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Robert Kubica reaches the podium in the BMW M4 DTM for the first time – Timo Glock in fourth.

BMW:Robert Kubica reaches the podium in the BMW M4 DTM for the first time – Timo Glock in fourth.

Zolder.
At the 16th race of the season at Zolder (BEL),
Robert Kubica (POL) reached the podium for the first time in his DTM
career. Competing for the privateer BMW customer team ART Grand
Prix, he claimed third place in his BMW M4 DTM after a crazy race
with numerous retirements. Timo Glock (GER) was right behind him,
finishing fourth in the iQOO BMW M4 DTM. Sheldon van der Linde (RSA,
Shell BMW M4 DTM) and Marco Wittmann (GER, Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM)
were also in the points, finishing seventh and eighth.

 

Jonathan Aberdein (RSA, CATL BMW M4 DTM), Philipp Eng (AUT, ZF BMW M4
DTM) and Lucas Auer (AUT, BMW Bank M4 DTM) all retired from the
turbulent race after collisions. Glock is the best-placed BMW
representative in the drivers’ standings, in fifth place with 116 points.

 

Reactions to the 16th DTM race of the 2020 season.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Group Motorsport Director):

“Congratulations to Robert Kubica and ART Grand Prix on their first
DTM podium with the BMW M4 DTM. I am delighted that the hard work of
our privateer customer team has been rewarded with this third place as
we approach the end of the season. Like Robert Kubica, Timo Glock
drove a faultless race and finished fourth to score some important
points in the drivers’ championship. Apart from that, it was a
disappointing race for us, even though Sheldon van der Linde and Marco
Wittmann did score points by finishing seventh and eighth. We will
have to take another careful look at the accidents involving Jonathan
Aberdein, Philipp Eng and Lucas Auer. The crucial aspect is that
Philipp Eng made it out of his car without injury. Many thanks to the
Zolder track marshals who reacted extremely well to the fire on his
car. We will do everything in our power to round off the season at
Hockenheim with a highlight.”

Robert Kubica (#8 BMW M4 DTM, privateer BMW customer team ART
Grand Prix, 3rd place):

“This is a great moment for the entire ART Grand Prix Team after a
difficult season. We had a lot to learn and needed to improve in many
areas. Everything worked really well today. We managed to steer clear
of all the problems and took our chances. We had really good pace in
the decisive stages of the race. The tyres were an important factor
today, so I didn’t push too hard after my pit stop and tried to keep
them alive. I was able to build up a lead over the cars behind me and
get home in third place.”

Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Grid:
15th, Race: 8th, Drivers’ standings:
7th, 95 points):

“It was a tough weekend for me. Unfortunately, our pace was not
competitive. I wasn’t able to get going in qualifying or in the race.
I hope that things will look better for the finale at Hockenheim.”

Timo Glock (#16 iQOO BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Grid:
14th, Race: 4th, Driver’s standings:
5th, 116 points):

“That was a crazy race. Almost half of the starting field was out by
the time we had completed about eight laps. I just concentrated on
steering clear of all the incidents and managing the tyres. That
worked well and I am pleased with fourth place, although I would have
preferred to have reached the podium, of course. At the same time, I
am delighted for Robert. He has earned this podium as he drove a great
race. He has made progress race by race and his hard work has now been rewarded.”

 

Lucas Auer (#22 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Grid:
13th, Race: DNF, Drivers’ standings: 11th, 51 points):

“A disappointing race. There was a big crash in the opening stages
and then there was contact between me and Philipp Eng after the Indy
restart. My race was over after that. We just have to write it off. We
want to go back on the attack at Hockenheim.”

Philipp Eng (#25 ZF BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, Grid:
8th, Race: DNF, Drivers’ standings: 12th, 45 points):

“It was an unfortunate collision with Lucas Auer, there was nothing
else I could have done. I took a hit from outside on the left. Hats
off to the track marshals for getting the fire on my car under control
so quickly.”

 

Jonathan Aberdein (#27 CATL BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Grid:
6th, Race: DNF, Drivers’ standings: 13th, 45 points):

“My race was over early. There was contact between me and Fabio
Scherer on the entry to turn eight. It might have been a misjudgement
on my part, but I will have to take a closer look at it again to
understand what actually happened. It was a disappointing end to what
had otherwise been a good weekend.”

Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM,
Grid: 11th, Race: 7th, Drivers’ standings:
6th, 105 points):

“I had a good start and moved up two places on the first lap. After
that, it was just chaotic, with two safety cars. I was able to hold my
position but our strategy was blown. We tried to react to the two
safety cars but the others were just smarter today. Scoring points in
seventh place is OK but we want to be on the podium and winning.
Unfortunately, that was not the case this weekend. We will push on and
aim to conclude the season with a good result at Hockenheim.”

Original Press Release

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BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team ends the WorldSBK season 2020 with top ten finish at Estoril.

BMW:BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team ends the WorldSBK season 2020 with top ten finish at Estoril.

Estoril. An unusual and truncated 2020 season in the FIM
Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) has come to end after just
eight rounds. The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team completed the final
weekend at Estoril (POR) with a top ten finish when Tom Sykes (GBR)
claimed tenth place in race two on Sunday afternoon. In his final
race for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Eugene Laverty (IRL)
crossed the line in twelfth place. In the Superpole race on Sunday
morning, Sykes and Laverty finished in eleventh and 16th positions.

 

The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team has already started preparations for
the upcoming season. The team will complete a day of testing at the
‘Circuito do Estoril’ on Monday.

Quotes after race two at Estoril.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “Our
results at the Estoril finale were not satisfactory. However, I am
glad that we once had a weekend without technical issues and without
any crashes. In terms of performance, we are not where we want to be.
We are not far off the top five or top six, but we have to work on
claiming these results consistently. I would like express my heartfelt
thanks to Eugene. It was also a difficult season for him but we have
still been able to benefit from his work and made progress with him
for example in the electronics area. Now we have to focus on next
season. That will start in just a few hours with preparations for
tomorrow’s testing. We hope to find those few tenths of a second there
that will help us to improve.”

Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK
Team: “First of all, thanks to Eugene. It’s been a tough year
for him and with the season cut short, it made his job even more
difficult. We thank him for all his efforts and contributions to the
team and wish him good luck for next year wherever he goes. On Tom’s
side, this weekend has been a struggle. The grip levels have been
difficult for us and it has taken us too long to overcome that and
find an optimum setting that works. Finishing 20 seconds off the
winner certainly isn’t where we want to be but we got a lot of data to
move forward. Our new season starts now and we’ve got to put 2020
behind us for many reasons, Covid, difficult conditions at all rounds,
we haven’t scored a podium once this year but, however, we remain
confident that we can set the wheels turning very soon with the BMW M
1000 RR and overall, we will push hard to be further up the grid. I
think it’s fair to say that it was a challenge for most teams.
Congratulations to Kawasaki and Jonathan Rea and let’s hope that next
year we can be close to those guys and be on the podium more regularly.”

Tom Sykes: “It was a pretty frustrating final
weekend. Clearly we have some limitations with the package and saw
already at the Barcelona test and here again that we come to a new
circuit, arrive at a lap time and try a lot with big changes, we’ve
had three different set-ups here this weekend, and we still arrive at
that lap time and still have the same issues. The team have work to do
and I am definitely looking forward to getting some new components.
Now it’s time for closure on this year and hopefully the whole BMW
Motorrad WorldSBK Team can make some good steps forward as soon as
possible in the winter break.”

Eugene Laverty: “This weekend as a whole has been
very difficult here at Estoril. From the first practice, it was clear
that with so many slow corners it was not suited to our bike, but we
never gave up and worked hard. The good thing was that we did make
progress in today’s race as our pace was stronger than yesterday’s so
we can be satisfied we moved forward. Throughout our season, we made
progress, especially in the latter part of the year. Most notable was
Magny-Cours with our pole position, but unfortunately the season has
been short with only eight rounds as I would have liked to be longer
on the bike. The season for us is now over and it’s time for me to
start thinking about 2021.”

Original Press Release

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Estoril Finale: BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team fighting with blunt weapons on Saturday.

BMW:Estoril Finale: BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team fighting with blunt weapons on Saturday.

