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 today outlined its 2025 performance and strategic direction for the year ahead during its Start-of-Year Media Update, highlighting record premium segment leadership, strong local production and continued recognition across product excellence, people practices and corporate responsibility.

In 2025, the BMW brand achieved its highest-ever premium segment share locally, exceeding 46,15%, despite ongoing affordability pressures and intensifying competition in the South African automotive market (based on Naamsa data). This performance reflects the continued strength of BMW Group South Africa’s product portfolio, long-term customer value proposition and disciplined execution across the business.

Momentum was strong across all brands. MINI closed the year with a premium segment share of 5.67%. Combined, BMW and MINI captured 51.82% of the premium segment. Despite a challenging market, BMW Motorrad delivered a robust performance, maintaining a segment share above 39.3% (combined segment of >251cc).

Award-winning products, design leadership and portfolio strength

BMW Group South Africa’s strong commercial performance was reinforced by significant recognition across South Africa’s leading automotive awards programmes during 2025.

The locally produced BMW X3 was crowned South African Car of the Year, while also securing the Premium category award under the same programme. Further category wins included the BMW 5 Series Sedan in the Executive category, and the BMW M5, which claimed the Performance category, the Jurors’ Choice Award, and a third-place overall finish.

Additional recognition followed through the CAR Magazine Top 12 Best Buys Awards 2025, where the BMW 7 Series was named Luxury Car of the Year, and the BMW X3 secured the Premium Midsize SAV category. At the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards 2025, BMW Group South Africa’s portfolio was again strongly represented, with wins including MINI Countryman S ALL4 in the Premium Crossover category and BMW X3 30e xDrive M Sport in the Executive SUV category, among others.

Alongside awards recognition, 2025 also saw BMW Group South Africa place a deliberate spotlight on design, heritage and emotional brand connection through the introduction of BMW Homage Editions. These limited-edition models celebrated BMW’s design legacy while offering customers distinctive, locally relevant expressions of the brand’s identity.

This design focus was further reinforced through the BMW X3 20 Pure Design, which showcased a refined, pared-back aesthetic aligned with BMW’s global design language while resonating strongly with local customer preferences.

Local manufacturing anchoring global relevance

A cornerstone of BMW Group South Africa’s presence in South Africa remains BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, which produced more than 79,000 vehicles in 2025, supported by a full three-shift production schedule. This output reflects sustained global demand and the plant’s ability to maintain operational excellence amid supply-chain volatility and market uncertainty.

Danny Bester, Director of BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, said: “The plant’s 2025 performance reflects both operational discipline and long-term investment. Operating at this scale, while maintaining quality and efficiency, speaks to the capability, resilience and commitment of our Rosslyn team. Our focus remains on building a future-ready plant that can continue to serve global markets with confidence, underpinned by skills development and sustained investment in South Africa.”

The plant’s strategic role has been further strengthened by the production of the fourth-generation BMW X3, which entered production in late 2024. BMW Plant Rosslyn produces BMW X3 ICE and PHEV models interchangeably on a single flexible production line. This allows efficient switching between variants to meet global market demand for both conventional and electrified vehicles.

Recognition for people, transformation and societal contribution

Alongside its commercial and operational performance, BMW Group South Africa received continued recognition in 2025 for its people practices and organisational culture. The company was re-certified as a Top Employer, reflecting progress in digital enablement, employee development, workplace flexibility and the effective translation of employee feedback into meaningful action.

Additional recognition through platforms such as SAGEA and GradStar further reinforced BMW Group South Africa’s standing as an employer of choice, particularly in relation to youth development, graduate employability and early-career talent support.

In parallel, BMW Group South Africa and BMW Group Financial Services achieved Level 1 B-BBEE status in 2025, underscoring the Group’s ongoing commitment to transformation, accessibility and meaningful economic participation.

Premium leadership in a market in transition

South Africa’s automotive landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with increased competition from new entrants and growing consumer focus on affordability. Against this backdrop, BMW Group South Africa’s sustained leadership reflects the value of long-term investment, established manufacturing capability, strong dealer and service networks, and a proven ownership proposition.

Beyond the point of sales, the Group continues to differentiate itself through strong resale values, comprehensive aftersales support and a customer-centric ownership experience designed to deliver value and peace of mind throughout the vehicle lifecycle, under the motto ‘Relax. We care”.

