Midrand. BMW Group South Africa hosted its annual Retailer of the Year Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel, The Westcliff in Johannesburg, celebrating the achievements of its national retail network and recognising the retailers who continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences across the country.

Held under the theme “A New Dimension”, the event highlighted the important role of BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad retailers in strengthening the brands’ leadership position in the premium automotive segment while navigating an evolving and increasingly competitive market.

Opening the evening, Peter van Binsbergen, Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group South Africa, acknowledged the contribution of the retailer network to the company’s continued success.

“Our retail partners bring our strategy to life every day in showrooms and workshops across South Africa. They are the face of BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad and the driving force behind the premium experiences our customers expect from our brands,” said van Binsbergen.

Based on 2026 Naamsa data, BMW South Africa achieved its highest-ever growth in the premium segment, holding a 46% market share. The locally produced BMW X3 remains a key contributor to this success. Manufactured at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn and exported to markets around the world, the BMW X3 continues to demonstrate the strength of South African manufacturing within BMW Group’s global production network.

At the same time, BMW Group continues to accelerate its transition toward sustainable mobility. Electrified vehicles remain a strategic priority, with BMW Group South Africa maintaining a leading position in the premium battery electric vehicle segment.

“As the automotive landscape evolves, our strategy remains clear,” said van Binsbergen. “We do not compete purely on price. We compete on engineering excellence, brand heritage, customer trust and exceptional retail experiences. Our retailers play a critical role in building the relationships that turn customers into lifelong fans of our brands.”

Recognising the importance of these relationships, BMW Group South Africa introduced a new award category at this year’s awards: the CEOs Award, which for this year focused in on turning customers into fans. The award celebrates individuals, teams or organisations that go beyond expectations to create memorable customer experiences that strengthen brand loyalty.

The inaugural recognition was awarded to the Gauteng Chapter of BMW Car Clubs Africa in acknowledgement of their long-standing contribution to the BMW enthusiast community and their role in bringing together passionate owners and fans of the brand.

The awards programme itself also saw an important update in 2025 with the introduction of the Best Retailer in Focus Models Award. This new category combines the previous high-performance BMW M and luxury awards into a single recognition, highlighting the importance of BMW’s high-performance and focus models within the product portfolio.

Retailer performance in this category is measured across the year, recognising results above target in both BMW M and luxury sales.

The winners of the 2025 Retailer of the Year Awards are as follows:

Retailer of the Year:

BMW Midrand (large), BMW Stellenbosch (small-medium), MINI Midrand, BMW Motorrad Montana

Best Retailer in Sales:

BMW Midrand (large), BMW Constantia (small-medium), MINI Cape Town City (large), BMW Motorrad East Rand

Best Retailer in Focus Model:

BMW Durban South

Financial Services Retailers of the Year:

BMW Midrand (large), BMW Durban City (small-medium), MINI Constantia, BMW Motorrad Mbombela

Best Retailer in Customer Support:

BMW Pinetown (large), BMW Richards Bay (small-medium), MINI Midrand, BMW Motorrad Stellenbosch

Best Retailer in Corporate Social Responsibility:

SMG

The annual Retailer of the Year Awards remain a cornerstone of BMW Group South Africa’s recognition programme, celebrating excellence across sales, customer experience and operational performance within the retailer network.

“As we look to the future, the automotive industry will continue to transform,” concluded van Binsbergen. “Electrification will accelerate, customer expectations will evolve and competition will intensify. But together with our retail partners, we will continue to explore new opportunities and strengthen BMW Group South Africa’s position in the premium segment.”

Midrand. BMW Group South Africa hosted its annual Retailer of the Year Awards, recognising exceptional performance across the BMW, MINI, and BMW Motorrad retailers during 2023. An embodiment of the brand’s culture of excellence, the event showcased the achievements of its retailer network in seven award categories.

The awards evening took place at The Capital Zimbali Resort in Durban on Saturday, 2 March. BMW Group South Africa brand ambassador Jo-Ann Strauss led the ceremony that celebrated performance across sales, financial services, customer support and social responsibility.

