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Emission-free city centres: BMW eDrive Zones now available in 138 European cities.

BMW:Emission-free city centres: BMW eDrive Zones now available in 138 European cities.

Munich. The BMW Group is introducing its innovative
eDrive Zones in another 20 European cities, including Copenhagen,
Verona and Toulouse. This means that a total of 138 cities in Europe
are now benefiting from this trailblazing technology. The service is
expected to be rolled out in at least another 30 cities worldwide in
the coming year.

In an eDrive Zone, BMW plug-in hybrid vehicles automatically switch
to all-electric driving mode upon entering inner city areas. Then, the
plug-in hybrid models drive locally emission-free – just like purely
electric vehicles – and with low fuel costs, as electric motors are
much more efficient than combustion engines for driving in city
traffic. The vehicle recognises the designated areas using geofencing
technology and GPS. The automated eDrive feature is available as
standard in many existing and all future BMW plug-in hybrids. Drivers
are rewarded with bonus points for each all-electric kilometre driven
– and with double points in an eDrive Zone – which they can redeem for
charging credit. In turn, drivers also collect bonus points while
charging their vehicle.

The 20 latest cities to be added are: Aberdeen, Bregenz, Brescia,
Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Copenhagen, Cork, Coventry, Florence,
Klagenfurt, Lille, Matosinhos, Naples, Oeiras, Oxford, Sheffield, St.
Pölten, Toulouse and Verona.



More quality of life in inner cities thanks to eDrive Zones.

BMW eDrive Zones and the loyalty program for charging credit are a
success story – for inner city emissions levels and for drivers. An
overview of the usage data shows:

  • The eDrive Zones ensure higher electric driving shares by putting
    a BMW Plug-In Hybrid vehicle into electric driving mode around
    30,000 times per day in Europe.
  • More than 75% of all trips in an eDrive Zone are completed in
    electric driving mode already today. Of these, around 40 percent of
    drivers already enter the designated areas using the electric mode.
    Meanwhile, an additional 35 percent switch to electric driving mode
    using the eZone function. 
  • In the last quarter alone, BMW plug-in hybrid models drove an
    additional 3.3 million kilometers in electric driving mode within
    eDrive Zones. That is equivalent to more than 80 trips around the
    equator – electrically instead of previously using the combustion engine.
  • BMW Plug-In Hybrid customers have collected around 150 million
    points since the introduction of the first eDrive Zones in summer
    2020, which they can redeem as charging credit. These are equivalent
    to around 2.9 gigawatt hours of charging power. A BMW 3 Series
    Plug-In Hybrid can be charged almost 250,000 times from this amount.

Plug-in hybrids as important technology to meet the BMW Group
fleet target of 50% less CO2 emissions per kilometre by 2030.

As electric mobility gathers pace, the BMW Group has consciously
opted for fully electric models and plug-in hybrid technology. The
company offers a total of 17 plug-in hybrid models in 95 markets
worldwide. eDrive Zones will now enable the potential of this
technology to be leveraged even further: if the plug-in hybrid vehicle
is charged regularly, daily distances in particular can be covered
locally emission-free. This includes millions of daily commutes in
Europe, for example. In urban centres with high volumes of traffic,
plug-in hybrids make an important contribution towards reducing
CO2. Using this technology also cuts pollution and noise
and thus improves the quality of life in cities. Over their entire
life cycle, BMW plug-in hybrids have a demonstrably lower
CO2 impact than conventionally powered models, even when
charged with EU normal electricity instead of green electricity.

BMW plug-in hybrid vehicles have long offered considerable
benefits as compared to those with traditional drives:

  • Improved quality of life: In electric driving mode, users
    contribute to the reduction of emissions and traffic noise in cities.
  • Money saved: Electrically powered driving in the city costs less
    than running a car on petrol or diesel if the vehicle is charged at
    home or at work.
  • Always the right temperature when you get in: Auxiliary heating
    and air conditioning are standard features.
  • Brake and win: The battery is charged when slowing down. In
    conventional cars, this simply generates heat and wears down the brakes.
  • The best of both worlds: Plug-in-hybrid cars offer electrical
    driving pleasure in town and classic BMW driving pleasure over long
    distances. This means that they can cover a very wide range of
    applications and are ideal for e.g. single-car households.
  • Future-proof: Since plug-in hybrids are able to run without
    emissions, they enjoy privileges similar to those of all-electric
    vehicles, e.g. when parking in various cities.

Consistent advancement of BMW plug-in hybrid technology.

The market launch of the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer next year
marks the start of a broad roll-out of fifth-generation BMW plug-in
hybrids. It uses state-of-the-art components of the latest BMW Gen5
technology, such as the highly integrated e-drive unit, in which the
e-machine, transmission and power electronics are compactly combined
in a single body. This brings additional significant increases in
terms of efficiency and dynamics.

Positive overall CO2 balance for BMW plug-in hybrids.

Sometimes the “real” life cycle assessment of plug-in
hybrid vehicles is questioned, especially in markets with a low share
of green electricity in the public grid. For BMW plug-in-hybrid
models, the BMW Group has had CO2 certificates drawn up for
the entire cycle from raw material procurement, supply chain,
production and use phase to recycling.


When charging with European average electricity during the use
phase, the BMW  plug-in-hybrid models show substantial CO2
savings compared to their conventionally driven counterparts. The BMW
Group does not launch an electrified vehicle without proof of this kind.

List of cities with BMW eDrive Zones as of November 2021.