Peter van Binsbergen, CEO of BMW Group South Africa, said: “Our 2025 performance reflects consistency across the business, from record segment leadership and strong production at Plant Rosslyn to award-winning products, distinctive design initiatives and recognised people practices. Together, these elements position BMW Group South Africa to compete effectively while continuing to invest in South Africa’s future.”

Continued momentum into 2026 and beyond

Looking ahead, BMW Group South Africa reaffirmed its focus on disciplined growth, continued innovation and sustained investment in local operations, aligned with the BMW Group’s broader strategy.

A key milestone outlined during the engagement is the planned introduction of the BMW iX3 to the South African market, marking a new chapter in BMW’s design, digitalisation and electrification journey. The rollout will further strengthen BMW Group South Africa’s premium positioning while offering customers access to the next generation of BMW technology and design.

With a resilient manufacturing base, a highly recognised product portfolio, strong people foundations and a clear innovation roadmap, BMW Group South Africa is well positioned to navigate an increasingly complex market while continuing to contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s automotive sector and broader economy.

Munich. The BMW Group delivered a total of 2,463,715 vehicles to customers in 2025 – an increase of +0.5% year-on-year. This includes the delivery of 642,087 electrified vehicles, a growth of 8.3% over the previous year. The BMW Group also saw a slight increase in sales of fully-electric models, with 442,072 units delivered worldwide. In Europe, in particular, the BMW Group reported a significant growth of +28,2% in fully-electric vehicles. The company’s sales performance in 2025 demonstrates that the BMW Group’s technology-neutral approach and premium multi-brand strategy, with a broad product portfolio across all relevant segments, are receiving a positive response from customers. Subdued demand in China was offset by other sales regions.

“In 2025, in a challenging environment, the BMW Group sold more vehicles than in the previous year. Our electrified vehicles were in particularly high demand. Europe reported especially strong growth, with battery-electric vehicles accounting for about a quarter of total sales, and BEVs and PHEVs combined reaching a share of over 40% across the region. We remain fully on track to meet our EU CO₂ fleet target for 2025,” said Jochen Goller, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands, Sales. “Especially in Europe, 2026 will be marked by the NEUE KLASSE. At the same time, we will be introducing several new models this year, such as the BMW X5, BMW 3 Series, and BMW 7 Series. In total, the BMW Group will launch more than 40 new and revised vehicles with various drive options by 2027, ” added Goller.

Electrified vehicles accounted for 26% of total BMW Group sales worldwide in 2025, with fully-electric vehicles representing around 18%.

The BMW brand delivered 2,169,761 vehicles to customers in the full year 2025 (-1.4%). Thanks to its attractive product portfolio across all technologies, the brand maintained its position as the global segment leader, with sales growth in Europe, the Americas and parts of Asia largely offsetting subdued demand in China. BMW M GmbH achieved a new all-time sales high, with a total of 213,457 vehicles delivered in the full year (+3.3%). The MINI brand enjoyed a strong 2025, delivering a total of 288,290 vehicles to customers – an increase of +17.7% over the previous year. Its fully-electric vehicles, in particular, are proving popular with customers worldwide. The British premium brand celebrated an important milestone, with the delivery of the 100,000th fully-electric MINI to its new owner. This means that more than one in three MINIs delivered in 2025 had a fully-electric drive train. The Rolls-Royce brand delivered 5,664 units to customers (-0.8%) in the full year. During the same period, BMW Motorrad sold 202.563 motorcycles and scooters (-3,7%).

BMW Group sales in Q4/YTD December 2025 at a glance

¹BEVs and PHEVs                                                                                  

BMW and MINI sales in the regions/markets

²Provisional registration figures

The delivery figures reported in this press release are provisional and may change up until the BMW Group Report 2025 is published. Notes on how delivery figures are prepared can be found in the BMW Group Report 2024 on p. 427.

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 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 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.

The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life.

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Midrand. BMW Group South Africa hosted its coveted 2024 Retailer of the Year Awards at the Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg, recognising the exceptional achievements of its retail network across the BMW, MINI, and BMW Motorrad brands.

The elegant evening, led by the dynamic duo of Shashi Naidoo and Nico Panagio, celebrated the dedication and hard work of its 46-strong retailer network who consistently strive for excellence in all aspects of their businesses. The awards ceremony honoured the contributions of retailers in nine key categories, showcasing the strength and depth of the BMW Group South Africa network.

