional
value of the striking double wing on the rear of the new MINI John
Cooper Works GP does not stop it being misused unceremoniously as a
picnic table by Nordschleife drivers during lunch stops.

On they motor after a short break including refuelling stop.
Ultimately, a single lap of the Nürburgring comes nowhere near to
capturing the full performance potential of the new MINI John Cooper
Works GP. But luckily every finishing line is also a starting line.
And when it comes to extreme driving pleasure, the gates of the “Green
Hell” cannot open often enough.

In case of queries, please contact:

Press and PR



Matthias Bode, Press Officer Production Communication
MINI
Phone: +49-89-382-61742
E-Mail: matthias.bode@mini.com

Andreas Lampka, Head of Communication MINI
Phone: +49-
89-382-23667
E-Mail: andreas.lampka@mini.com

The values of fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electricity
consumption shown were determined according to the test procedure
defined in the European Directive VO (EU) 2007/715 in the version
applicable at the time of type approval. The figures refer to a
vehicle with basic configuration in Germany and the range shown
takes account of optional equipment and the different size of wheels
and tyres available on the selected model. These factors can change
during the configuration.

The values of some vehicles are measured according to the new
WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure) and
converted to NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) for comparison
purposes. The taxes or other duties for these vehicles may be based
on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions data which differ from that
shown here.

Further information on official fuel consumption and official
specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars is given in the
‘Handbook of fuel consumption, the CO2 emissions and power
consumption of new passenger cars’, which can be obtained free of
charge at all sales outlets and from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand
GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen,
and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.

Original Press Release

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Coronavirus emergency aid for South Africa – BMW Group supports German development policy

BMW:Coronavirus emergency aid for South Africa – BMW Group supports German development policy

  • The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
    Development and BMW Group South Africa are supporting the South
    African government in its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by
    providing 750 new hospital beds
  • BMW Group South Africa, which operates a production plant in
    Rosslyn in the Gauteng region, is providing the project with
    financial assistance of around 2.7 million euros
  • BMW Group South Africa has been involved with various social
    projects in Gauteng for almost 50 years and will continue with this
    during the coronavirus crisis as an investment in the community and
    its employees

Munich / Pretoria. Today, in a virtual ceremony,
Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Oliver Zipse, German
Minister of Cooperation and Development Dr. Gerd Müller and South
African Minister of Health Zwelini Lawrence Mkhize signed a joint
memorandum of understanding.

The agreement includes an emergency coronavirus package, with the
three partners working together to help expand medical infrastructure
at nine hospitals and four clinics in the Gauteng region. In addition
to masks and disinfectant, the Gauteng region will also be provided
with 750 additional hospital beds and 150 mobile oxygen tanks no later
than July.

South Africa is currently among the regions of the continent hardest
hit by COVID-19. As in many other African countries, there is also a
lack of emergency beds, ventilators and laboratory facilities.

“We provide help where it is needed the most”

BMW Group South Africa is providing the project with financial
assistance of 2.7 million euros, as well as making several BMW X3s
produced at the Rosslyn plant available. Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the
Board of Management of BMW AG: “In a global crisis like the
coronavirus pandemic, solidarity is more important than anything else.
We provide help where it is needed the most. That is why we are
helping develop health infrastructure at our location in Gauteng in
cooperation with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation
and Development and the South African government.”

 

“Companies are key partners in the fight against coronavirus”

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
is contributing 1.6 million euros to develop the South African health
system. At the virtual signing of the memorandum of understanding,
German Minister of Cooperation and Development Dr. Gerd Müller said:
“The project in Gauteng is part of our coronavirus emergency programme
aimed not only at battling the health crisis, but also dealing with
the major economic and food crisis in South Africa. In this situation,
companies like the BMW Group with a presence on the ground are
important partners for German development policy.”

The BMW Group has been active in the Gauteng region through its
production plant for almost 50 years. Tim Abbott, CEO of BMW Group
South Africa: “We traditionally feel a responsibility towards the
community we are a part of. It is only natural for us to support the
Gauteng region, where we have been committed to various local health
and education projects for decades.”