The benefits of the digital BMW eDrive Zone service can be
experienced in a large number of major European cities. The list will
be expanded in the future to include additional countries and cities,
so that the electric driving shares of plug-in hybrid models can be
increased further in a steadily growing number of city areas. In
Germany, many of the eDrive Zones are identical to the so-called
“Umweltzonen”.
Currently, eDrive Zones are available in the
following cities: Aachen, Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Augsburg,
Balingen, Barcelona, Basel, Bath, Belfast, Bergen, Berlin, Bern,
Birmingham, Bonn, Bordeaux, Braga, Breda, Bregenz, Bremen, Brescia,
Bristol, Bruges, Brussels, Cambridge, Cardiff, Charleroi, Copenhagen,
Cork, Coventry, Darmstadt, Den Haag, Dinslaken, Dublin, Düsseldorf,
Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Erfurt, Eschweiler, Firenze, Frankfurt am Main,
Freiburg im Breisgau, Geneva, Ghent, Glasgow, Gothenburg, Graz,
Groningen, Hagen, Halle (Saale), Hannover, Hasselt, Heidelberg,
Heidenheim an der Brenz, Heilbronn, Herrenberg, Ilsfeld, Innsbruck,
Karlsruhe, Klagenfurt, Köln, Krefeld, Langenfeld (Rheinland), Leipzig,
Leonberg, Leuven, Liège, Lille, Limburg an der Lahn, Limerick, Linz,
Lissabon, Liverpool, London, Ludwigsburg, Luxembourg, Luzern, Lyon,
Madrid, Magdeburg, Mainz, Malmö, Manchester, Mannheim, Marburg,
Marseille, Matosinhos, Milano, Mönchengladbach, Mons, Mühlacker,
München, Münster, Namur, Napoli, Neuss, Nürnberg, Oeiras, Offenbach am
Main, Oslo, Osnabrück, Overath, Oxford, Paris, Pfinztal, Pforzheim,
Porto, Regensburg, Remscheid, Reutlingen, Rome, Rotterdam, Ruhrgebiet,
Salzburg, Schramberg, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Sheffield, Siegen, St.Pölten,
Stavanger, Stockholm, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Tilburg, Toulouse,
Trondheim, Tübingen, Turin, Ulm, Uppsala, Urbach, Utrecht, Verona,
Vienna, Wendlingen am Neckar, Wiesbaden, Wuppertal, Zurich.

Original Press Release

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BMW M GmbH is setting marks for the start of the anniversary year.

BMW:BMW M GmbH is setting marks for the start of the anniversary year.

Munich. May 24, 2022 marks the 50th
anniversary of the foundation of BMW M GmbH. Almost a quarter of a
year earlier, the BMW Group subsidiary is already demonstrating a
sense of tradition and anniversary spirit on its current products.
Customers who opt for a BMW M automobile or a BMW model equipped with
an M Sport package with a production date from March 2022 can have
their vehicle’s front, rear and wheel hubs decorated with emblems
inspired by the classic “BMW Motorsport” logo. As an
alternative to the conventional BMW emblem, it signals passion for
racing and for the roots of the BMW M brand. This unique offer in the
history of BMW M will be available for order from the end of January 2022.

In addition to the emblems, 50 iconic and historically significant
BMW M paint finishes will be offered for selected models in the
anniversary year 2022. Style-defining colors such as Dakar Yellow,
Fire Orange, Daytona Violet, Macao Blue, Imola Red or Frozen Marina
Bay Blue refer to the various eras of BMW M’s 50-year history.

The BMW logo with the shifted semicircles in blue, violet and red was
first used in 1973 on the racing car of BMW Motorsport GmbH, which had
been established a year before. In 1978 and with the debut of the BMW
M1 the three color stripes slanted to the right and leaning on the
letter M followed. Even beyond the motorsport scene it became a
trademark with particularly high recognition value and identification
power. The legendary BMW M1 was the only BMW M high-performance
production vehicle to bear the historic motorsport emblem in addition
to the logo with the three color stripes. In both logos, the blue
stands for BMW, while the red symbolizes racing and the violet
expresses the connection between the two. In the meantime, the violet
has given way to a dark blue, and BMW Motorsport GmbH has been
operating under the name BMW M GmbH since 1993. Nothing has changed
the high symbolic power of the brand and logo. In its 50th
year of existence, the company is more successful than ever as the
world market leader in the performance and high-performance automotive segment.

“With the classic ‘BMW Motorsport’ emblem, we would like to
share our joy about the anniversary of BMW M GmbH with the fans of the
brand,” says Franciscus van Meel, Chairman of the Board of
Management of BMW M GmbH. “We have a great year ahead of us,
which will be celebrated with unique product highlights and exciting
performances. The M has long been considered the strongest letter in
the world, and in our company’s anniversary year it is stronger than ever.”

BMW M GmbH is also aiming for another sales record in 2021. Its
performance and high-performance automobiles are enjoying steadily
growing popularity worldwide, which will be fueled once again with new
product highlights in the anniversary year. For the first time, the
company is launching a BMW M3 Touring in the course of 2022. In
addition, particularly performance-oriented fans of the brand can look
forward to a spectacular special model of the BMW M4 Coupé series. The
successor model to the successful BMW M2 is also already at an
advanced stage of its series development process. In parallel, the
electrification of the BMW M brand is also being driven forward. In
the anniversary year, the first electrified high-performance model in
the history of BMW M GmbH will be launched.

BMW M GmbH will not only celebrate its anniversary with attractive
new products, but also with numerous events. Anniversary performances
are planned in May 2022 at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on
Lake Como in Northern Italy, followed by the Goodwood Festival of
Speed in Great Britain and the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach,
California. The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring is also a welcome
occasion for BMW M GmbH to review its own successful history together
with fans and to thrill them for the future of BMW M GmbH.

Original Press Release

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BMW M Motorsport News, 23rd November 2021.

BMW:BMW M Motorsport News, 23rd November 2021.

24 Hours of Sebring: ST Racing claims multiple titles in the
24H Series.

The 2021 season of the 24H Series drew to a close at the weekend with
the 24-hour race at Sebring (USA). The ST Racing team’s first year in
endurance racing proved to be an extremely successful one. The trio of
Samantha Tan (CAN), Chandler Hull and Jon Miller (both USA) won three
of the eight races in the GT4 class at the wheel of the BMW M4 GT4.
Tan, Hull and Chandler competed alongside Nick Wittmer (CAN) and
Bryson Morris (USA) at the 24 Hours of Sebring. They finished second
in the class, which was enough to earn ST Racing no fewer than six
titles in the 24H Series. The team won the Overall GT Teams and the
GT4 class Teams classifications. Tan, Hull and Miller were crowned
Overall GT Drivers and GT4 class Drivers champions, while Tan picked
up the titles in the GT4 Drivers GT Junior Cup and the GT Ladies Cup.