In a testament to its commitment to social responsibility, SMG was awarded the Social Responsibility Award. SMG has consistently demonstrated an inspiring dedication to its communities, providing crucial relief and hope. The company fosters a culture of growth and development, offering its employees equal opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills. SMG also maintains a long-term vision for environmental sustainability, aligning with the BMW Group’s global sustainability goals.

“Our retailers are the lifeblood of our brand as they deliver the customer experience at the retail touch point, their persistent commitment to excellence is truly inspiring”, said Peter van Binsbergen, CEO of BMW Group South Africa. “We are immensely proud of their passion and team spirit that exemplify the core values of our brand. Congratulations to all the category winners and thank you to the entire retail network for their tireless efforts and unwavering support throughout 2024.”

The winners of the 2024 Retailer of the Year Awards are as follows:

Retailer of the Year:

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

Best Retailer in Sales:

BMW Midrand (large), BMW Ballito (small-medium), MINI Cape Town City (large), MINI Nelson Mandela (small-medium), BMW Motorrad Montana

Best M-Sales Retailer:

BMW Durban South

Best Retailer in Financial Services:

BMW East Rand (large), BMW Pinetown (small-medium), MINI Midrand, BMW Motorrad Sandton

Best Retailer in Customer Support:

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

“Customer satisfaction is our top priority. This award is a powerful validation of our team’s dedication to providing exceptional customer service. We are committed to going above and beyond to ensure that every interaction with our dealership is a positive and memorable one,” said Luke Dreyer, Dealer Princiapl at BMW Midrand and MINI Midrand following multiple wins at this year’s awards ceremony.

Trevor Villet, Dealer Principal from BMW Nelson Mandela Bay commented “It is an honour to lead this remarkable team, whose unwavering passion and steadfast dedication make my role deeply gratifying. Having been awarded the prestigious Retailer of the Year accolade (small-medium) second time in a row, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the team for their exceptional representation of our products and services.”

In response to winning the top title “Retailer of The Year” for BMW Motorrad, Trevor Michael, Dealer Principal at BMW Stellenbosch said, “We are truly honoured to receive this prestigious award, which reflects the unwavering dedication and outstanding teamwork of our entire team. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued customers for their trust and support. This recognition reinforces our commitment to exceeding customer expectations and delivering an unparalleled BMW Motorrad ownership experience.”

ENDS

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.

www.bmwgroup.com
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Munich. 2024 will see the BMW Group launch the rollout of its new sales model. It will be introduced across Europe in several stages, starting with MINI in Italy, Poland and Sweden on 1 January 2024. The remaining European countries will gradually follow, with BMW scheduled to transition from 2026. The upcoming rollout represents an important step and will allow all new BMW and MINI vehicles and nearly-new BMW Group cars to be sold via a genuine agency model across Europe.

South Africa was selected as the pilot market for the development and adoption of a fully digital sales platform in 2020. Several key learnings from this project were applied in the European rollout.  

The new sales model will benefit customers, retail partners and the BMW Group alike. Standard nationwide pricing for identical vehicle models will ensure price transparency for customers. In addition, as the transition to the agency model progresses, the BMW Group will digitalise the entire purchase process, giving customers a choice between online and physical purchase experiences – and switching seamlessly between the two. It will all be made possible by an end-to-end, integrated IT system landscape – plus full access to the familiar close-knit retail network.

“This transition to direct sales with retail partners is a key milestone in the realignment of our Sales division, which has been ongoing since 2020. The new sales model will enable us to communicate directly with our customers and give the BMW Group a direct customer interface,” said Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG and responsible for Customer, Brand, Sales. “The aim of our new sales model is very clearly to increase customer satisfaction and offer the best premium customer experience in the industry.”

When the new sales model is in place, the BMW Group will continue to depend on its existing retail network, capitalising on one of its key strengths as a company: a highly functional and established sales structure. The new sales model was created in a lengthy process in which retail partners were actively involved. “I would like to say a big thank-you to our retailers for their constructive cooperation and the very positive feedback they have given us by signing 100% of our MINI agency contracts. That’s clear confirmation of our plans to move forward together,” said Pieter Nota. The BMW Group expects demand for personal customer contact to continue in the future, with retail partners playing a key role.

The agency model offers retailers an attractive and future-proof foundation for their business as well as greater planning certainty. They will earn a fixed commission per vehicle sold that is carefully calculated and takes the full range of factors into account. The same goes for online purchases, where they will be fully remunerated for vehicle deliveries. In addition, the new sales model allows them to focus on providing the best possible customer consultations and care and offers them access to the BMW Group’s entire stock of vehicles. Their feedback on the new sales model has been very positive, and all European retailers have already signed contracts for MINI.