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Milena Pighi
BMW Group Corporate and Governmental Affairs,
spokesperson CSR

Telephone: +49-89-382-66563

Email: Milena.PA.Pighi@bmw.de

Andreas Klugescheid
BMW Group Head of Steering Government and
External Affairs, Sustainability Communications

Telephone: +49-89-382-26661
Email: Andreas.Klugescheid@bmw.de

 

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly
facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.

In 2019, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million passenger vehicles and
more than 175,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2019 was € 7.118 billion on revenues amounting to
€ 104.210 billion. As of 31 December 2019, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 126,016 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmwgroup/

Original Press Release

Posted on

BMW Motorsport News – Issue 04/2020.

BMW:BMW Motorsport News – Issue 04/2020.

NLS: Walkenhorst Motorsport wins season-opener.

A comprehensive hygiene concept has allowed racing to return to the
Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER). As a result, the Nürburgring Endurance
Series NLS kicked off the 2020 season at the weekend. The
51st Adenauer Rundstrecken-Trophy on Saturday formed the
opening round – and the Nordschleife season began with a BMW win.
After four hours of racing, victory went to David Pittard (GBR) and
Mikkel Jensen (DEN) in the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3. The
duo crossed the finish line narrowly in second place, but subsequently
benefitted from a time penalty handed to the leading Mercedes. Pittard
laid the foundation for this success in the early stages of the race
when, despite drizzle, he cut through the field from fifth to second
place. “The first race after the break, and our first win – that is
wonderful! It feels fantastic to be back on the Nordschleife and back
in a race car,” said Pittard. “Walkenhorst Motorsport has done a
magnificent job over the winter. After my crazy first stint, Mikkel
was incredibly fast and all I had to do at the end was to bring the
car home in one piece. We are delighted.” BMW works drivers Philipp
Eng (AUT) and Nick Catsburg (NED) shared the cockpit of the #99 ROWE
Racing BMW M6 GT3 and finished fifth.

In the SP10 class, the BMW M4 GT4 was the dominant car with all three
steps on the podium being occupied by BMW teams. Victory went to Hofor
Racing by Bonk Motorsport with its drivers Michael Schrey (GER),
Michael Fischer (AUT) and Gabriele Piana (SUI) in the #192 BMW M4 GT4.
The #1 BMW M4 GT4, run by Pixum CFN Team Adrenalin Motorsport, crossed
the finish line in second place. They were joined on the podium by FK
Performance Motorsport, which came home third in the #169 car. BMW
Junior Team, with Neil Verhagen (USA), Dan Harper (GBR) and Max Hesse
(GER), also started the NLS season in the BMW M240i Racing in the SP8T
class. The trio was struck by misfortune however, and was forced to
retire with a technical issue early in the race. In total, BMW teams
claimed seven class victories in various BMW race cars.

BMW M240i Racing Cup: First win of the season goes to Pixum
CFN Team Adrenalin Motorsport.

The reigning champions made the perfect start to the 2020 season in
the BMW M240i Racing Cup. Pixum CFN Team Adrenalin Motorsport took the
first victory of the year in the #650 BMW M240i Racing. The car was
driven by Francesco Merlini (ITA), Sindre Setsaas (NOR), David
Griessner (AUT) and Yannick Fübrich (GER). Second place went to the
Schnitzelalm Racing GmbH team, with Marcel Marchewicz and Tim Neuser
(both GER) alternating at the wheel of the #673 car. Heiko Eichenberg
and Moritz Oberheim (both GER) finished third in car #695, run by the
AVIA Sorg Rennsport team. In total, twelve BMW M240i Racings took part
in the opening race. The BMW M240i Racing Cup will be held on the same
bill as the Nürburgring Endurance Series again this season.

BMW Sports Trophy: Amended regulations announced for the
2019/20 season.