“We owe each and every member of our team a massive thank you for
consistently working hard and putting in their best effort throughout
the season to make it all happen,” Tan said. “It definitely wasn’t
easy and we had our fair share of disappointments, but we never gave
up and thankfully it all paid off in the end. Thank you also to BMW M
Motorsport and our partners.” Next season, ST Racing will compete in
the GT3 class, in which it will run the new BMW M4 GT3.

Another BMW M Motorsport team raced in the 24 Hours of Sebring with
the BMW M4 GT4, in the form of Team ACP – Tanger Associates. They also
made it onto the podium. Catesby Jones, Jim Norman, Josh Norman and
Ken Goldberg (all USA) finished third in the GT4 class.

Macau: BMW M4 GT4 triumphs at the Guia Circuit.

The iconic Guia Circuit in Macau (MAC) is traditionally the venue of
spectacular street racing each November. This was the case again last
weekend, with races in various different categories. They included the
MGM Greater Bay Area GT Cup, which featured five BMW M4 GT4s fielded
by BMW M Motorsport teams from Asia, and the BMW M4 GT4 was unbeatable
at the Guia Circuit. Two races were held on Saturday and Sunday. In
both races, Shan Chien Chang (TPE) claimed dominant victories in the
#88 BMW M4 GT4 run by Harmony Racing. The TORO Racing team also
claimed a further two podium results. In race one, Cheng Zun Chen
(CHN) finished runner-up in the #34 BMW M4 GT4. His team-mate Evan Hiu
Kong Mak (HKG / #99) was third in race two.

Super Taikyu Series: Season finale with the BMW M4 GT4 at Okayama.

The Okayama International Circuit (JPN) was the venue for the final
round of the 2021 Super Taikyu Series in mid-November. Among those in
action was Japanese BMW M Motorsport team SS/YZ Racing with Studie,
who competed in the #20 BMW M4 GT4. The car was again driven by
Tomohide Yamaguchi, Seiji Ara and Yuya Sakamoto (all JPN) at Okayama.
The trio ended the three-hour race in sixth place in the strong ST-Z class.

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Road Atlanta, Spartanburg, Sebring: BMW Junior Team concludes US tour with a 24-hour race in the BMW M4 GT3.

BMW:Road Atlanta, Spartanburg, Sebring: BMW Junior Team concludes US tour with a 24-hour race in the BMW M4 GT3.

Sebring. BMW M Motorsport and the BMW Junior Team ended two
eventful weeks in North America with the 24 Hours of Sebring (USA).
Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER) and Neil Verhagen (USA) started
with a visit to BMW Team RLL at Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta (USA).
This was followed by a tour of the BMW Group plant in Spartanburg
(USA), a trip to see Verhagen’s family at their home, and then the
test race with the new BMW M4 GT3 at Sebring International Raceway,
where Hesse and Verhagen competed alongside US drivers Bill
Auberlen, Robby Foley and James Clay. The race in the Creventic 24H
Series served as the final test for the new car at one of the
toughest circuits in the world. BMW M Motorsport also used the
weekend to hand over the new BMW M4 GT3 from the test crew at BMW
Team RMG to the North American teams.

 

BMW Junior Team on tour.

For Harper, Hesse and Verhagen, the USA trip began at the season
finale of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where they
accompanied the BMW works drivers and BMW Team RLL all weekend,
attended important meetings, and experienced the processes in a BMW M
Motorsports works programme at first hand. “We learned an awful lot in
the collaboration with BMW Team RLL and the BMW works drivers,” said
Hesse. “Plus, it was nice to be involved in the farewell race for the
BMW M8 GTE and sample the atmosphere at Road Atlanta.”

This was followed by a trip to the largest BMW Group plant in the
world, in Spartanburg, where the BMW Junior Team gained first-hand
insights into the production of BMW X models. “As we are representing
BMW as drivers, it was cool for us to see how production works in the
largest plant in the world in Spartanburg,” said Verhagen. “It is
huge, and we only saw a small part of it. Hopefully, we will return
sometime and check out some other areas. It was really fascinating.”

Harper, Hesse and Verhagen, together with their mentor Jochen
Neerpasch, who accompanied the BMW Junior Team throughout the entire
trip, then visited the BMW Car Club of America Foundation, which
possesses a fascinating exhibition of vintage BMW vehicles and other
BMW collectibles. A special wall drawing was dedicated to the
motorsport history of Jochen Neerpasch. The group saw out the evening
with a barbecue with Verhagen’s family, who live in Mooresville (USA)
near Spartanburg.

For Neerpasch and the Juniors, the trip to the USA marked the end of
two years together. “So far, the guys have exceeded the expectations
we had of them at the start, which were pretty high anyway,” said
Neerpasch. “All that they are missing is experience. They are already
setting lap times like those of the top drivers. They need more race
outings, and they are sure to get them next season.”

Harper was also positive in his appraisal of his time as a BMW Junior
so far: “We have come a long way since the first NLS race almost two
years ago. It is incredible how much we have learned in that time –
both as racing drivers and as people. Our training is hard, but it is
paying dividends. I think our results in the BMW M6 GT3 this season
have proved that.”

BMW M4 GT3 test outing under race conditions at Sebring.

Last weekend was all about the BMW M4 GT3 – not only for the BMW
Junior Team, but also for BMW M Motorsport. The 24 Hours of Sebring
was the final endurance test for the car, before it goes in search of
victories and titles from January 2022. When it does so, it will be in
the hands of private BMW M Motorsport teams, some of which are based
in North America.

For this reason, BMW M Motorsport took the opportunity at Sebring to
hand over the BMW M4 GT3 from the test crew, BMW Team RMG, to the US
teams, who will run the car in the coming season. Engineers and
mechanics from BMW Teams RMG and RLL worked together for the outing at
Sebring. The Turner Motorsport and BimmerWorld Racing teams were also
involved with drivers Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley and James Clay and
gained valuable experience with the new car.