In the second year since its introduction as a standalone award, the social responsibility category was won by BMW Bryanston. With significant impact in contributing towards the educational needs of disadvantaged South African youth, the retailer champions initiatives that build its communities.    

“The Retailer of the Year Awards highlight the valuable expertise and diligent initiative of BMW Group South Africa’s retail partners for the year. As BMW Group South Africa, we are proud of our retailers who deliver outstanding results because of the true dedication and team spirit that our brand culture embraces. We would like to congratulate all category winners and extend our appreciation to the entire retail network for their hard work and support in the 2023 year,” Peter van Binsbergen, CEO of BMW Group South Africa says.

2023 Retailer of the Year winners include:

Retailer of the Year

BMW Midrand (large), BMW Nelson Mandela Bay (small-medium), MINI Midrand, and BMW Motorrad Montana

Best Retailer in Sales

BMW Durban South (large), BMW Ballito (small-medium), MINI Sandton, and BMW Motorrad Montana

Best M-Sales Retailer

BMW Durban South

Best Retailer in Financial Services

BMW Midrand (large), BMW Pinetown (small-medium), MINI Midrand, and BMW Motorrad Mbombela

Best Retailer in Customer Support 

BMW Umhlanga (large), BMW Pinetown (small-medium), MINI Midrand, and BMW Motorrad Rustenburg

In his response to winning the top title in sales consecutively, Matthew Vermaak, Dealer Principal at MINI Sandton comments, “It is a pleasure to lead this team, whose continued passion and dedication make my job easy. Having won MINI Sales Retailer of the Year for the third consecutive year, I would like to congratulate the team for their outstanding representation of our products and services.”

Luke Dreyer, Dealer Principal at BMW Midrand comments, “We are building significant financial insight, experience and ecosystems, and have been doing so consistently over the years, winning in the financial services category. Thank you to all our colleagues who help our customers navigate a changing economic environment and world. Together, we can continue to create inclusive growth here and for the communities the BMW brand serves.”      

“Congratulations to our exceptional team for their unwavering commitment to exceeding our customers' expectations, earning us this esteemed accolade. At Supertech, we are dedicated to personalising customer experiences, ensuring each interaction meets our customers’ needs. This award is a testament to our ongoing efforts to redefine standards and elevate service excellence,” says Rudolf Avallone, Dealer Principal at BMW Pinetown, after winning the title in the customer support small and medium category for the second year in a row.

ENDS

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Angela Konert

Head of Business Communications

Phone: +27 71 666 2472

Email: Angela.Konert@bmw.co.za

https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

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 over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 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.

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Midrand. BMW Group South Africa and BMW Group Financial Services South Africa have been recognised as a Youth Employment Services (YES) Top Ten Jobs Contributor for their continued dedication to job creation through the YES Programme. The YES ESG Awards – part of the ESG Africa Conference 2023 – were held on 4 October at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

The YES Programme acknowledged BMW Group South Africa and BMW Group Financial Services South Africa’s important contribution to alleviating youth unemployment with a certificate of recognition signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

BMW Group South Africa CEO, Peter van Binsbergen commented: “We are proud to receive this special recognition. Youth unemployment is one of South Africa’s most intractable problems. By participating in this national programme, we see great opportunity to continue driving meaningful impact in our company, communities, and country. BMW Group South Africa builds and uplifts our people, ensuring they are healthy, educated, and cared for.”

Stefan Schuett, CEO BMW Group Financial Services South Africa added: “We are truly honoured to be awarded by the YES programme and thank them for a fruitful partnership. I want to reiterate the importance of advancing the empowerment and development of young people in this country. Youth participation in employment, education and training helps them achieve self-sufficiency and creates sustainable communities. Thirty-six years ago, BMW granted me a combination of a bursary and a trainee programme. This is now a great opportunity for me as CEO BMW Group Financial Services South Africa to give back as a company.”

In 2022, BMW Group South Africa and BMW Group Financial Services South Africa collaborated with the YES Programme to help develop a better future for young people, the community, and the environment. The programme addresses the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa and provides quality 12-month work experience to unemployed youth.