As of today, our customers in Italy, Poland and Sweden can now make use of our online pre-orders for the new all-electric MINI Cooper and the new MINI Countryman as part of the new sales model.

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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Woodcliff Lake, NJ. BMW will debut a new 60-second advertisement during the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 13, 2022, to showcase its all-new, fully electric BMW iX Sports Activity Vehicle, which arrives in the US next month. The star-studded spot features legendary actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Academy Award nominee Salma Hayek Pinault, and was directed by two-time Academy Award nominated director Bryan Buckley. It will air during the third commercial break of the first quarter of the game.

Schwarzenegger stars as Zeus, the Greek god of lightning, and Hayek Pinault plays his wife, the goddess Hera, as they retire from Mt. Olympus to a quiet life in Palm Springs, California.  However, the monotony of retirement quickly weighs on Zeus, who becomes frustrated by his struggles with earthly electronics and his nagging mortal neighbours’ constant requests to charge their electric golf carts and hedge trimmers. Meanwhile, Hera, the hero of the story, has fully acclimated and is thriving in retirement. In an effort to bring some excitement back into Zeus’s life, she gifts him with an all-electric BMW iX, which quickly helps reignite her husband’s electric mojo. The spot closes with the happy couple rocking down the road in their new BMW iX to Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue” while Zeus uses his electric power to change the traffic lights to green.

“All-electric mobility is at the very heart of the BMW brand,” said Jens Thiemer, senior vice president, customer and brand, BMW AG. “There is no better place to make this statement than in front of one of the largest television audiences in the world, where viewers tune in as much for the commercials as they do for the game. With Arnold and Salma, we are able show the world the new BMW iX in a memorable and impactful way.”

“The humour lies in this legendary god of lightning, who is supposed to be indestructible, battling with everyday electronics,” said Schwarzenegger. “It is only when his brilliant wife presents him with the gift of an all-electric BMW iX that Zeus is struck with the mighty power of electricity and is completely rejuvenated.”

The spot was conceived by BMW’s lead U.S. creative agency, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, and directed by two-time Academy Award nominated director Bryan Buckley, highly acclaimed for his work on more than 65 Super Bowl commercials. The ad also marks Hayek Pinault’s debut in a Super Bowl spot and the first time she and Schwarzenegger have co-starred in a national ad.

“This is my first Super Bowl commercial—and the first time I’ve played a Greek goddess,” said Hayek Pinault. “Seventy-five percent of the decisions made in a marriage about where to spend the money are made by women, and in this commercial, it is the woman who decides on the right car to get her husband back on track. Of course, the commercial is entertaining, but there is also a real human truth to it.”

“I’ve done 60-some-odd Super Bowl spots. I’ve never had more star power than these two,” said director Bryan Buckley. “When I first saw  Schwarzenegger’s name on the script, I was in. And Salma—there is no one greater as an actress. It’s a movie in 60 seconds, and it’s on the biggest platform.”

“Transcending sports, this iconic annual event isn’t just a championship game. It’s a cultural phenomenon where viewers pay even more attention when the action on the field stops,” said Rich Silverstein, co-founder and co-chairman of Goodby Silverstein & Partners. “There’s only one person on the planet who could say he’s Zeus, and that’s Arnold. And there’s only one brand worthy of being called the Ultimate Electric Driving Machine, and that’s BMW. We needed to showcase this in a big way, and that is what we’re doing on February 13.”

Designed to provide more than just mortal mobility, the BMW iX brings together the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology with the company’s latest developments in the fields of design, connectivity, digital services and sustainability. With up to 385kW and a 0–60 time of only 4.6 seconds, the BMW iX offers an exhilarating driving experience with an all-electric operating range of 630km and the latest in-vehicle technology, including 5G connectivity, a sweeping curved display that unites the 12.3-inch information display with a 14.9-inch central control display, and the debut of BMW iDrive 8, the company’s latest user-interface system. 

“This is a pinnacle event in the U.S. and the perfect stage on which to introduce the BMW iX to our customers,” said Uwe Dreher, vice president, marketing, BMW of North America. “We have already seen a significant number of pre-orders for both the BMW iX and BMW i4, and a huge amount of excitement for these two new electric vehicles.”