Estoril. The 2020 season in the FIM Superbike World
Championship (WorldSBK) is approaching its conclusion and the first
race of the final weekend at Estoril (POR) is over. The two BMW
Motorrad WorldSBK Team riders, Tom Sykes (GBR) and Eugene Laverty
(IRL), finished race one on Saturday in tenth and twelfth positions.

 

The ‘Circuito do Estoril’ is hosting WorldSBK for the first time
since 1993. Friday was all about getting to know the idiosyncrasies of
the circuit, while Saturday featured another practice session,
Superpole qualification and race one.

In Superpole, Sykes and Laverty qualified in tenth and
14th with their BMW S 1000 RRs. Both riders lost places at
the start of the race. As the race progressed, they both defended
their positions but found it impossible to mount any attacks. Sykes
and Laverty both move up after riders ahead of them retired from the
race and after 21 laps, Sykes took the chequered flag line in tenth,
with Laverty in twelfth.

Quotes after race one at Estoril.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director:
“Firstly, congratulations to Johnny Rea. He has seemed untouchable on
the way to his sixth consecutive world championship title – very well
done! Up to now, our performance has not been satisfactory. Since the
first practice session, we have been struggling to adjust to the new
circuit. We seem to be unable to leverage our experience from the
current season, with most of the familiar circuits providing little
grip. We are simply not adjusting to new conditions and new circuits
quickly enough at the moment. We will have to work on that for the
future, but we have already developed the necessary methodology ahead
of this finale. A positive aspect for us is that our lap times were
stable throughout the race, however they were too slow to allow us to
get involved in the battle for the top places. Not least because of
that, we are looking forward to seeing what we can learn from testing
on Monday. As part of the preparations for 2021, we will already be
using some components for the BMW M 1000 RR to get an idea of the
potential. But now we are focusing on Sunday: we are analysing the
data from today to put on a better performance in the Superpole race
and in race two.”

Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK
Team: “Today’s Superpole was a bit disappointing. Tom was a
few tenths away from a second row start but he could not get the full
use out of the qualifying tyre. Eugene struggled getting grip from the
rear tyre and ultimately could not post a strong lap time. The race
was quite exciting at one point; we got into a good rhythm with Tom
and he was bunched up in a group from 5th to around
12th, which was covered by a few seconds, which we felt we
could have bagged a top six from that. Generally, we are not happy
with a tenth position, but I felt his overall pace was promising and
we took some good information away from that. Eugene continued his
free practice and qualifying pace and circulated the race relative to
those times, which was P12.”

Tom Sykes: “We got a good start to today’s race one
but I just got caught on the outside at T1. We then settled into a
good rhythm and it was a shame as P5 was only a few seconds away, but
I was at the wrong end of a big group. It’s clear to see that our bike
is working really well in some areas, but I was just lacking a little
bit today with mechanical grip and engine performance. But it is what
is, the game is over for this year and now for me the aim is to get
the best results possible and gather the information, blend that
together going into the winter test and get to where we need to be
next year.”

Eugene Laverty: “This track is tough for us in
general. These slow first gear corners are just not suited to our
bike, but I did what I could today. We were slow but at least we were
consistent and kept within three tenths of my lap time from the start.
Regardless of that we gained some good information, I played around
with my body position to try give the guys some direction to work in
so again we will try something else for tomorrow’s final two races.
Our problem is that we are struggling to get the bike stopped and have
that punch out of the corners. But we have some ideas, it’s not going
to be a miracle overnight but we must make progress.”

Original Press Release

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Jonathan Aberdein drives the CATL BMW M4 DTM to fourth place in Saturday’s race at Zolder.

BMW:Jonathan Aberdein drives the CATL BMW M4 DTM to fourth place in Saturday’s race at Zolder.

Zolder.
Jonathan Aberdein (RSA) gave a strong performance in the
15th race of the DTM season at Zolder (BEL) to claim
fourth place in his CATL BMW M4 DTM. The South African driver
celebrated his greatest success as a BMW works driver. Timo Glock
(GER, iQOO BMW M4 DTM) and Marco Wittmann (GER, Schaeffler BMW M4
DTM) also finished in the points, claiming ninth and tenth places respectively.