Later that year, BMW Group South Africa and BMW Group Financial Services South Africa signed the CEO pledge and committed to providing jobs across South Africa, placing participants within the BMW Group retailer network, SMMEs, and ICT, education and health sectors. Exceeding expectations, the company recently reaffirmed its commitment to foster gender equality and women empowerment in the automotive industry and beyond. Of the 1,506 youth placed  through the YES Programme, 63% are women.

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 over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 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.

Munich. BMW i is partnering the 11th edition of the Wallpaper* Design Awards. Taking place in London on Thursday 15 January 2015, the event is a celebration of the very best people, places and designs as selected by Wallpaper* magazine. Part of this years’ international judging panel who have selected the magazine’s major awards is Benoit Jacob, Head of BMW i Design: “I am thrilled to be one of the judges. It’s always exciting and inspiring to see design completely detached from the conventional perspective of the automotive sector.”

Joining Benoit on the six strong panel is artist Marina Abramović; internet entrepreneur Nick d'Aloisio; Wallpaper* 2014 designers of the year, Neri & Hu; landscape designer Piet Oudolf and Brazilian architect, Isay Weinfeld.

The Judges’ Awards comprises a total of eleven categories including Designer of the Year, Best Domestic Design, Best New Hotel and Life-enhancer of the Year. All other awards have been chosen by Wallpaper* editors and global contributors.

The winners of this year’s prestigious Judges’ Awards include Tokyo for Best City, Herzog & de Meuron’s Pérez Art Museum Miami for Best New Public Building with Patricia Urquiola and Konstantin Grcic being jointly named as Designer of the Year.

This year also sees the debut of a readers’ award based on an online vote and jointly conferred by BMW i: the BMW i Urban Sustainability Award honours exceptionally innovative and visionary products, concepts and ideas which – like the vehicles by BMW i – help save resources and reduce our ecological footprint. Around a third of all readers’ votes went to the “LEED Dynamic Plaque” display panel. Jointly developed by LEED and IDEO, it shows the sustainability rating of buildings in five categories on a scale of one to 100. The categories include water and energy consumption as well as waste production of the relevant building.

Tony Chambers, Editor-in-Chief Wallpaper*: “We are delighted that BMW i is supporting this year's awards. We could not imagine a more fitting partnership. Their exceptional line of emission-free electric cars are driving us towards the better-designed, more sustainable world that Wallpaper* has championed since we launched.”

The production models of the BMW i brand – the all-electric urban BMW i3 and the sporty BMW i8 plug-in hybrid – will be on display during the evening event. Both cars are engrossing overall concepts, with every detail specifically adapted to the purpose of the relevant model and systematically developed with sustainability in mind.

A full list of all the award winners is published in the February issue of Wallpaper* on sale on 08 January 2015.

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Munich (DE), 5th December 2014. BMW Motorsport hosted an entertaining programme on Friday as it looked back on a successful racing season at the traditional season review in Maisach (DE). The year’s main protagonists assembled at the BMW Driving Experience training site on the outskirts of Munich (DE) to spend an exciting evening with the rest of the BMW Motorsport family – and to honour the drivers and teams that made history and made the headlines in 2014.

For the first time, BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt handed over more than just the trophies for the most successful privateer BMW drivers and teams this year. BMW Sports Trophy awards were also presented in many other categories.

“When drawing up the programme for our BMW Motorsport Season Review, we took inspiration from the kind of award ceremonies we are familiar with from the entertainment industry,” said Marquardt, who hosted the evening alongside TV presenter Maren Braun (DE). “We have always placed great emphasis on paying special attention to our privateer BMW Sports Trophy drivers and teams at this event, and on thanking them for their commitment. At the same time, it was obviously also nice to be able to look back at the success we enjoyed with our works programme.”

The trophies for the most successful driver and the most successful team in the 2014 BMW Sports Trophy went to Markus Palttala (FI) and the Adrenalin Motorsport team. Its team principal, Matthias Unger (DE), also celebrated a second award, which it received for winning the new BMW M235i Racing Cup class. Adrenalin drivers Daniel Zils (DE), Norbert Fischer (DE) and Uwe Ebertz (DE) were the top drivers in this category.