Alongside the BMW iX, BMW will also launch the fully electric BMW i4 four-door Gran Coupe in the U.S. next month as the company takes a major step toward its stated goal of reaching global sales of 50% electric vehicles by 2030.

BMW’s last Super Bowl ad appeared in 2015 and featured Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel as they marveled over BMW’s first fully electric production vehicle, the BMW i3. The BMW i3 was a pioneer of electromobility and later became one of the best-selling premium electric vehicles in the world.

Munich. For the third time in a row, BMW M GmbH ended the financial year as the global market leader in the performance and high-performance car segment. Indeed, the company posted record sales once again in 2021. A total of 163,542 BMW M cars were delivered to customers worldwide last year, a 13 percent increase on 2020.

This growth was spread equally between the High-Performance sports cars and Performance cars made by BMW M GmbH, with both product categories raising their sales figures to a new level. “This success is the perfect start to our anniversary year,” says Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH. “M is in a stronger position than ever as it celebrates its 50th birthday.”

New BMW M3 and new BMW M4 enjoy immediate success.

The biggest drivers of growth among the High-Performance sports cars were the new BMW M3 and BMW M4 models introduced in spring 2021. Fuelled by a vehicle concept focused squarely on emotionally charged dynamism and unprecedented diversity in the model range, the new BMW M3 Sedan (fuel consumption combined: 10.2 – 10.0 l/100 km [27.7 – 28.3 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 231 – 227 g/km as per WLTP), new BMW M4 Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 10.1 – 9.9 l/100 km [28.0 – 28.5 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 230 – 226 g/km as per WLTP) and new BMW M4 Convertible (fuel consumption combined: 10.2 l/100 km [27.7 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 233 – 231 g/km as per WLTP) got off to an extremely successful start. The latest model generation is the first to offer customers two output levels topping out at 375 kW, the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system and a choice of either a six-speed manual gearbox or the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.

“The response to the new generation of the BMW M3 and BMW M4 has been simply overwhelming,” reports Timo Resch, Vice President Customer, Brand and Sales at BMW M GmbH. “We can therefore expect demand for these iconic sports cars to continue on an upward curve in 2022.”

Also making a powerful contribution to the latest rise in High-Performance model sales at BMW M GmbH were the BMW X5 M Competition (fuel consumption combined: 13.6 – 13.3 l/100 km [20.8 – 21,2 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 308 – 303 g/km as per WLTP) and BMW X6 M Competition (fuel consumption combined: 13.4 – 13.1 l/100 km [21.1 – 21.6 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 305 – 299 g/km as per WLTP). Following the successful market launch of the latest model generation the previous year, the charismatic High-Performance sports cars in the Sports Activity Vehicle and Sports Activity Coupé segment – both powered by a 460 kW V8 engine – increased their sales figures once again in 2021.

Alluring and in demand: the BMW M models in the BMW 4 Series range.

The dynamic excellence, agility and precision for which M is renowned also enabled the brand’s Performance models to delight and excite a wide range of customers over the past year. Credit for the latest boost to sales goes above all to the M models based on the new BMW 4 Series. Particularly popular were the variants of the new BMW 4 Series Coupé, whose line-up includes the BMW M440i Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 8.1 – 7.4 l/100 km [34.8 – 38.2 mpg imp].

The latest BMW X models within the ranks of M’s Performance cars also proved extremely desirable. Indeed, the BMW X3 M40i powered by a six-cylinder in-line engine with 285 kW and the BMW X7 M50i (fuel consumption combined: 12.8 – 12.3 l/100 km [22.1 – 23.0 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 292 – 280 g/km as per WLTP) with its 390 kW V8 unit both posted an increase in new registrations.

Looking ahead to an anniversary year brimming with highlights.

BMW M GmbH will continue its product offensive in this anniversary year with the addition of new High-Performance and Performance models. Highlights include the new BMW M240i xDrive Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 8.8 – 8.1 l/100 km [32.1 – 34.9 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 200 – 185 g/km as per WLTP) and the arrival later in the year of the first BMW M3 Touring and an exclusive special-edition model based on the new BMW M4 Coupé.

In addition, the BMW Group subsidiary – which was founded as BMW Motorsport GmbH in May 1972 and enjoys the status of an independent manufacturer – will also drive the transformation to electric mobility. Following in the tyre tracks of the BMW i4 M50 (electric power consumption combined: 22.5 – 18.0 kWh/100 km as per WLTP; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km) in the first half of 2022 will be the likewise fully electric BMW iX M60 (projected electric power consumption combined: 24.7 – 21.7 kWh/100 km as per WLTP; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km).