The coronavirus pandemic and the race events cancelled and postponed
all over the world have also affected the BMW Sports Trophy. With
numerous organisers extending their race calendar into late autumn,
the decision has been taken to extend the 59th BMW Sports
Trophy season (2019/2020). Instead of ending on 31st
October 2020 as originally planned, the official scoring period now
runs from 1st November 2019 to 30th November
2020. This gives participants the opportunity to continue to score
points in the Driver and Team competitions at events held later in the
year. There is one bit of bad news as the tight schedule means that
the end-of-season event, which has previously been held each year in
Munich at the start of December, has had to be cancelled. However,
this does not mean that the 25 best-placed drivers and the ten teams
with the most points must do without their awards. Like previous prize
winners, they can look forward to attractive prize money, which will
be officially announced over the course of the season.

You can find the current regulations for the 2019/2020 BMW Sports
Trophy here.

Original Press Release

Posted on

BMW Motorrad continues to expand RENT A RIDE.

BMW:BMW Motorrad continues to expand RENT A RIDE.

Munich. On the road, ready, go! With RENT A RIDE, BMW
Motorrad offers spontaneous motorcycle riding pleasure via the rental
platform www.rentaride.com –
individually plannable, with virtually new rental motorcycles and an
exquisite and international range of fascinating tours, which can also
be used directly via the BMW Motorrad Connected app.

With currently 89 participating rental partners in seven
countries, www.rentaride.com is
the largest motorcycle rental platform in Europe. By the end of the
year, BMW Motorrad aims to expand the platform to include more than
100 rental partners in 12 countries. By consistently expanding the
rental partners and participating countries, the ambitious goal for
2021 is to become the worldwide leader in this segment of motorcycle rental.

At www.rentaride.com
customers can reserve a virtually new BMW motorcycle and, if
necessary, rider equipment with just a few clicks, for example to go
on a ride with friends or to take a bike out for a thorough test ride.
The motorcycles are explained in detail by the experts on site at BMW
Motorrad partners and handed over in a relaxed atmosphere. So if a
long distance journey is currently too hazardous for you, you can rent
your dream bike from Rent A Ride in a flexible and uncomplicated way
and go on a motorcycle discovery tour.

The RENT A RIDE platform will be continuously expanded in the
existing markets of Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Austria
and Thailand. Further RENT A RIDE stations will be available this year
in the USA and four other European markets (Netherlands, Belgium,
Switzerland, Czech Republic).

You will find press material on BMW motorcycles and BMW Motorrad
rider equipment in the BMW Group PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com.

In case of queries, please contact:

Tim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communications BMW Motorrad

Telephone: +49 89 382 57505, e-mail: tim.diehl-thiele@bmw.de

Ingo Wirth, Head of Product and Lifestyle Communications MINI,
BMW Motorrad

Telephone: +49 89 382 25814, e-mail: Ingo.Wirth@bmw.de

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly
facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.

In 2019, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 passenger vehicles and more
than 175,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2019 was € 7.118 billion on revenues amounting to €
104.210 billion. As of 31 December 2019, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 126,016 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

 

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmwgroup/

Original Press Release

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After a successful start, the BMW brand is expanding its podcast series.

BMW:After a successful start, the BMW brand is expanding its podcast series.

Munich.
 Today, the English sci-fi thriller podcast “Hypnopolis” celebrates its debut. This makes
BMW the first automobile manufacturer in the world to offer its
customers their own audio entertainment podcast. In a total of six
episodes of 15-20 minutes each, listeners can expect not only a
gripping story, but also insights into the mobility of the future.
“Hypnopolis”
is already the fourth podcast series by the BMW brand next to
“Changing Lanes”, “Creators of a different beat”
and “KulturMobile”. 

Previous BMW Group podcasts

With “Changing Lanes”, BMW has been offering a weekly
infotainment show about technology, lifestyle, design, innovation and
of course cars since mid-March. At the height of the corona pandemic,
“Changing Lanes” presented four special issues so far under
the name “Creators of a different beat”. The live interviews
with guests such as Alex Zanardi or yoga expert Sinah Diepold are
intended to inspire listeners, spark optimism for the future and help
a little in overcoming these challenging times. 