DTM champion Marco Wittmann (DE), “Rookie of the Year” Maxime Martin (BE) and BMW Team RMG Team Principal Stefan Reinhold (DE) also received trophies from Marquardt for their title wins in the DTM. “This has been a fantastic end to a dream season,” said Wittmann after the award ceremony. “Some busy weeks are behind me – but I have thoroughly enjoyed every day as the DTM champion. Now we must focus on 2015. I can hardly wait until we get going again.”

Wittmann’s fellow DTM drivers Martin Tomczyk (DE) and Timo Glock (DE) also left the event with awards in their hands – for their spectacular synchronised drift, which they pulled off in the BMW M4 Coupé in Portimão (PT). Jens Klingmann (DE) received the trophy for the “Sporting Gesture of the Year”: the German driver immediately leapt out of his car and rushed to help other drivers out of their cockpits after a mass collision during the ADAC GT Masters race in Oschersleben (DE).

Jesse Krohn (FI) ended the inaugural season of the new BMW Motorsport Junior programme as the top driver. Marquardt had the honour of presenting two special BMW Sports Trophy awards as the BMW Motorsport Season Review reached its grand finale: Franz Engstler (DE), who bid farewell to the FIA World Touring Car Championship, received the BMW Sports Trophy Honorary Reward in recognition of his performances for BMW in this and many other series.

There were also standing ovations when BMW works driver Alessandro Zanardi (IT) entered the stage to receive the trophy for “Comeback of the Year”. Zanardi returned to motorsport with BMW in the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series and also caused quite a stir away from the track with more record-breaking performances, such as taking part in his first triathlon in Hawaii (US). Zanardi said: “This is a truly special award for me. It just shows how much my friends at BMW Motorsport who have supported over the years believe in me. On the track my comeback season could have gone better. But that’s exactly why I will compete again in 2015.”

An overview of the winners of the 2014 BMW Sports Trophy awards.

BMW Sports Trophy Driver of the Year:

Markus Palttala (FI)

BMW Sports Trophy Team of the Year:

Adrenalin Motorsport

DTM Driver of the Year:

Marco Wittmann (DE)

DTM Team of the Year:

BMW Team RMG

DTM Rookie of the Year:

Maxime Martin (BE)

Best Team in the BMW M235i Racing Cup:

Adrenalin Motorsport

Best Driver in the BMW M235i Racing Cup:

Daniel Zils (DE), Norbert Fischer (DE), Uwe Ebertz (DE)

BMW Motorsport Junior of the Year:

Jesse Krohn (FI)

Drift of the Year:

Martin Tomczyk (DE), Timo Glock (DE)

Sporting Gesture of the Year:

Jens Klingmann (DE)

BMW Sports Trophy Honorary Award:

Franz Engstler (DE)

Comeback of the Year:

Alessandro Zanardi (IT)

Valencia (ES), 8th November 2014. Marc Marquez was unbeatable again in the 2014 MotoGP season – and the young Spaniard also won the race for the coveted BMW M Award again. The 21-year-old was the best qualifier in the premier class of motorcycle racing for the second year in a row to earn his second BMW M Award. This award, in the form of an exclusive and individually customised BMW M car, has been presented by MotoGP partner BMW M GmbH since 2003. Marquez’s outstanding performances in qualifying throughout 2014 were rewarded with an exclusive special edition of the new BMW M4 Coupe.

Marquez, who last year became the first rookie to win the BMW M Award, dominated the 2014 season from the word go. The Spaniard was also in a class of his own in qualifying, as he rocketed to his second World Championship title in MotoGP. Marquez secured pole position for the first six races of the season, picking up maximum points towards the BMW M Award in the process. In total, Marquez started from the very front of the grid on 13 occasions this year. With 398 points, the Spaniard won the 2014 BMW M Award by a comfortable margin. The official presentation ceremony took place on Saturday at the final round of the MotoGP in Valencia, Spain. The prize was presented by Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, and Thomas Schemera, Director of Sales and Marketing BMW M GmbH.