 

Aberdein followed up Friday’s practice session by reaching fourth
place in qualifying to suggest that he was coping well with the cold
conditions. He confirmed that in the race as he remained in the fight
for a podium finish right to the end. Philipp Eng (AUT, ZF BMW M4 DTM)
also had a good turn of speed and was running in the top six before
falling back after receiving a drive-through penalty due to a
collision with Jamie Green (GBR, Audi). Sheldon van der Linde (RSA,
Shell BMW M4 DTM) also had to take a drive-through penalty. The two
drivers crossed the line in twelfth and 13th places,
directly behind Lucas Auer (AUT, BMW Bank M4 DTM), who returned to the
scene of last week’s podium finish to claim eleventh position.

 

Reactions to the 15th DTM race of the 2020 season.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Group Motorsport Director):

“After qualifying, it was clear that the race would be hard work. The
cold temperatures are a real challenge. Jonathan did very well.
Driving close behind another car for such a long time is tough on the
front tyres. We have known that for many years in the DTM and today we
saw that again with Jonathan and Timo. You have to try and overtake.
If you don’t manage that, things get difficult. Congratulations to
Jonathan on his fourth place. That is a very good result for him. He’s
on an upward trajectory at the moment and I hope that he will make
more progress tomorrow. Of course, three BMWs in the top ten is not
the result that we had expected or hoped for. We will have to see if
we can get to grips with the tyre wear a bit better tomorrow and
improve a bit in qualifying. Congratulations to René Rast on the win.”

Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Grid:
14th, Race: 10th, Drivers’ standings:
7th, 91 points):

“There’s not much to be said after the race. We moved up from
14th place to tenth and managed to score a point. With our
early pit stop, we hoped that the safety car would make another
appearance but that was not the case, so the strategy didn’t work out.
We are losing too much time on the straights compared to the other
cars around us. That is a bit frustrating. We have to analyse that and
hopefully we will improve for tomorrow.”

Timo Glock (#16 iQOO BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Grid:
13th, Race: 9th, Driver’s standings:
5th, 104 points):

“There’s really not much to be said after today’s race. I think that
finishing ninth represents a solid result when you consider that I
started from 13th on the grid.”

 

Lucas Auer (#22 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Grid:
15th, Race: 11th, Drivers’ standings:
11th, 51 points):

“I was unable to continue with the second set of tyres in qualifying
due to some extreme vibration and I had to return to the pits. That
knocked us back to 15th on the grid. We were relying on a safety car
in the race but unfortunately that didn’t work out.”

Philipp Eng (#25 ZF BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, Grid:
7th, Race: 12th, Drivers’ standings:
12th, 45 points):

“The car was really good today. I made a good start and had a good
first lap. It was quite disappointing to get a drive-through penalty
for my collision with Jamie Green. However, the positive aspect is
that the package worked really well today. It was a shame that we
couldn’t convert that into a good result.”

Jonathan Aberdein (#27 CATL BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Grid:
4th, Race: 4th, Drivers’ standings:
13th, 45 points):

“It was a good race for us. We started from fourth position and were
still in fourth as we crossed the finishing line, just a few seconds
behind third place. I think we recorded the best possible result and
have to be pleased with that. It was still a very big gap to first
place so we still have some work to do ahead of tomorrow’s race to
improve the car and record as good a result as possible.”

Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM,
Grid: 11th, Race: 13th, Drivers’ standings:
6th, 99 points):

“Of course, I’m not very happy with how the race turned out. I
received a penalty on the Indy restart and qualifying hadn’t gone so
well this morning as I made too many mistakes. We have to pull
everything together for tomorrow. The car definitely has the pace to
do better. The penalty cost us a few points today. That is
disappointing for me but we will try again tomorrow.”

Original Press Release

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The new BMW 5 Series Touring – Additional pictures.

BMW:The new BMW 5 Series Touring – Additional pictures.

Do you need help? Please contact our support team from 9 to 17 CET via support.pressclub@bmwgroup.com.

PressClub Global · Article.

Fri Oct 16 14:17:00 CEST 2020 Press Release

Please find attached on location pictures of the International Media Launch of the new BMW 5 Series Touring.

Please find attached on location pictures of the International Media
Launch of the new BMW 5 Series Touring.

CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

BMW 530d xDrive Touring

Fuel consumption combined: 5,2 – 5,1 l/100 km; CO2
emissions combined: 137 – 133 g/km.

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FIZ FUTURE OPENING

25.09.2020. Here you can see the on demand broadcast of the opening of FIZ Projekthaus Nord. 

Open Streaming Page

CO2 emission information.

The following applies to consumption figures for vehicles with new type approval, September 2017 onward: The figures for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and energy consumption are obtained in accordance with the specified measuring procedure (EC Regulation No. 715/2007), as issued and amended. The figures are for a basic-version vehicle in Germany. The bandwidths allow for differences in the choice of wheel and tire sizes and items of optional equipment and can be changed by the configuration.

Obtained on the basis of the new “Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure” (WLTP), the figures are converted back to the “New European Driving Cycle” (NEDC) for the sake of comparability. Values other than those stated here may be used for the purposes of taxation and for other vehicle-related duties relating to CO2 emissions.

More information about official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be obtained from the “guideline on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and current consumption of new passenger cars”, available here: https://www.dat.de/co2/.

Original Press Release

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BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt takes on new role.

BMW:BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt takes on new role.

Munich. After just short of ten years in the role of
BMW Group Motorsport Director, Jens Marquardt is taking on a new role
within the BMW Group. From 1st November 2020, Marquardt
will head the Pilot Plant for the prototype construction of production
models within the BMW Group. Roughly 700 employees work on up to six
vehicle projects at one time at the plant. Both the product and the
manufacturing process for series production are refined at the
interface between development and production, and are then transferred
to the production plants. Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW M GmbH, will take
interim charge of BMW Group Motorsport. The works involvement in the
FIA Formula E World Championship and GT racing will continue.

Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG,
Development: “Jens Marquardt has been responsible for our involvement
in motorsport since 2011. During this time, we have achieved great
success: the DTM titles in 2012, 2014 and 2016, as well as various
overall and class victories at endurance classics like Daytona, Spa
and, most recently, the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. I would like
to thank Jens Marquardt and his entire team very much for that. Head
of the Pilot Plant for prototype construction is a fundamental role in
the development process. With the agile working method and his
motorsport experience, Jens Marquardt will provide new impetus there.”

Jens Marquardt, BMW Group Motorsport Director: “I will always have
emotional memories of the past ten years. I have experienced all the
highs and lows of motorsport with an exceptional team. The overall
victory at the Nürburgring 24-hour race was the icing on the cake at
the end of this exciting time. I am very grateful to BMW Group and the
whole motorsport family for all these memories. After 25 years in
motorsport, I am very much looking forward to a new challenge.”

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.

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The new BMW 5 Series Sedan – Additional pictures.

BMW:The new BMW 5 Series Sedan – Additional pictures.

Do you need help? Please contact our support team from 9 to 17 CET via support.pressclub@bmwgroup.com.

PressClub Global · Article.

Fri Oct 16 13:30:00 CEST 2020 Press Release

Please find attached on location pictures of the International Media Launch of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan.

Please find attached on location pictures of the International Media
Launch of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan.

CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

BMW 540i xDrive Sedan
Fuel
consumption combined: 6.8 – 6.7 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 156
– 153 g/km.

BMW 530e Sedan
Fuel consumption
combined: 1.9 – 1.7 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 43 – 39 g/km;
Electric power consumption combined: 14.9 – 13.8 kWh/100 km.

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FIZ FUTURE OPENING

25.09.2020. Here you can see the on demand broadcast of the opening of FIZ Projekthaus Nord. 

Open Streaming Page

CO2 emission information.

The following applies to consumption figures for vehicles with new type approval, September 2017 onward: The figures for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and energy consumption are obtained in accordance with the specified measuring procedure (EC Regulation No. 715/2007), as issued and amended. The figures are for a basic-version vehicle in Germany. The bandwidths allow for differences in the choice of wheel and tire sizes and items of optional equipment and can be changed by the configuration.

Obtained on the basis of the new “Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure” (WLTP), the figures are converted back to the “New European Driving Cycle” (NEDC) for the sake of comparability. Values other than those stated here may be used for the purposes of taxation and for other vehicle-related duties relating to CO2 emissions.