The most powerful BMW M model ever made points the way to the future of the brand.

The anniversary year will be crowned by the start of production of the BMW XM. The most powerful BMW M car ever to go into series production is also the brand’s first High-Performance model to employ a plug-in hybrid drive system. Its newly developed M Hybrid technology brings together a V8 engine and a high-performance electric motor to develop maximum output of 550 kW and peak torque of 1,000 Nm. The design of the BMW XM majors on presence and extrovert appeal and in so doing sends out a clear statement in the luxury segment.

“Our first standalone model since the legendary BMW M1 represents a complete re-imagining of the high-performance car segment,” says van Meel. “The BMW XM blends expressive design and progressive interior luxury with an incomparable driving experience that serves up both sublime performance and the ability to glide along in near silence in all-electric mode. In so doing, it provides an inimitable expression of poise and assurance, and at the same time points the way to the future of our brand.”

Munich. With yet another new sales record, the BMW M GmbH continued to grow also in the 2020 fiscal year. Despite the effects of the Corona pandemic on the market, it was possible to increase the number of BMW M automobiles sold by 6% to 144,218 units. Thanks to this result, the subsidiary company of the BMW Group with the status of an independent company has significantly strengthened its market leadership within the competitive environment first gained in 2019. “The fact that we were able to conclude this exceptionally challenging year with yet a further record is great validation of our consistent growth strategy,” says Markus Flasch, chairman of the board of the BMW M GmbH. “We can be particularly proud of the fact that we were able not only to defend our market dominance as the most successful provider of performance and high-performances automobiles, but also to have even expanded it.”

The further increase in sales figures was due, inter alia, to the successful market launch of the models BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M. With V8 power units delivering up to 460 kW, BMW M automobiles from the Sports Activity Vehicle and Sports Activity Coupe segment offer a particularly characteristic high-performance experience. Likewise, the special edition model BMW M2 CS, which serves as the basis for a new competition vehicle from BMW Motorsport, has also received a positive response. In the high-performance model sector alone, it was possible to increase the number of worldwide deliveries by 4% vs. the year 2019.

Moreover, it was predominantly the performance automobiles developed for the new BMW 3 Series and the new BMW 4 Series that helped boost the sales of the BMW M GmbH so decisively. With powerful straight six-cylinder petrol and diesel power plants, specific suspension tuning and stand-alone design features, the top-of-the-range offer for the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the BMW 3 Series Touring and the BMW 4 Series Coupe also guarantees that characteristic M experience in the premium mid-range segment, coupled with unrestricted suitability for everyday use and long distances.

Growing demand in all relevant markets.

Technology transferred from motor racing, precisely coordinated features in the areas of drive systems, suspension, aerodynamics, interior design and operation as well as the resulting authentic character of BMW M automobiles, create a fascination, which continued in 2020 to captivate an increasing number of performance-oriented customers throughout the world. For example, in the USA, the most important market for BMW M automobiles, as well as in China, new records were achieved. In both Russia and Korea, it was possible to increase sales by more than 60 percent, and in Italy by 47 percent. And in the UK, too, the number of vehicles delivered exceeded our expectations. “We notice a steadily growing demand in all relevant markets for BMW M automobiles,” explains Thomas Felbermair, head of Sales and Marketing at BMW M GmbH. “Because of this and thanks to the engagement of our strong dealer network, we have been outstandingly successful in coping with the challenges posed by the pandemic.”

Ready to go: BMW M5 CS, BMW M3 Sedan and BMW M4 Coupe.

Looking towards the future, the initial focus shifts to the world premiere of the BMW M5 CS, which will take place in January 2021. A special edition of the BMW M5 will then be available for the first time – with outstanding performance and exclusive motorsport characteristics. Following that, the main focus will be on the market launch of the new BMW M3 Sedan starting in March 2021 and the new BMW M4 Coupe. The two high-performance automobiles represent the essence of that unmistakable M feeling. Immediately after their world premiere, the new model generation aroused keen interest around the globe.