The special features of the BMW M4 Coupé for this year’s BMW M Award winner includes the exclusive BMW Individual special colour “Frozen Red Metallic” (*). The sporty and elegant look continues in the interior. The BMW Individual fine-grain “Merino Opal White” full leather and the BMW Individual fine-wood “Ash Grain White” trim add to the striking appearance. The M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic, the M carbon ceramic brakes and the adaptive M running gear guarantee superior driving characteristics in any situation. The M Power under the bonnet is generated by a completely new, 431 bhp six-cylinder inline engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and high-rev characteristics (combined fuel consumption: 8.3 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 194 g/km). A maximum torque of 550 newton metres is available over a wide range of speeds.

“Knowing the prize is there at the end of the year gives you special motivation when going for pole on Saturday”, said Marquez. “This year even more so, because I really like this BMW M4 Coupé. I am happy to receive this car and, of course, I will enjoy it.”

 “The presentation of the BMW M Award at the final race is always a highlight of the MotoGP season,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “BMW M is an important and reliable partner of MotoGP, and it is fantastic that the performances of the top qualifier have now been honoured with such an exclusive, high-performance sports car for the 12th time. In the BMW M4 Coupé, BMW M GmbH has once again provided a captivating car for the winner, which features the latest technology and perfectly combines the values shared by MotoGP and BMW M. Marc Marquez won the 2014 BMW M Award in an impressive manner. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on another outstanding season.”

“Congratulations to Marc Marquez on winning the BMW M Award again,” said Thomas Schemera, Director of Sales and Marketing BMW M GmbH. “Last year he came through as a rookie to defeat his more experienced opponents. In 2014 he raised the bar again with 13 pole positions. It was breath-taking to see how Marc went from one success to the next this year. As partner of MotoGP, we are delighted to once again recognise his achievements with the BMW M Award. Honouring the season’s top qualifier has become an important tradition for us, and we are proud that the BMW M Award is held in such high esteem by the MotoGP riders. They repeatedly confirm that our BMW M high-performance sports cars are much sought-after prizes – and we provided another highlight this year with the new BMW M4 Coupé.”

The BMW M Award for the best qualifier has been presented since 2003. Just like the points system for the races, riders at each Grand Prix weekend are awarded points relative to their positions in qualifying. Pole position is rewarded with 25 points, second place on the grid earns 20 points and third place scores 16 points – right down to one point for 15th. The rider with the most points at the end of the season wins the BMW M Award – in the form of an exclusive and individually customised BMW M car. Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner are the current record holders, each with three BMW M Awards to their name. In 2013, Marc Marquez was crowned the youngest ever winner of the BMW M Award, and the first rider to receive this award in his first season at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. Marquez has now won the BMW M Award for the second time. His compatriot Jorge Lorenzo has also earned the coveted title of top qualifier twice so far. Sete Gibernau and Nicky Hayden have both won the BMW M Award once.

(*) BMW Individual special colour “Frozen Red Metallic” available for BMW M3 Limousine and BMW M4 Coupé from 2015.

BMW M GmbH.

BMW M GmbH is a 100 per cent subsidiary of BMW AG. With its products and services in the five business areas of BMW M Automobiles and BMW M Performance Automobiles, BMW Individual, M Sports Options and Packages, and BMW Group Driving Experience, as well as Safety, Emergency and Special-Purpose Vehicles, it is geared towards customers with particularly high aspirations in terms of the performance, exclusivity and individual style of their vehicle. Based in Munich, the company was founded in 1972 as BMW Motorsport GmbH. Since then, the letter M has become synonymous all over the world for success in motor racing and for the fascination of high-performance sports cars for road use.

Munich. There are many facets to the sustainable character of the BMW i3. BMW i represents a prime example of “next premium”, the next generation of luxury headlined by the sustainability of its materials. The ambience this creates on board the BMW i3 can be experienced by the driver and passengers in considerable depth – and the international jury of experts for the Automotive Interiors Expo Award 2014 are now among its fans. The jury handed the electrically powered BMW i3 the title of Production Interior Vehicle Design of the Year. The third edition of these awards – which recognise exceptionally innovative concepts and solutions in the field of interior design – were held yesterday at the Automotive Interiors Expo in Stuttgart.