More information about official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be obtained from the “guideline on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and current consumption of new passenger cars”, available here: https://www.dat.de/co2/.

Original Press Release

Posted on

The new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo – Additional pictures.

BMW:The new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo – Additional pictures.

Do you need help? Please contact our support team from 9 to 17 CET via support.pressclub@bmwgroup.com.

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Fri Oct 16 12:00:00 CEST 2020 Press Release

Please find attached on location pictures of the International Media Launch of the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo.

Please find attached on location pictures of the International Media
Launch of the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo. 

CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

The new BMW 640i xDrive Gran Turismo
Fuel consumption combined: 7.4 – 7.2 l/100 km; CO2
emissions combined: 170 – 166 g/km.

Article Media Material.

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BMW Group Streaming

FIZ FUTURE OPENING

25.09.2020. Here you can see the on demand broadcast of the opening of FIZ Projekthaus Nord. 

Open Streaming Page

CO2 emission information.

The following applies to consumption figures for vehicles with new type approval, September 2017 onward: The figures for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and energy consumption are obtained in accordance with the specified measuring procedure (EC Regulation No. 715/2007), as issued and amended. The figures are for a basic-version vehicle in Germany. The bandwidths allow for differences in the choice of wheel and tire sizes and items of optional equipment and can be changed by the configuration.

Obtained on the basis of the new “Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure” (WLTP), the figures are converted back to the “New European Driving Cycle” (NEDC) for the sake of comparability. Values other than those stated here may be used for the purposes of taxation and for other vehicle-related duties relating to CO2 emissions.

More information about official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be obtained from the “guideline on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and current consumption of new passenger cars”, available here: https://www.dat.de/co2/.

Original Press Release

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First of its kind and innovation driver for sustainable mobility: 200 000 BMW i3 produced to date.

BMW:First of its kind and innovation driver for sustainable mobility: 200 000 BMW i3 produced to date.

Munich. The BMW i3 (combined fuel consumption: 0.0
l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined
CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) is sustainably on course for success
– in both senses of the word. Almost seven years after its market
launch, the purely electrically powered and thus locally emission-free
compact model is still in continuous high demand. At the BMW Group
plant in Leipzig, the 200 000th BMW i3 model rolled off the production
line yesterday – almost silently as always. The BMW i3s (combined fuel
consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption:
14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km)
with Fluid Black metallic paint finish and accents in BMW i Blue was
produced for a customer from Saxony and will be delivered by the BMW
branch in Leipzig.

The BMW i3 with 125 kW/170 hp and BMW i3s with 135 kW/184 hp are
built in Leipzig for the entire world market on a dedicated production
line and by specially trained employees. With the start of production
in 2013, the plant in Saxony became a pioneer and centre of excellence
for sustainable mobility. The BMW i3 was the BMW Group’s first purely
electrically powered large-scale serial model and also the company’s
first vehicle with a passenger cell made of carbon fibre reinforced
plastic (CFRP). The Life module made of CFRP is part of a vehicle
architecture specific to BMW i and designed for electric mobility from
the outset. It is shaped in Leipzig from carbon fibre scrims and
assembled in a unique process developed by the BMW Group. This is
followed by the union with the drive module, the aluminium chassis,
which bears the drive, chassis and high-voltage battery.
State-of-the-art manufacturing processes ensure that the body
construction and assembly of the BMW i3 in Leipzig takes only about
half the time required for conventional vehicles.

BMW i3 as innovation driver for electric mobility and
lightweight construction.

The success of the BMW i3 and the experience gained in developing and
manufacturing it have significantly boosted progress in the fields of
electric mobility and lightweight construction. In this way the BMW i
brand has become the workshop of the future for the entire company.
The drive of the BMW i3s now also powers the MINI Cooper SE (fuel
consumption combined: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption:
16.8 – 14.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) to
provide purely electric driving joy. In addition, the gross energy
content of the high-voltage storage unit was almost doubled from
initially 22.6 to 42.2 kWh without changing its size. The range of the
BMW i3 thus increased to between 285 and 310 kilometres in the WLTP
test cycle.