The joint learning began with tests during the week and peaked with
the 24-hour race at one of the toughest circuits in the world, with
countless bumps that really put the car through its paces. After two
repairs, following collisions, and some minor issues during the race,
the BMW M4 GT3 crossed the finish line after 457 laps. Hesse and
Verhagen were the two Juniors who took part in the race. Harper was
only involved in the tests, as he is classed as a Gold driver, of
which only one may be registered per team. The Gold driver for this
race was Auberlen. “The circuit is different to the ones we are
familiar with in Europe,” said Hesse, summing up the test under race
conditions. “Unfortunately, there were two incidents in the race,
which resulted in long repairs. Apart from that, the BMW M4 GT3 did
very well. Racing here was a valuable experience.”

The American drivers drew a very positive conclusion. “The first
impression of the BMW M4 GT3 is that it looks fantastic,” said
Auberlen. “Then I drove it, and I can say that it is far better in
every area than the BMW M6 GT3. With a 24-hour race in Sebring, we put
the BMW M4 GT3 to the toughest test imaginable.”

Foley said: “A fantastic car. You can immediately feel the two years
of development that have been invested in the BMW M4 GT3. The systems
in the interior, with which the driver works, are a big step forward
compared to the BMW M6 GT3. The car is very user-friendly.”

This was backed up by Clay, who was driving a GT3 race car for the
first time in Sebring: “Given that the BMW M4 GT3 is far faster than
the GT4 cars I have driven previously, I found it very easy to adapt
to the car, as the car is very well thought out and easy to operate. I
was able to focus fully on the driving.”

The BMW M4 GT3 will contest its first race in the hands of BMW M
Motorsport teams in January 2022, at the 24 Hours of Dubai (UAE). This
will be followed by the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA) at the end of the
month. The detailed race programme for the BMW Junior Team will be
announced at a later date.

 

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Black Week 2021: Attractive offers from the BMW Group on digital products and services as well as selected vehicle functions.

BMW:Black Week 2021: Attractive offers from the BMW Group on digital products and services as well as selected vehicle functions.

Munich. The event that BMW customers have been
waiting for: the Black Week campaign is back again this year, from 24
to 30 November. Over this period, 18 markets in the BMW Group will be
offering discounts on digital services as well as selected vehicle
functions. Black Week has been a resounding success since it was held
for the first time in 2017, and rates as the BMW Group’s most
successful online sales campaign. In 2020, campaign week sales
increased by 57 per cent compared to the year before. The sales bump
provided by Black Week accounted for 8 per cent of the total digital
products and services sales for 2020. A total of 22,000 additional
sales were generated by BMW customers during these seven days. The
biggest sellers were the BMW Service Inclusive offering, the Connected
Booster Package and the High-beam Assistant option.

 

The countries taking part in the campaign this year are Germany, the
United Kingdom, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain, France, Italy,
Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Portugal, Czech Republic,
Japan, Denmark, Finland and Luxembourg. Depending on the country,
customers will be able to avail of price discounts of up to 30 per
cent on digital services that can be added following vehicle purchase.
The offers include the popular Connected Booster Package, which
encompasses a number of services, as well as individual services like
Apple Car Play®, which integrates the features of the iPhone into the vehicle.

A special highlight this year is the discount of up to 30 per cent on
the popular “BMW Service Inclusive” package, which is available in
nine markets. Customers pay a fixed amount once and are entitled to
all the services in the package during the period of cover of, say,
five years or up to 100,000 km.

Black Week is an important part of the consistent digitalisation
strategy employed by the BMW Group to offer its customers a host of
useful functions that can be added to a vehicle after purchase. In
this way, all BMW drivers can personalise their vehicle to their
specific needs in order to hack their lives with smart innovations.

Original Press Release

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BMW announces five-year agreement with the PGA TOUR and Western Golf Association to remain title sponsor of the BMW Championship.

BMW:BMW announces five-year agreement with the PGA TOUR and Western Golf Association to remain title sponsor of the BMW Championship.

  • BMW, the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association (WGA) set
    to continue the success story of the BMW Championship through to 2027.
  • The penultimate Playoff tournament features one of the best
    fields in the world, with the top 70 players in the FedExCup rankings.
  • BMW has served as the title sponsor of the BMW Championship
    since 2007 and has raised more than $40 million on behalf of the
    Evans Scholars Foundation.
  • Next year’s tournament takes place at Wilmington Country
    Club (US state of Delaware), before the event returns to Olympia
    Fields Country Club (Chicago, Illinois) in 2023.

Woodcliff Lake/Munich. BMW, the Western Golf Association (WGA)
and the PGA TOUR today signed a five-year extension of their long
and successful partnership. BMW will remain title sponsor of the BMW
Championship, which has been named PGA TOUR Tournament of the Year
on four occasions since it was first held in 2007, until 2027.

The BMW Championship will continue as the penultimate tournament in
the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, featuring 70 of the world’s best
players competing for the 30 places at the season-ending TOUR
Championship. Before BMW came on board as title sponsor, the
tournament was known as the Western Open and was first held in 1899,
making it one of the longest-running events on the PGA TOUR.

“For the past 15 years, we have worked with our partners at the PGA
TOUR and the Western Golf Association to host the top 70 players in
the world at what has become one of the best, and most exciting events
on the golf calendar,” said Sebastian Mackensen, president and CEO,
BMW of North America. “The BMW Championship is not only a great way to
showcase our brand and engage customers, but also a wonderful
opportunity to raise money for the Evans Scholars Foundation and help
so many young students to follow their dreams.”

Each year, proceeds from the BMW Championship benefit the Evans
Scholars Foundation, which provides full tuition and housing
scholarships for hard-working young caddies. Over the past 15 years,
the BMW Championship has raised more than $40 million on behalf of the
Evans Scholars Foundation and has helped send more than 3,000 students
to college. This academic year, a record 1,070 caddies are attending
21 major colleges and universities on Evans Scholarships.

“Since 2007, BMW has been our valued partner and a steadfast
supporter of both our championships and the Evans Scholars
Foundation,” said John Kaczkowski, WGA president and CEO. “As title
sponsor, BMW has fully embraced our mission, helping us transform the
Evans Scholars Foundation into a truly national program. We’re excited
and grateful for the opportunity to continue working together to
change the lives of youth caddies nationwide.”

PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan added: “We would like to express
our sincere thanks to BMW for their continued support of the PGA TOUR
and the Western Golf Association through 2027. The BMW Championship
played an incredibly impactful role in launching the FedExCup in 2007
and BMW’s commitment to presenting a best-in-class event each year
continues to elevate the FedExCup Playoffs.”