The selection and use of materials is central to the BMW i brand’s all-embracing sustainability concept. This applies on a large scale to the use of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the passenger cells of BMW i cars and also comes into play in many details of their interior design. The hallmark LifeDrive architecture creates new scope for optimising the use of space on board the car and for the design of the interior. The colour and trim concept includes extremely extensive use of renewable raw and recycled materials, as well as wood and leather surfaces treated using environmentally sound methods.

The BMW i3 sets out to showcase sustainability through its design, as reflected by its cutting-edge, futuristic looks. The large, clear surfaces and bright ambience represent an expression of clean air and zero emissions. Large glass surfaces showcase the car’s lightweight design and lend the interior an airy, lounge-like character, while also offering the driver a better view over the road. Comfortable entry and a raised seating position are complemented both front and rear by exceptional freedom of movement thanks to an unbroken footwell extending across the full width of the interior.

The car’s innovative, exclusive aura is accentuated by signature BMW i design features and new materials, whose stand-out attributes are visible to the eye and palpable to the touch.  

25 per cent (by weight) of the plastic used in the interior of the BMW i3 is recycled. The textiles selected for the seat surfaces are made entirely from recycled fibres, ensuring the surfaces display impressive naturalness and quality. The textiles for the roofliner, interior trim, boot lining, instrument panel and floor mats are likewise the product of a sustainable production process. The door trim panels of the BMW i3 are made from kenaf fibres, a plant from the mallow family whose natural structure remains recognisable after the treatment process. Eucalyptus wood from certified plantations in Europe provides the raw material for parts of the instrument panel, while the leather set aside for the interior of the BMW i3 is tanned in a natural process using extract of olive leaves.

This rigorous sustainability-focused selection of materials allows the design of the interior to play a major role in securing the BMW i3’s outstanding level of environmental compatibility. Moreover, it provides an immediate window into the all-embracing concept underpinning the world’s first premium car developed from the outset to be driven purely on electric power.

The BMW Group

With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2013, the BMW Group sold approximately 1.963 million cars and 115,215 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2013 was € 7.91 billion on revenues amounting to approximately € 76.06 billion. As of 31 December 2013, the BMW Group had a workforce of 110,351 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.

BMW Group websites:

www.bmwgroup.com

www.bmw.co.za

www.mini.co.za

www.bmwmotorrad.co.za

www.bmwdrivertraining.co.za

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BMW 3 Series Sedan awarded the “Best Compact Executive Sedan” for the second time.

BMW i range awarded the “Green Award”.

Midrand. Three of BMW’s models have once again received top honours in the CAR Magazine 2014 Top 12 Best Buys Awards. This was revealed in the March 2014 issue of CAR Magazine, South Africa’s leading male-interest and motoring magazine.

The BMW 3 Series Sedan was awarded the “Best Compact Executive Sedan” for the second time in a row, while the BMW i3 and BMW i8 were honoured with the “Green Award”.

According to Steve Smith, Editor of CAR Magazine in South Africa, the CAR Awards recognise excellence by companies or individuals in the motoring world with a focus on the South African automotive industry and, in the Buy section of the maga­zine, CAR’s Top 12 Used Best Buys recognise the best second-hand vehicles (that are less than three years old) that are offered in the local market.

“We are very pleased to start the year with this accolade. It shows that indeed BMW is the leading premium brand in the automotive sector and encourages us to continue working hard to retain our title of being the best-selling brand in the luxury car segment, just like we did for the fourth consecutive year in 2013,” says Mr Edward Makwana, Group Automotive Communications Manager at BMW South Africa.

Best Compact Executive Sedan: BMW 3 Series Sedan.