Based on the know-how acquired with the BMW i3, numerous innovations
have also been achieved in the fields of drive, power electronics and
charging technology. The fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology is
now ready for series production. It is used, among other things, in
the new technology flagship of the BMW Group, the BMW iNEXT, which
will be manufactured at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing, with
components from the BMW plant Landshut, from 2021 onwards. The
high-tech material CFRP is for example now also contributing to
intelligent lightweight construction in the BMW 7 Series.

Leipzig as a location for the future: Battery module
production to start in 2021.

The BMW Group plant in Leipzig will continue to make a significant
contribution to expanding electric mobility in the future. The site
will become part of the BMW Group’s international production network
for battery modules as early as 2021. By 2022, the BMW Group will
invest more than 100 million euros in establishing battery module
production in Leipzig. In future, the lithium-ion cells supplied, will
be assembled into standardised modules in a highly automated process.
These will then be assembled together with the connections to the
vehicle, the control units and the cooling units in an aluminium
housing specific to each model. By 2022 more than 150 employees will
be working in the battery module production in Leipzig.

In this way, the expertise gained at this BMW i3 production site is
consistently used for manufacturing electrified vehicles in Germany.
The BMW Group plant in Leipzig, where in addition to the BMW i3,
models of the BMW 1 and 2 Series with conventional and plug-in hybrid
drive are also manufactured, is thus even more comprehensively
equipped for the “Power of Choice” approach in the company’s
model strategy in the future.

Pioneer for premium electric mobility in the city and for an
overall understanding of sustainability.

The BMW i3 was developed as a revolutionary new vehicle concept for
individual mobility in urban areas. With the BMW i3, the BMW Group has
provided significant impetus for change in the field of inner-city
transport, which has also inspired other car manufacturers to devote
more attention to electric mobility. Today, the BMW i3 is not only
still the best-selling premium car in its segment, but also a
world-renowned symbol of locally emission-free driving in the city and
for commuting between home and work.

According to a 2019 study by the German Automobile Club (ADAC),
customers benefit not only from ecological but also from significant
economic advantages. According to the calculations, the total costs
for a BMW i3 or BMW i3s are on average around 20 percent lower than
for a BMW model with a combustion engine that is comparable in terms
of engine performance and equipment. All expenditures for the
acquisition, operation and depreciation of the vehicles were taken
into account, with a holding period of five years each and a total
mileage of 75 000 kilometres. Thanks to the now increased state
subsidies for electrified vehicles, the lead of the BMW i3 and the BMW
i3s in terms of economy is currently even greater.

In addition, the BMW i3 represents a new understanding of premium
mobility, which is also strongly characterised by sustainability
beyond the purely electric drive. Its roof is made of recycled CFRP at
the BMW Group plant in Leipzig. Painting its plastic outer skin
requires 75 percent less energy and 70 percent less water compared to
conventional processes. 25 percent of the materials used for the
thermoplastic exterior parts were either recycled or produced from
renewable resources. A high proportion of renewable raw materials and
recycled materials is also used in the interior. Production of the BMW
i3 at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig is 100 per cent CO2
neutral. Wind turbines on the factory premises supply the electricity
required for production.

The outstanding life cycle assessment of the BMW i3 has already been
confirmed by an ISO certificate issued by independent auditors
immediately after its market launch. To this end, experts from TÜV Süd
analysed all relevant data and evaluations, from which the
environmental balance of the BMW i3 for the entire vehicle life cycle
was derived, from raw material extraction and production to use and
recycling. According to the study, the use of energy from the EU-25
electricity mix already resulted in a greenhouse gas potential reduced
by around 30 percent compared to similar vehicles with conventional
drive systems. When operated exclusively with regeneratively generated
energy, such as wind or solar power, the CO2 footprint was
even reduced by more than 50 percent.

Fuel consumption, CO2 emission figures and power
consumption were measured using the methods required according to
Regulation VO (EC) 2007/715 as amended. The figures are calculated
using a vehicle fitted with basic equipment in Germany, the ranges
stated take into account differences in selected wheel and tyre sizes
as well as the optional equipment. They may change during configuration.

The figures have already been calculated based on the new WLTP test
cycle and adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes. In these vehicles,
different figures than those published here may apply for the
assessment of taxes and other vehicle-related duties which are (also)
based on CO2 emissions.