The literature podcast of the KulturMobile was developed in this
spirit, with readings of works from 19th century world literature in
German and English. The head of BMW Cultural Commitment and producer
of the podcast, Prof. Dr. Thomas Girst, says about the history of its
origins: “First of all it was about doing something good for our
employees and their families in these difficult times. Very soon we
decided to publish the podcast for all people interested in culture
and BMW. With this podcast we want to make literary works available in
audible form and in an experience-oriented way for as wide a circle as
possible. KulturMobile is an employee initiative of the BMW Group,
which has been making employees aware of the company’s commitment to
culture and inviting them to participate since 2003.

Hypnopolis: Cinema for the ears!

“As a brand, BMW has always been telling exciting and emotional
stories. The best-known and internationally awarded examples of this
are the short film series “The Hire” with Clive Owen or
“The Small Escape” featuring the modified BWM Isetta as an
escape car. With our HYPNOPOLIS podcast we are now opening up the next
chapter: Cinema for the ears!” – Jens Thiemer, Senior Vice President
Customer & Brand BMW.

With “Hypnopolis“, the BMW brand is now expanding
its podcast range to include a pure entertainment program. It will
entertain listeners on long car journeys, for example. The emotional
bond to the brand is strengthened in this way. In line with the motto
“Beyond the car” stories, “Hypnopolis”
does not focus on the BMW brand or vehicles, but is based on
assumptions made by BMW future experts, for example about the
development of cities and mobility. The story mainly tells of a
scenario set in the future. In the first episode, Hope Reiser awakes
from a thirty-year sleep penalty and suddenly finds herself in the
year 2063. However, she is convinced of her innocence and fears that
the real murderers have been waiting for her and are watching her. The
search for the truth begins! 

Robert Valentine: Award winning author of Hypnopolis

With Robert Valentine, BMW was able to win over one of the most
well-known science fiction authors. The science fiction genre is
familiar territory for the Londoner, who has won the “BBC Audio
Drama Award”. He works as a writer for the audio version of Dr.
Who, among other things. “Hypnopolis” is set to become his
next award-winning podcast alongside “Red Moon” and
“Dr. Who”: “While I was keen to present the positive
potential of technology in the future, as a dramatist I’m well aware
that the one thing that never changes is human nature. The world of
Hypnopolis may be a technocratic garden paradise, but just like the
garden of Eden, there’s a snake lurking in the grass in the form of
the shadowy figures determined to bring down our heroine, Hope Reiser.
(…) Her spirit and her refusal to accept the lies of a complacent
authority are the qualities I think we’re all going to need if we’re
going to make the future the place we hope it will be.”

All BMW Group podcasts can be accessed via bmwgroup.com or via
familiar streaming services.

“Hypnopolis”: https://www.bmw.com/en/innovation/hypnopolis-podcast.html

“Changing Lanes”: youtube, Spotify, Apple
Podcasts, deezer, Google Podcasts

“Creators of a different beat.” youtube, facebook

“CultureMobile. The Literature Podcast.”: bmwgroup.com, youtube, Spotify, Apple
Podcasts, deezer, Google Podcasts

Original Press Release

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Final 18 BMW i8 cars leave Plant Leipzig.

BMW:Final 18 BMW i8 cars leave Plant Leipzig.

Leipzig. Austin Yellow. British Racing Green. Le Mans
Blue. The last 18 BMW i8 vehicles left BMW Group Plant Leipzig today
as their future owners looked on. Each car was a one-off created in
close collaboration with the customer. “The degree of customisation in
these vehicles threw up some major logistical and process challenges,”
said Plant Director Hans-Peter Kemser. “But our i production unit has
proved yet again that nothing is impossible.”