By extending its role as the title sponsor of the BMW Championship,
BMW also strengthens its worldwide commitment to the sport of golf.
This year, the company was Worldwide Partner of the Ryder Cup for the
first time, and BMW will continue in this role when Marco Simone Golf
& Country Club (Rome, Italy) hosts the Ryder Cup in 2023. The
premium automobile manufacturer will also continue to organise the BMW
International Open in Munich (Germany), and remains title sponsor of
the BMW PGA Championship in London (England) and the BMW Ladies
Championship in Busan (South Korea).

Original Press Release

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BMW SIM Racing crowns its champions and presents innovative new features at the end-of-season finale.

BMW:BMW SIM Racing crowns its champions and presents innovative new features at the end-of-season finale.

Munich. BMW SIM Racing broadcast the third edition of BMW SIM
Live on Saturday and Sunday live from BMW Welt in Munich (GER). This
was the end of the season grand sim racing finale at the event which
celebrated its debut back in 2019. For the first time, the final
races in the BMW SIM Cups were held on the three major simulation
platforms, iRacing, rFactor 2 and Assetto Corsa Competizione. The
titles went to Joshua Rogers (AUS, BMW SIM GT Cup, iRacing), Erhan
Jajovski (MKD, BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup, rFactor 2) and Nils Naujoks
(GER, BMW SIM Time Attack, Assetto Corsa Competizione). A total
prize purse of approaching 90,000 euros was up for grabs at the
weekend, however the focus of the two shows was also on the 2022 BMW
SIM Racing season and some fascinating technological innovations –
including an all-new motion platform in collaboration with D-BOX and
RaceX, as well as an entry-level steering wheel devised with Fanatec.

 

“Twice is a repeat, three times is tradition,” said Pia Schörner, BMW
Group Head of Gaming and Sponsoring. “That is exactly what we wanted
to achieve when we started to get involved in the sim racing and
Esports community. We want to be a long-term and reliable partner –
and that is what we are. Events like BMW SIM Live are a key element in
this. Congratulations to all the winners of the BMW SIM Cup finals!”

BMW SIM CUP FINALS.

On Saturday, the opening evening of BMW SIM Live was all about the
finals of the BMW SIM Time Attack on Assetto Corsa Competizione and
the BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup on rFactor 2. Both races were showdowns
between the twelve drivers who had qualified for the final over the
course of the season. On Sunday evening, the sim racing elite crowned
its champion in the BMW SIM GT Cup on the iRacing platform. 23 drivers
battled it out for victory in two races – first in the virtual BMW M8
GTE and then the BMW M4 GT3. The trophies for all three BMW SIM Cup
champions were designed by BMW Group Designworks and made from
sustainable materials, in line with the ‘circular design’ approach. At
the BMW Group, this is based on the four principles: RE:THINK,
RE:DUCE, RE:USE and RE:CYCLE.

BMW SIM Time Attack.

Nils Naujoks was the winner after 20 minutes of racing in the BMW M4
GT4 on the digital Silverstone circuit, being awarded prize money of
8,000 euros. Second place and 4,000 euros went to Daniel Savini (ITA),
with third place and 2,000 Euros to Tobias Pfeffer (GER).

Nils Naujoks said: “This was the reward for all the hard work in the
week preparing for this race. I really feel at home at Assetto Corsa
Competizione. It was a bit hectic for me in qualifying and also before
the start but the race itself went very well.”

BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup.

Thirteen rivals competed against each other in the BMW M2 CS Racing
on the virtual Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Erhan Jajovski was the
winner after a dramatic battle that lasted to the final corner. With
this victory, he successfully defended last year’s title and secured
prize money of 6,000 euros. Marcell Csincszik (HUN) had to admit
defeat by only a narrow margin, but by finishing second was rewarded
with prize money of 3,000 euros. Third place and 1,500 Euros went to
Jiri Toman (CZE).

Erhan Jajovski said: “It has always been very close between Marcell
and me this season and that was also the case in this final race. I
was surprised that he did not attack me earlier in the race as we
always were very close behind each other. In the end I was lucky, I
think. I very well defended the inside line in the final corner and am
very happy about my victory.”

BMW SIM GT Cup.

Coming from P5 on the grid after the first race of the evening with
the BMW M8 GTE on the Sebring International Raceway, which determined
the starting positions for the Main Race at the virtual Red Bull Ring,
defending champion Joshua Rogers stormed through the high-class field
with his BMW M4 GT3 and took the win as well as 25,000 US Dollars of
prize money. P2 went to his Coanda Simsport teammate Charlie Collins
(GBR), who will receive a 15,000-US dollar cheque for his success.
Team Redline driver Diogo Pinto (POR) finished third to gain 7,500 US Dollars.

Joshua Rogers said: “I was very nervous before the race, especially
because our starting position wasn’t ideal. For me coming in for my
pitstop early made sense in order to stay out of trouble and get some
clean air afterwards. This undercut worked in the end. I pushed really
hard until I could see that my strategy would play out, as soon as the
others came in for their pitstops. Then a gained a lot more confidence.”

—

BMW SIM TECHNOLOGY: BMW HAPTIC PLATFORM AND FANATEC CSL
STEERING WHEEL BMW.

The big technological innovation for the coming season is the BMW
haptic platform, which BMW SIM Racing has developed in collaboration
with D-BOX and RaceX. Exclusive know-how from BMW Motorsport’s
professional racing simulator is incorporated in the moving platform
for sim rigs. BMW SIM technology motion cueing, in particular, takes
the quality of the BMW haptic platform to a new level. ‘Motion cueing’
is a translation of the driving dynamic values arising from the
simulation environment into ‘cues’ – transformed stimuli that provide
the driver, as precisely and realistically as possible, with
information on what the virtual car is doing at that moment,” said
Rudolf Dittrich, Head of BMW SIM Technology. “In short, the better the
motion cueing, the more realistically the sim racer feels the
movements of the haptic platform. This not only hugely improves the
driving experience – the so-called immersion – but also helps to drive
the vehicle at the limit and to develop the vehicle set-up more accurately.”

Sébastien Mailhot, CEO of D-BOX Technologies Inc., said: “D-BOX
prides itself in creating the world’s only high-fidelity haptic
feedback experience worthy of the FIA’s official stamp of approval.
Combined with BMW’s unparalleled attention to details and knowledge,
we have been able to tinker with the feedback even more precisely,
which allowed us to craft the most accurate sim racing experience,
rivaling what only multi-million dollar simulators are capable of
doing today.”

Richard Schouteren, CEO of SIM-LAB B.V., added: “We are proud that
BMW has chosen our RaceX branded frame as basis for this new motion
platform. Our long-lasting partnership with D-BOX injected with the
professional BMW sports simulation software make this an unprecedented
ride for the e-racing community.”

As well as the BMW haptic platform, BMW SIM Racing has also been
involved in another hardware project. In conjunction with Fanatec,
they have come up with an entry-level sim racing steering wheel that
offers newcomers to the sport the highest possible quality at an
attractive price of 139.95 euros. The steering wheel is called the
Fanatec CSL Steering Wheel BMW and is available in the Fanatec online
shop now. This product once more pays testament to the BMW SIM Racing
principle to not only support and promote top-level sim racing, but
also to give any digitally interested racing enthusiast the
opportunity to experience this Esports discipline.

—

BMW SIM RACING NEWS.

As at the first two events, BMW Esports again used BMW SIM Live to
introduce its programme for the coming season, present news about
BMW’s sim racing project, and inspire with technological innovations.

 

Cups, teams and cars.

In 2022, victories and titles are again at stake in the BMW SIM GT
Cup and BMW SIM Time Attack. The BMW M4 GT3 is the only car in the BMW
SIM GT Cup on iRacing. The BMW SIM Time Attack on Assetto Corsa
Competizione features the full range of virtual BMW M Motorsport cars
– from the BMW M2 CS Racing and the BMW M4 GT4 to the BMW M4 GT3. New
to the programme is the BMW SIM Trophy, in which drivers from all over
the world can win trophies in different cars and on different
platforms, which are then presented at BMW SIM Live 2022.

BMW Team Redline, BMW Team BS+COMPETITION and BMW Team G2 Esports
will line up as BMW SIM Racing teams at the major events on various
platforms in 2022.

The virtual BMW M4 GT3, which was a big success on iRacing in 2021,
will also be available on Assetto Corsa Competizione from 24th
November and in the mobile game Real Racing 3 in 2022. There will be a
completely new car on rFactor 2 in 2022, the BMW Formula Pro. BMW is
the first manufacturer to present an initial concept for a special car
design for this virtual championship. The free areas of the BMW
Formula Pro car were designed by BMW Group Designworks. “In the
virtual world, designers have the freedom to present things that were
physically impossible up to now,” said Michael Scully, Global
Automotive Director at BMW Group Designworks, describing the appeal of
this task.

 

About BMW Esports.

BMW has been collaborating with five of the world’s best teams as a
partner in the classic League of Legends game since 2020. Cloud 9,
FNATIC, FunPlus Phoenix, G2 Esports and T1 fly the BMW colours in the
biggest events in the industry. The highlight of the first
collaborative season in 2020 was the Worlds, in which G2 esports and
FNATIC made it to the knock-out stage of the finals in the battle of
the world’s best teams. G2 Esports even made it to the semi-final. The
Dota 2 specialists OG Esports are a new addition to the ‘United in
Rivalry’ squad as of 2021. The involvement in Esports gives BMW
completely new touch points with a dynamic, rapidly growing community;
making Esports an important future field for BMW marketing activities.
BMW has prominent representatives in sim racing as well, and has
integrated BMW SIM Racing into its racing programme as a standalone
pillar. The BMW SIM Cups attract the world’s best sim racers, who do
battle for wins, titles and attractive cash prizes in virtual BMW
racing cars. BMW SIM Racing teams are taking part for the first time
in 2021. BS+COMPETITION, G2 Esports, Team GB and Team Redline
represent BMW on various simulation platforms.

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 2020, the BMW Group sold over 2.3 million
passenger vehicles and more than 169,000 motorcycles worldwide. The
profit before tax in the financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on
revenues amounting to € 98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the
BMW Group had a workforce of 120,726 employees. The success of the BMW
Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible
action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage
and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource
management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain
through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

About D-BOX.

D-BOX creates and redefines realistic, immersive entertainment
experiences by moving the body and sparking the imagination through
effects: motion, vibration and texture. D-BOX has collaborated with
some of the best companies in the world to deliver new ways to enhance
great stories. Whether it’s movies, video games, music, relaxation,
virtual reality applications, themed entertainment or professional
simulation, D-BOX creates a feeling of presence that makes life
resonate like never before. D-BOX Technologies Inc. (TSX: DBO) is
headquartered in Montreal with offices in Los Angeles, USA and
Beijing, China. Visit D-BOX.com.

About SIM-LAB.

SIM-LAB B.V. is a leading manufacturer of high-quality sim racing
related hardware. SIM-LAB’s drive is to enhance virtual racing
experiences with uncompromising solutions that push the boundaries of
e-sports. With in-house engineering and production facilities we
combine Dutch Design with high-end craftsmanship. The RaceX frame is
composed of 50 mm diameter tubes of aluminum welded together, forming
an extremely rigid single-piece frame. Assembly of the Cockpit is done
within moments by attaching the wheel-deck and pedal-deck. Because of
the choice of material, the aluminum tube sub-frame weighs eight
kilograms, which makes it the perfect platform for the BMW motion solution.

Original Press Release

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Podium for Michael van der Mark and the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team at season finale in Indonesia.

BMW:Podium for Michael van der Mark and the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team at season finale in Indonesia.

Mandalika. Strong performance at the finale in Indonesia: the
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and Michael van der Mark (NED) have
rounded off the 2021 season in the FIM Superbike World Championship
(WorldSBK) with a podium finish. The Dutchman rode his BMW M 1000 RR
to third place in a rainy second race on Sunday. In the first race,
van der Mark had finished sixth in largely dry conditions. Tom Sykes
(GBR) completed the two races on the Mandalika International Street
Circuit in tenth and fifth positions. Heavy rainfall caused severe
schedule delays at the season finale.

 

In the Superpole on Saturday morning, Sykes secured sixth spot on the
grid with van der Mark in ninth place on the third row. Extremely
heavy rainfall started just before the scheduled start of the first
race on Saturday afternoon and the conditions made it impossible for
any racing to take place on Saturday. The schedule was changed to
include two long races on Sunday.

The start of race one on Sunday morning was delayed by 15 minutes due
to a rain shower. However, the riders were able to start on dry tyres.
Van der Mark fell back a little at the start but worked his way
forward to reach fifth place at the halfway point of the race. He then
dropped down one place in the closing phase, crossing the line in
sixth position. Sykes made a good start to move into fourth place and
was briefly in third. From lap two onwards, he maintained his position
in fifth before falling back in the second half of the race to cross
the finish line in tenth position.

As had happened on the previous day, the rain arrived just as the
second race was about to begin on Sunday afternoon. The start was
delayed by more than one and a half hours and the race was shortened
to twelve laps. Van der Mark immediately moved up into the top 5 and
was involved in a thrilling duel for third place on the wet circuit
with new world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR / Yamaha). Van der
Mark prevailed in this battle, claiming another podium finish to round
off the season. It was a strong end to a weekend during which van der
Mark had struggled with gastrointestinal problems. Sykes fell back a
little at the start but was back in fifth place after a few laps. He
crossed the finish line in this position.

The races in Mandalika were the last in which Sykes and BMW Motorrad
Motorsport competed together, marking the end of three years of
working together. From 2019 to 2021, Sykes competed in 90 races for
the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, claiming six podium finishes and three
pole positions.

“After having the pleasure to experience such successes together in
the past years, I would like to thank Tom on behalf of BMW Motorrad”,
said Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad. “I remember when we
announced our reborn World Superbike project together at EICMA 2018
and started a great journey. Beginning with the S and implementing the
M RR, we are very thankful for his contribution to the development of
the bike. Podiums and several pole positions have underpinned his effort.”

Quotes after the Mandalika season finale.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “That
was a very moving weekend. It was a bit of a tricky start as Mickey
was pretty ill. He was very weak, so we reduced the number of laps for
him in the practice session to give him a break. It was also an
emotional weekend, as it was the final weekend with Tom on the BMW.
Then we had that Saturday, when extreme weather conditions prevented
the race from taking place. Absolutely torrential rain made racing
impossible but it did give Mickey some more time to recover. Both
riders did a good job in qualifying, with Tom in sixth and Mickey
ninth on the grid, which gave us a really good starting position for
the races. Mickey was able to convert that really well into sixth
place in the first race, although he was struggling with fitness at
the end of the race. He may otherwise have been able to do a bit
better. Tom had problems with his front tyres and then fell back to
tenth position. That was also not so satisfying for him. However, the
result in race two was really excellent. It was great to round off the
season with a podium for Mickey and a really good fifth place for Tom.
It’s lovely for him to get that result in his final race for our team
and I would like to thank him again for all the work he has
contributed to this project and the successes he has recorded for us.
I wish him all the best for the future. I would also like to
congratulate Pata Yamaha and Toprak on winning the title – respect. It
was wonderful to be here at the Mandalika International Street Circuit
on Lombok. We got a great reception here, from BMW Indonesia too, and
the atmosphere is phenomenal. Races like this definitely belong in the
world championship. Overall, that was certainly a satisfying season
for us. Compared to last year, we have taken a big step forward.
Mickey needed a bit of time to get a really good feel for the BMW, but
he produced some great races towards the end of the season. He
improved continually in qualifying too. We made regular modifications
to the motorbike as it was the first year with the BMW M 1000 RR for
us too. Results improved towards the end of the year and we were able
to close the gap to the leaders in the races as well. It is definitely
a positive trend and we are aiming to continue in this direction next
year. I am confident that we can then take the next step.”

 

Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team:
“I think Tom did a really good job. He has come back from a a
nine-week lay-off and it was also his farewell ride on the BMW M 1000
RR. So a lot of emotions for Tom. He handled it superbly well,
professional as he is. He went out there, qualified well in sixth
position and to end up with fifth in the final race is testament of
his quality. Mickey has not been feeling well all weekend and he
started really slowly with very limited laps. In one respect I think
the rain has probably helped his performance this weekend because of
his physical strength but, after a delayed start, he had a strong race
one and an even stronger race two. He just proved that he is still a
force in the wet and we are looking forward to get the opportunitiy to
get these podiums also in the dry conditions. So, great job by Mickey
and the whole team to finish off with a podium. In the 2021 season, we
had our ups and downs. Of course the biggest down of the year was
Tom’s serious crash. It has been quite a problematic year for us in
the sense that it started so late in a very compressed series and then
two fly-aways at the very end that came very late. But overall it has
not been too bad. We’ve had a win and some podiums and I like to look
at the positives, and the fact that Mickey is 20-something points off
being fourth in the championship. I think that should really be
applauded because for his first year on the bike that’s fantastic. We
know he can only get better so maybe he can be in the top-3 next year.
So that’s the positive for me. I want to thank Tom for his efforts, he
has been a great team member. Right from the end of 2018 when we
signed him he was a pillar of the team, he got the initial results and
drove the team into the right direction with his experience. We hope
that he can get his chance again in WorldSBK and prove his credentials
and, whatever he does, we wish him well. He will always be part of
this success and this chapter of the WorldSBK project.”

 

Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team:
“Race one this morning was quite fun. At the start, it was a
bit wet here and there and this track has quite a lot of grip with
slicks in the wet patches. So I was enjoying the first part of the
race and thought I could be battling for the front but then it started
to dry pretty quick. I was battling for fifth, fourth position,
feeling good and my pace was okay but I was still not feeling well. At
the end of the race I was frustrated because I ran out of energy and I
lost another position. I was really angry about that but I had to deal
with it. Then race two unfortunately was postponed but it was the
right decision. When we went racing, the track was fully wet and it
was still raining a little bit. I knew that the track would have a lot
of grip and these 12 laps I think were long enough. I had a good start
and okay first laps. It was so much fun and at a certain point I was
battling with Toprak. We had some really nice battles on track, it
went back and forward and I really enjoyed it. To finish the season
with third place is incredible, it is always nice to finish the season
on the podium and especially knowing we had so much fun. I think the
season has been quite good but we want to make steps forward this
winter to be able to fight for the podium more often and also in the dry.”