For further details of the official fuel consumption figures and
official specific CO2 emissions of new cars, please refer
to the “Manual on the fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and
power consumption of new cars”, available at sales outlets, from
Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760
Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.

In case of queries, please contact:

Wieland Brúch,
Product Communication BMW i and Electromobility

Tel.: +49-89-382-72652

E-mail: wieland.bruch@bmwgroup.com

Kai Lichte,

Head of Communication BMW Group Plants Leipzig, Berlin, Eisenach

Tel.: +49-151-607-38000

E-mail: kai.lichte@bmwgroup.com

Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

Original Press Release

Posted on

Around the world in 24 hours: First Digital BMW Group Dialogue.

BMW:Around the world in 24 hours: First Digital BMW Group Dialogue.

Munich. On 5-6 October, BMW AG hosted the first
Digital BMW Group Dialogue with international guests from around the
globe. With stations in the Americas, Asia and Europe, the Dialogue
brought key stakeholders worldwide together for an extensive
discussion of “sustainability in the supply chain”. Dr Andreas Wendt,
member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, welcomed those watching
via livestream at the BMW Welt Future Forum.

Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG,
presented the company’s targets up to 2030 on 27 July. “The best cars
in the world are sustainable. That is why premium and sustainability
will be even more inextricably linked in the future,” said Zipse,
promising to anchor sustainability in all divisions – from
administration and purchasing to development and production, all the
way to sales. The emphasis was on concrete targets like CO2 reduction
by 2030 and responsible resource management. Reducing CO2 is a top
priority – and, for the first time, the entire lifecycle, from the
supply chain through production to the end of the use phase, will be
taken into account.

As part of the Digital BMW Group Dialogue, BMW AG conducted market
research that highlighted the growing significance of sustainability
to today’s society. For example, when buying a product, an
environmentally responsible supply chain is important to very
important for around 78% of those surveyed. Almost 90% also said they
avoid buying products with problematic value chains. These values give
an indication of how important and decisive the value chain is for a
large majority of the public.

Giving his assessment of the dialogues, Dr Andreas Wendt, member of
the Board of Management of BMW AG, commented that BMW Group
stakeholders and experts had clearly sparked ideas in each other.

The Digital BMW Group Dialogue continues the tradition of BMW
Dialogues, which have been held worldwide since 2011. Previous
Dialogues provided valuable insights and explored challenges and
solutions relating to the topic of corporate responsibility. The aim
is to create a comprehensive learning process, with constant further
development of ideas that can help achieve the desired sustainable
development goals.

Voices from the Americas Dialogue

Leah Butler (Executive Director, Responsible Business Alliance, USA):
“Sustainability is about long-term positive impacts for people and
planet. So, one of the key things with sustainability is how do we
take care of future generations.”

Patrick Hudde (Vice President, Raw Material Management, BMW AG): “Our
goal is to lead in this field and to have the most sustainable supply
chain in the automotive industry worldwide.”

Voices from the Asia Pacific Dialogue

Jack Wyse (Senior Digital Sourcing + Sustainability Analyst, John
Lewis + Partners Hong Kong): “The question is where do consumer want
to spend more? And I think there is a real intrinsic link for lot of
consumers between sustainability and quality. So, if we say we are
buying a sustainable product it’s also because we want a product
that’s actually a better product.”

Voices from the Europe and Africa Dialogue

Janne Werning (Head of ESG Capital Markets, Union Investment,
Germany): “From an investor perspective, we look at the risk profile
of a company and therefore the implementation and practice of
sustainability management within the supply chain is very important.”

Claudia Becker (Senior Expert, Supply Chain Management, BMW AG): “At
the BMW Group, we conduct a risk-based analysis of the raw materials
we are using to build a car. Currently, we focus on critical value
chains (such as cobalt and lithium), and we have a roadmap to reach 18
raw materials by 2030.”

 

Videos of the event can be found here: https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/responsibility/stakeholder-engagement/bmw-group-dialogue.html

If you have any questions, please contact:

 

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Kai Zöbelein

Press spokesperson Sustainability, Urban Mobility

Telephone: +40-89-382-21170

Mailto: Kai.Zoebelein@bmw.de

Media website: www.press.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

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

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Original Press Release