Manufacturing a BMW i8 is in itself a feat of modern automotive
construction, owing to the vehicle concept, drive technology, and
unique mix of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and aluminium.
But the final 18 special models presented the i8 production team with
particular challenges on top: each one was finished in a paintwork
colour that had previously not been applied to the outer skin
components of a BMW i8. Painting such a large number of exterior parts
in the specified colour made production and logistics far more
complex. Manufactured and painted virtually by hand by a range of
suppliers and at BMW Group Plant Landshut, the challenge lay in
getting the components to the production line in full premium quality.
And with each part being the only one of this colour in existence and
highly complex to reproduce, the utmost care and precision were
required in logistics and throughout series vehicle production.

“Yet again, we have proved our ability to meet the highly discerning
standards and personal specifications of our customers with unique
solutions and unparalleled skill,” said Plant Director Hans-Peter
Kemser. “For BMW i8 production to end with a finale like this is
something we can all be very proud of.” The final vehicles also have
customised components in their interiors, such as Alcantara covers for
seats and steering wheels, and special trim strips and fascia panels.

The customers in Plant Leipzig today – some of whom were members of
the BMW i8 Club International – were on location to see their vehicles
leave the factory gates and be handed over to vehicle logistics.
Claus-Dieter Bachmann, President of the BMW i8 Club, described the day
at the plant as a “highlight for our club members”. The unique
vehicles, he said, are the “dream cars” of their future owners,
adding: “The BMW Group and Plant Leipzig have enabled something truly outstanding.”

If you have any questions, please contact:



Corporate Communications


Julian Friedrich

Communications BMW Group Plant Leipzig, Berlin, Eisenach

Telephone: +49 (0)151 607-38000

E-Mail: Julian.Friedrich@bmw.de

www.bmw-werk-leipzig.de

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroupwerkleipzig

Original Press Release

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New technology campus for 3D printing goes on stream: BMW Group builds on additive manufacturing, with skills consolidated at single site

BMW:New technology campus for 3D printing goes on stream: BMW Group builds on additive manufacturing, with skills consolidated at single site

Munich / Oberschleissheim. The BMW Group has today
officially opened its new Additive Manufacturing Campus. The new
centre brings together production of prototype and series parts under
one roof, along with research into new 3D printing technologies, and
associate training for the global rollout of toolless production. The
campus, which came at an investment of €15 million, will allow the BMW
Group to develop its position as technology leader in the utilisation
of additive manufacturing in the automotive industry.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Milan Nedeljković, BMW AG Board
Member for Production, said: “Additive manufacturing is already an
integral part of our worldwide production system today, and
established in our digitalisation strategy. In the future, new
technologies of this kind will shorten production times even further
and allow us to benefit even more fully from the potential of toolless manufacturing.”

Daniel Schäfer, Senior Vice President for Production Integration and
Pilot Plant at the BMW Group, adds: “Our goal is to industrialise 3D
printing methods more and more for automotive production, and to
implement new automation concepts in the process chain. This will
allow us to streamline component manufacturing for series production
and speed up development. At the same time, we are collaborating with
vehicle development, component production, purchasing and the supplier
network, as well as various other areas of the company to
systematically integrate the technology and utilise it effectively .”

Many years of in-house expertise and cooperations advance the technology

Jens Ertel, Director of the Additive Manufacturing Campus: “Over the
last 30 years or so, the BMW Group has developed comprehensive skills,
which we’ll continue to enhance on our new campus, which has the
latest machines and technologies. In addition, we develop and design
components that are faster to produce than by conventional means,
offer flexibility in terms of  their form, and are also more
functional.” Ertel continued: “We are working hard to mature additive
manufacturing fully and benefit from it as far as possible throughout
the product life-cycle, from the first vehicle concept through to
production, aftersales and its use in classic vehicles.”

Last year, the BMW Group produced about 300,000 parts by additive
manufacturing. The Additive Manufacturing Campus currently employs up
to 80 associates and operates about 50 industrial systems that work
with metals and plastics. Another 50 systems are in operation at
production sites around the world.

Access to the latest technologies is gained through long-standing
partnerships with leading manufacturers and universities, and by
successfully scouting for industry newcomers. Back in 2016, BMW i
Ventures – the venture capital arm of the BMW Group – invested in the
Silicon Valley-based company Carbon, whose DLS (Digital Light
Synthesis) technology achieved a breakthrough in planar processes,
using a planar light projector to enable super-fast component production.