 

Tom Sykes, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It was
fantastic to finally get back in the racing arena. Honestly, after the
accident that I had and the break of nine weeks to come back here to
competition I think was a tall ask and working with the guys is always
a pleasure. I got settled in right away on the circuit in Mandalika.
They have done a fantastic job, so to come here to this great track at
this venue at this part of the world is already a pleasure and, as the
weekend progressed, to qualify on the second row was already quite
good, I think. Into race one, we got a good start and we were at the
back of the leading bunch but just couldn’t manage that with some
limitations I had with the package so I unfortunately dropped back and
then made some mistakes myself. But regarding race two, fantastic. The
surface is great in the wet conditions. There was another delay but
there was great support from the crowd in the grandstand and finally
we were able to get another race in front of those guys. I think it
was a great race from a spectacle point of view. I enjoyed the racing
and the grip the track offered in the wet. In general, the 2021 season
was bitter-sweet for obvious reasons. At the start, we were not quite
where we needed to be in terms of development and we had some issues,
but I still was the strongest BMW rider. Donington was great for me,
Mickey and BMW. This was probably the highlight of the season.
Development was always difficult; we tried to do that during the
events and race at the same time but it’s always a pleasure to work
with the guys and we gave our best. When I came to the project three
years ago, I joined a fantastic brand and I was happy to be part of
the BMW team. We had some great success in the first year considering
where we were at. In year two, we unfortunately had some technical
DNFs and stuff. Unfortunately, the only concern I have in these three
years is that I don’t think we ever got to see Tom Sykes’s full
potential in a race. The only glimpse we have ever seen was in
qualifying. But for me and the team and mainly for BMW I was really
hoping we could get the package so I could show my qualifying
performance over 21 laps. That is the biggest thing I have missed in
these three years but we tried, had some good results, and I have to
thank everyone involved for the efforts and appreciate the work.”

Original Press Release

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Informative, interactive and always there: Digital vehicle information by smartphone app.

BMW:Informative, interactive and always there: Digital vehicle information by smartphone app.

Munich. The Driver’s Guide app provides BMW and MINI customers with
complete and interactive vehicle information for their vehicles on
their smartphone or tablet computer. The app is available for download
free of charge in more than 30 languages and more than 55 markets in
the Apple and Google app stores. With almost 4 million downloads and a
score of 4.6 out of 5 stars in the Apple App Store, for example, it is
one of the most successful BMW apps. In addition to the latest vehicle
information, manuals are also available as PDF documents for buyers of
old used vehicles.

After downloading the app and entering the vehicle identification
number, the customers receive the vehicle information that matches
their vehicle. An internet connection is only required once for the
download. Then the content is available offline for an unlimited
period. BMW and MINI customers who have already registered their
vehicle in the My BMW/MINI app can log in to the Driver’s Guide app
via a direct link and without having to re-enter their vehicle
identification number.

Optimum comprehensibility due to animations, how-to videos and
smart scan

In addition to a quick reference and detailed vehicle information,
the Driver’s Guide app also includes an FAQ section, a search function
for text and images and the option of inserting bookmarks for
frequently used functions. The app explains the particularly
innovative vehicle functions using photo-realistic animations. A link
to the How-to
area of the BMW YouTube channel provides more explanations in the
form of short video clips in English with subtitles.

A “360° view” function with interactive information also
allows drivers to explore their BMW or MINI from the outside and
inside. Users of an Apple iPhone can also use the “Smart
Scan” function in combination with the camera of their
smartphone. With it, the Driver’s Guide app recognises symbols or
texts of the function keys in the vehicle interior and automatically
provides the corresponding explanations. The better drivers are
familiar with their vehicle, the more confidently they will react in
traffic.

Original Press Release

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BMW Group Plant Spartanburg to Expand Plant Logistics Operations

BMW:BMW Group Plant Spartanburg to Expand Plant Logistics Operations

+++ Includes a $100 Million Investment in a New One Million Square
Foot Facility +++ Training center to be completed in summer 2022 +++
More than 11.4 billion US dollars total investment in the site since
1992 +++

Spartanburg, S.C.  BMW Manufacturing announced that
it will expand its logistics operations to a new building . Total
investment in the new building is approximately $100 million. When
completed, the new logistics center will be nearly one million square
feet in size with an opportunity for future expansion.

“For nearly three decades, BMW has called South Carolina its second
home. This expansion in our logistics operation represents our
continued commitment to this state, and it will prepare Plant
Spartanburg for the future,” said Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president and
CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “The new warehouse will allow us to
consolidate our logistics processes as well as implement efficiency
measures for a more sustainable logistics operation.” 

When the new logistics center opens in the middle of 2022, it will
allow BMW to consolidate two offsite warehouse operations – one for
returnable containers and another for body shop parts – into one
efficient onsite location. Inside the warehouse, shipments from
suppliers will be sorted, then delivered to their respective Plant
Spartanburg technologies. The result is a faster, leaner, more
efficient supply chain.

To minimize the impact of truck traffic in the area and allow for
easy access to BMW, two private bridges will be constructed to connect
the logistics center to the BMW campus.

Update on New BMW Training Center

Construction is well underway on the new $20 million, 67,000 square
foot training center on the BMW campus, which was announced in
February. When completed in the summer of 2022, the building will
feature multiple classrooms for both professional development and
technical training, an outdoor amphitheater, and a unique concept of
outdoor meeting and workspace that includes wireless capabilities. The
training center will also be home to BMW’s well-known apprenticeship
program – BMW Scholars. 

Since 1992, the BMW Group has invested more than $11.4 billion in its
South Carolina factory. BMW Group Plant Spartanburg is the largest BMW
Group plant in the world, producing more than 1,500 vehicles each day.
The plant exports more than two-thirds of its models to 125 global
markets. For seven consecutive years, it has been the largest exporter
by value in the United States. The model portfolio includes five
top-selling BMW X models, four Motorsport X models, and two plug-in
hybrid electric X models. The factory has a production capacity of up
to 450,000 vehicles and employs more than 11,000 people.

Original Press Release