The BMW 3 Series is the most important volume-model produced by the BMW Group as well as the biggest-selling model in the entire premium segment. At the same time, every generation of the 3 Series Sedan has been built in Rosslyn and since 1999 this plant has been responsible for production for important export markets such as the USA, Canada, China, Japan, Singapore and Australia to name but a few.

The BMW 3 Series Sedan has been on sale worldwide since February 2012 and offers not only impressive athletic flair and efficiency as is typical of BMW, but also a level of ride comfort and space which has been further optimised compared to its predecessor model. Sporty, elegant lines and a re-interpretation of the characteristic front view give the BMW 3 Series an unmistakable appearance. The current local model program includes three petrol and two diesel engine versions as well as the BMW ActiveHybrid 3.

Green Award: the BMW i range.

The BMW i3 is an uncompromisingly sustainable vehicle designed for urban areas –purpose-built for emission-free electric mobility and an intelligent form of urban transportation and commuting. The BMW i3 is currently on sale in key European markets and will go on sale in South Africa in March 2015 along with the BMW i8.

The BMW i8 is a highly contemporary sports car boasting a high degree of everyday utility. It combines the uncompromising performance of a BMW M3 with the fuel consumption of a subcompact. Thanks to its plug-in hybrid drive, most daily journeys can be taken in emission-free all-electric mode (electric range: 35 km). With the completion of the development work and final preparations for production at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig, the launch of the BMW i8 is approaching its peak. Delivery of the first customer cars will start in June 2014, beginning with the main European markets.

With BMW i, the company is opening up new target groups as well as further strengthening the positioning of the BMW parent brand as a sustainability-focused and forward-looking organization.

For more information visit www.bmw.co.za/bmwi

-Ends-

Media queries:

Edward Makwana

Manager: Group Automotive Communications

BMW South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Tel: +27-12-522-2227

Email: edward.makwana@bmw.co.za 

The BMW Group

The BMW Group is the leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2013, the BMW Group sold approximately 1.963 million cars and 115,215 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2013 was €7.91 billion on revenues amounting to approximately €76.06 billion. As of 31 December 2013, the BMW Group had a workforce of 110,351 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

www.bmw.co.za

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup (BMW South Africa)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup (@BMW_SA)

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Munich / Stuttgart. The BMW Group has extended its run of success in the International Engine of the Year Awards by recording two more class wins. The company’s latest distinctions in the globally renowned competition came courtesy of two drive units which bring sporty performance characteristics to current BMW and MINI vehicles in particularly efficient style. In a repeat of last year, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology fitted in models including the BMW 1 Series, BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series finished top of its displacement category. And the 1.6-litre four-cylinder MINI TwinPower Turbo engine from the MINI Cooper S went one better, celebrating its third class win in a row. The Engine of the Year Awards were presented on 5 June 2013 at the Engine Expo fair in Stuttgart.

Instantaneous power delivery and a level of efficiency unmatched by any rival were the cornerstones of the BMW Group’s successful showing in the Engine of the Year Awards. The winners in each category and overall are decided by an international jury, made up this year of 84 motoring journalists from 35 countries. The company’s success in two categories of the International Engine of the Year Awards represents further evidence of its globally recognised development expertise in the area of drive system technology. Since 1999, the BMW Group has racked up over 60 class and overall wins in the competition.

BMW TwinPower Turbo technology once again provided the key to success in the 1.8 – 2.0-litre displacement class. In the winning BMW four-cylinder engine this package of technology comprises a twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision Direct Injection and BMW Valvetronic fully variable valve control. The 180 kW version of the engine is used to power the BMW 328i, BMW 528i, BMW Z4 sDrive28i, BMW X3 xDrive28i and BMW X1 xDrive28i.

The other class conqueror in the BMW Group’s engine line-up also won over the Engine of the Year Awards jury – for the third consecutive year – with its impressive balance of sports performance and economy. The 1.6-litre four-cylinder MINI TwinPower Turbo unit, again the dominant force in the 1.4 – 1.8-litre category, boasts twin-scroll turbocharging with an overboost function, direct petrol injection and valve control based on the Valvetronic system. Its maximum output of 135 kW/184 hp enables the MINI Cooper S to accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds and deliver average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres. This highly efficient drive unit is now also available for the MINI Cooper S Countryman and MINI Cooper S Paceman, where it can be combined with the ALL4 all-wheel-drive system.