In future, the wishes of the M Community will be fulfilled by extraordinary diversity: Each variant with classic manual shift will be complemented by a Competition model featuring an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. Moreover, in the summer of 2021, the four-wheel drive system M xDrive will be added for the first time to the drive portfolio for the BMW M3 and the BMW M4. And the BMW M4 Convertible will also be launched in time for the warm season. On the other hand, the first BMW M3 Touring is still undergoing the series development process.

A glance into the future: continued growth, new M feeling through electrification, and an anniversary. 

“It is remarkable that it was possible to achieve the new sales record even before the launch of our most important models,” says Markus Flasch. “The new BMW M3 and BMW M4 generation offers us the promise of dynamic growth in 2021 as well.” Moreover, he now also looks forward to presenting a completely new manifestation of the distinctive M feeling. Electrification will provide the basis for this. During the year 2021, the BMW M GmbH will be presenting an electrically powered performance automobile for the first time.

With this setting of agenda with which the “Power of Choice” strategy has been realised within the model range of the BMW M GmbH, and an exceptionally strong product range, the company is heading full of optimism for the forthcoming anniversary year. 2022 will be the year in which the BMW M GmbH celebrates 50 years of its existence. Markus Flasch has already announced “a year full of surprises”: “If I mention the keyword special edition models, it should be clear what our customers can look forward to during the anniversary year.”

Munich. An eye-catching digital campaign presents the BMW M2 Competition (combined fuel consumption: 10.0 – 9.8 l/100 km [9.2-9.0]; combined CO2 emissions: 227 – 224 g/km [209-206]*) as a record breaker with very unusual tools: a high-power laser and a precision blade. The impressive films will be shown in BMW and BMW M social media channels.

Highlight clip "Laser":

The BMW M2 Competition is out to break records. To deliver on this promise, the BMW M2 is drawing inspiration from world records set by humans. At first glance, these appear to have nothing to do with cars: cutting through more than 87 straw mats with a blade within a minute and popping over 63 balloons in 60 seconds with a laser beam.

Uwe Dreher, head of Brand Communications BMW, BMW i, BMW M: "The BMW M2 Competition showcases BMW M genes in their purest form. It is an exceptional car with outstanding dynamic performance, presence and handling. With our digital campaign, we capture the heart of our target audience right where they live and inform themselves: in social media. We provide the BMW M2 Competition with the perfect stage to demonstrate its qualities in impressive style."

For these spectacular challenges – attempted for the first time worldwide – a slightly modified BMW M2 Competition was brought to Cape Town. It comes with the same technology as the series-production vehicle, plus the additional features required for attempting the records: a high-energy laser installed into the front of the vehicle and a blade attached to the rear.

Following meticulous planning and testing, the course was set out and everything was ready: Rolled-up bamboo mats were arranged in semi-circles so that they could be cut by the blade on a drift; the balloons were set up in long straight lines angled sharply towards each other for quick turns. Fans will instantly recognise the shape of the letter M, the most powerful letter in the world.

Behind the scenes:

Technically, the BMW M2 Competition already has everything it takes to be a genuine record-breaker: At its core is a new engine based on the power unit used in the BMW M3 and BMW M4. The inline six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo Technology produces 410 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds.  For the first time, BMW M2 drivers will be able to use two selector switches in the central console to directly adjust various characteristics and settings for the engine, steering and Drivelogic functions, if M DCT is available. Optically, the BMW M2 Competition also shows its most expressive side: The revised front apron with a bigger, redesigned high-gloss black BMW kidney grille and the exclusive new Hockenheim Silver metallic finish give the BMW M2 Competition an even stronger presence.

“This is a very tricky bit of driving, it is virtually impossible,” says stunt coordinator Marc Higgins, talking about the set-up. “The demands on the BMW M2 Competition are immense. Every drift has to be performed with absolute precision; there is no room for error. A strong presence and agility naturally help a lot.”

“This challenge is now reaching its finale, after months of preparation. The driver is an expert in his field, but he needs the car to respond precisely to the slightest feedback from him. If the car does not respond, we will not break this record,” explained director Oison Tymon.

And the BMW M2 Competition kept its promises: Despite the complexity of the challenge, the high-performance sports car broke both records. After just a few attempts, 117 bamboo mats were cut and 79 balloons burst – both in precisely one minute.

To proof the authenticity of the stunts, real-time drone footage was captured of the BMW M2 Competition performing the stunts.