Further investments were made in 2017, when the BMW Group became
involved with Desktop Metal, a start-up specialising in additive
manufacturing of metal components and developing innovative, highly
productive manufacturing procedures. Close collaborations with Desktop
Metal continue. In the same year, BMW i Ventures invested in the US
start-up Xometry, the world’s leading platform for on-demand
manufacturing. With its extensive network of manufacturing companies
specialising in fields such as 3D printing, Xometry provides fast
access to components.

The latest investment was in the German start-up ELISE, which allows
engineers to produce component DNA containing all the technical
requirements for the part, from load requirements and manufacturing
restrictions to costs and potential optimisation parameters. ELISE
then uses this DNA, along with established development tools, to
automatically generate optimum components.

By cooperating with innovative partners and universities, the BMW
Group is working to accelerate the application of additive
manufacturing technology and generate its own suitable portfolio of
manufacturing processes.

 

Additive manufacturing in research and pre-development

The pre-development unit of the Additive Manufacturing Campus
optimises new technologies and materials for comprehensive use across
the company. The main focus is on automating process chains that have
previously required large amounts of manual work, to make 3D printing
more economical and viable for use on an industrial scale over the
longer term.

When it comes to developing 3D printing processes for use on an
industrial scale, research projects are especially important. Such as
the Industrialisation and Digitisation of Additive Manufacturing for
Automotive Series Production (IDAM) project as well as the IDAM
project, both supported by the German Ministry of Education and
Research. With IDAM, the BMW Group and its 12 project partners are
crucially paving the way for the integration of additive manufacturing
into series production environments within the automotive industry. At
the Additive Manufacturing Campus, a production line is being set up
that replicates the entire process chain, from the preparation of
digital production through to manufacture and reworking of components.
The IDAM team are now preparing it for the specific requirements of
series, individual and spare-part production. The production targets
confirm the status of this collaborative undertaking as a lighthouse
project: output is expected to total at least 50,000 series components
a year, with over 10,000 individual and spare parts, all produced in
very high quality and enabling the BMW Group to help strengthen
Germany’s role as a pioneer in 3D printing.

The Additive Manufacturing Campus is also making a significant
contribution to series production of plastic parts. In the POLYLINE
project, the focus is on aspects such as digitally linking process
steps, and the development of a consistent quality assurance
methodology for the entire process chain. The Additive Manufacturing
Campus will provide the backdrop for the project’s consortium of 15
partners to develop and test a future-proof, fully linked, automated
production line for plastic components. Findings from the project are
expected to help reduce manufacturing costs by as much as 50 percent,
making a vital contribution to series production. In addition,
integrated quality assurance methods will increase the stability of
technologies and make manufacturing more sustainable.

Training across the company

As well as manufacturing components, the team at the Campus provides
personal consultations and training courses for associates across the
company. “To roll these technologies out successfully, we need
well-trained colleagues across the network who fully understand their
advantages and features. To use them, designers will need to adopt a
new way of thinking and an entirely new approach as they devise the
upcoming components. 3D printing allows almost any shape to be
produced, paving the way for new designs and functions. Nowadays,
there are countless components that can only be manufactured
additively,” Jens Ertel explains.

BMW Group production facilities around the world all manufacture
3D-printing components already, be it for prototypes or production, or
as country-specific parts for customers. Manufacturing parts where
they are needed is a sensible solution for the BMW Group, and so
additive manufacturing processes are a useful complement to existing
production technologies.

Applications in series production

The BMW Group first started the additive manufacturing of prototype
parts back in 1991, for concept vehicles. By 2010, plastic-and
metal-based processes were being rolled out, initially in smaller
series, to produce items such as the additively manufactured water
pump wheel in the DTM race cars. Further series production
applications followed from 2012 on, with a range of components for the
Rolls-Royce Phantom, BMW i8 Roadster (2017) and MINI John Cooper Works
GP (2020), which contains no less than four 3D-printed components as standard.

Original Press Release