Munich. The BMW Group can add another chapter to its successful history in the red dot awards, with BMW Group Design taking home four of the internationally renowned distinctions in the red dot award: product design 2013 competition. The BMW M6 Gran Coupe, BMW 1 Series, BMW 3 Series Touring and BMW R 1200 GS motorcycle were granted red dot design awards in the “Automotive and Transportation” category in acknowledgement of their excellent design quality. The awards will be presented at the red dot gala, taking place in the Aalto Theatre in Essen, Germany on 1 July 2013. The guest list is expected to include more than 1,200 international figures from the worlds of industry, politics and media.

The red dot award was first presented in 1955 and is one of the world’s most respected product design prizes. The jury of 37 internationally acclaimed design luminaries presents the award in recognition of outstanding achievement across the most diverse fields of creative endeavour. And the competition continues to hold considerable appeal, with a total of 1,865 independent designers and large companies from 54 countries putting themselves forward for the red dot award: product design 2013. In all, 4,662 entries were received in the 19 categories.

Four submissions from BMW Group Design earned red dot awards for design quality excellence. The design of the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, for example, embodies an exceptional harmony of athletic and aesthetic appeal. Hallmark M design features influenced directly by technical considerations – such as cooling air requirements, chassis geometry, weight balance and aerodynamics – open a clear window into the performance capability of the BMW M6 Gran Coupe. The front of the car is dominated by its large air intakes, standard Adaptive LED Headlights and an M kidney grille designed especially for this model. From the side, the first four-door Coupe in the BMW M GmbH ranks is clearly distinguishable from the BMW M6 Coupe. The low roofline flowing smoothly into the rear, the swage line – which takes in the door openers – and side windows extending well into the C-pillars accentuate the dynamically stretched silhouette. The extremely lightweight, impressively strong high-tech material CFRP is used in the construction of the roof. Its visible carbon structure provides an eye-catching feature, as does a dynamic recess in the centre of the roof.

The 3-door BMW 1 Series also presents a compelling proposition with its powerful, typically BMW proportions. Its distinctive looks, headlined by dynamically stretched lines, mark it out both from its compact segment rivals and from its 5-door 1 Series sibling. Wide doors with frameless windows, the “free-standing” side window design – undisturbed even by the B-pillars – and the extremely low-slung look of the roofline allow the car to cut an elegantly sporty figure.

The BMW 3 Series Touring adds variability and lifestyle qualities to the core values of the brand. The stretched silhouette and sloping rear window exude a feeling of speed even before the car has moved a muscle, while the smoothly downward-sloping roofline and large tailgate hint at the versatile nature of the interior. Like the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the front end of the Touring represents a consistent example of design development and – through the single stylistic unit of headlights and kidney grille – precise design. One of the stand-out aspects of the interior is its “layering” treatment of volumes, i.e. the interplay and offsetting of various layers of the cabin architecture which, together with the customary BMW driver focus, puts all important functions within easy reach.

The new BMW R 1200 GS makes a persuasive case for itself with its well-resolved combination of unmistakable design language and athletic off-road stature. Its familiar GS design platform helps make the new version of the world’s most popular touring enduro a case study in how to take the styling of an iconic motorcycle to another new level of perfection.

The BMW Group has enjoyed plentiful success in the red dot award over recent years. In 2012 BMW collected 11 accolades, including two special “best of the best” prizes for the BMW AirFlow2 helmet and Husqvarna Nuda 900 R motorcycle. In 2011 the BMW 6 Series Convertible and BMW X3 received awards, with the BMW 5 Series Touring capturing the “best of the best” title.

The BMW Group

The BMW Group is the leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2012, the BMW Group sold about 1.85 million cars and more than 117,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2012 was euro 7.82 billion on revenues amounting to euro 76.85 billion. At 31 December 2012, the BMW Group had a workforce of 105,876 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been built 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. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last eight years.

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