Proof:

The BMW M2 Competition’s record-breaking attempts are part of the “Same street. Different game.” launch campaign and fit the tonality of the campaign perfectly. The extroverted motifs also reference the world of gaming, with high scores and record-breaking runs. That makes sense: From the start of communications, millions of fans worldwide were able to experience the new BMW M2 Competition virtually, within just a few hours of its world premiere at the Beijing Motor Show, in the popular mobile racing game CSR Racing 2.

For media queries, please contact BMW Group South Africa's Group Communications Division as follows:

Edward Makwana,

Manager: Group Product Communications

Email: edward.makwana@bmw.co.za

Telephone: +27-12-522-2227

Mobile: +27-71-666-2227

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 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2017, the BMW Group sold over 2,463,500 passenger vehicles and more than 164,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2017 was € 10.655 billion on revenues amounting to € 98.678 billion. As of 31 December 2017, the BMW Group had a workforce of 129,932 employees.

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

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Munich. M power on mobile: Millions of fans worldwide will be able to virtually drive the new BMW M2 Competition (combined fuel consumption with six-speed manual gearbox: 9.9 – 10.0 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 225 – 228 g/km) in the popular CSR Racing 2 (CSR2) mobile racing game just a few hours after its world premiere at the Beijing Motor Show. The cooperation between BMW and Zynga will allow gamers to unlock and drive the compact high-performance car in different race modes – long before it hits real roads.

The CSR2 design team worked in tandem with BMW developers to bring every detail of the BMW M2 Competition to the game. From the new front apron and enlarged, redesigned BMW kidney grille in high-gloss black to the optional new M Sport bucket-style seats, to the new and exclusive Hockenheim Silver metallic exterior paint colour: Every detail of the unique BMW M2 Competition was meticulously recreated in the racing game. The best way to experience the design and new equipment options is by using CSR2’s latest feature: Augmented Reality Mode, which realistically inserts the model into its surroundings and allows it to be viewed from all sides.

“We’re excited to bring the ultimate driving experience of the BMW M2 Competition to CSR2 drivers across the globe, even before it hits real roads,” said Tobias Weber, head of Entertainment Marketing and International Product Placement for BMW. “Our development team worked in tandem with CSR2 to deliver players the fully-charged exhilaration of the BMW M2 Competition, digitally recreating its powerful engine, sleek design and unmatched ability just as it will appear on real-world roads.”

The BMW M2 Competition will soon become a favourite with the gaming community. The centrepiece is its new engine, based on the drive train from the BMW M3 and BMW M4. The twin-turbocharged straight-six engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology delivers 410 hp and takes the car from zero to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. For the first time, BMW M2 drivers will be able to use two selector switches in the central console to directly adjust various characteristics and settings for the engine, steering and Drivelogic functions, if M DCT is available.

“As the leading racing game on mobile, CSR2 is the perfect platform to introduce the BMW M2 Competition to car lovers around the world,” said Bernard Kim, President of Publishing for Zynga. “We’re proud to partner with BMW in reimagining how leading auto manufacturers introduce their new vehicles to global audiences by giving our players the ability to experience the BMW M2 Competition during its global unveil.” 

Since the launch of the first in-game BMW car model in CSR2:

• Players have competed in over 1.88 billion in-game BMW races
• On average, there are over three million in-game BMW races every day
• CSR2 players own over 85 million in-game BMW cars with over 26.5 million CSR2 players owning their own in-game BMW

CSR2 is available to download for free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play. For more information about CSR2, visit the game's community channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2017, the BMW Group sold over 2,463,500 passenger vehicles and more than 164,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2017 was € 10.655 billion on revenues amounting to € 98.678 billion. As of 31 December 2017, the BMW Group had a workforce of 129,932 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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Munich. The BMW 7 Series has landed a major Hollywood role alongside Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence in Red Sparrow, the new spy thriller from 20th Century Fox Film, which will open in cinemas on 2 March.

Jennifer Lawrence plays Dominika Egorova, a prima ballerina with Russia’s world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet. When she suffers a career-ending injury, Dominika and her mother are facing a bleak and uncertain future. That is why she finds herself manipulated into becoming the newest recruit for Sparrow School, a secret intelligence service that trains exceptional young people like her to use their bodies and minds as weapons. After the training process, she emerges as the most dangerous Sparrow the program has ever produced. Dominika must now reconcile the person she was with the power she now commands, with her own life and everyone she cares about at risk, including an American CIA agent (Joel Edgerton) who tries to convince her he is the only person she can trust.

The cast also includes British actor and Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons as a two-faced Russian general; