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“BMW i offers visionary cars and
services, inspiring design, and an entirely new concept of
premium mobility – all with a focus on sustainability”,
explained Robertson. The BMW i brand comprises vehicles and
services developed since 2007 as part of project i, a BMW Group
think tank exploring sustainable mobility solutions. It is the
BMW Group’s response to changing customer needs, including
increasing demand for alternative drive trains, such as electric
drive systems and hybrids. There is a widespread desire in
megacities for solutions which intelligently combine the
benefits of various mobility concepts in a single package.
Revolutionary vehicle concepts
“With BMW i, we are building on
the success and strength of our core brand,” emphasised
Robertson. The BMW i3– previously known as the Megacity Vehicle
– will be the BMW Group’s first series-produced car for urban
areas to be driven by electric power alone. The BMW i8,
meanwhile, is based on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept
study. Its plug-in hybrid drive blends the sporting ability of a
high-performance machine with the fuel consumption and emissions
of a small car.
Both models are based on a
revolutionary construction concept known as LifeDrive
architecture. An aluminium chassis houses the powertrain, and
the passenger cell consists of high-strength but extremely
lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). “Both cars
have been designed specifically for their respective alternative
drive systems. We used the innovative architecture and CFRP to
cancel out practically all of the extra weight added by the
batteries. For our customers this means superior driving
dynamics combined with significantly increased range using
electric power,” explains Klaus Draeger, BMW Board member
responsible for development.
BMW i8 to be built in Leipzig
Like the BMW i3, the BMW i8 will
also be manufactured at BMW’s Leipzig plant. Around 400 million
euros will be invested in new plant facilities and some 800 jobs
will be created up to 2013. Development and production synergies
will be achieved through both vehicles using the same component
sets for the electric motors, power electronics, and
high-voltage lithium-ion batteries.
A range of vehicle-independent
services
An additional range of mobility
services – which can also be used independently of the cars –
will be an integral component of BMW i. This will allow the
creation of a new, profitable area of business over the long
term and attract new customers to the company’s brands.
“Mobility requirements are
changing in rapidly expanding megacities” adds Ian Robertson.
“Our commitment to car-enabled mobility services, like BMW
ConnectedDrive, will be significantly expanded under BMW i.
We’ll also grow our car-related premium mobility services.
What’s truly groundbreaking is that we’ll begin offering
car-independent premium mobility services. BMW i aims to provide
customized mobility solutions across a seamless network of
premium products and premium services.” The focus is on
solutions which will improve usage of existing parking spaces,
as well as intelligent navigation systems with local
information, intermodal route planning, and premium car-sharing.
In addition to services developed
in-house, the BMW Group is pursuing collaborations with partner
companies and exploring strategic capital investments in
providers of mobility services. To this end, the venture capital
company BMW i Ventures has the goal to expand the range of
products and services offered by BMW i in the long term by
taking stakes in highly innovative service providers.
New York-based My City Way is the
first company in which BMW i Ventures has taken a stake. Of the
partnership, Ian Robertson said, “I am thrilled to announce that
we have just signed our first strategic partnership with My City
Way. As a mobile app, My City Way provides users with
information on public transportation, parking availability, and
local entertainment for over 40 cities in the US. Another 40
cities will be part of the global rollout, including Munich, of
course.”
Photo: BMW
(Feb. 21, 2011)
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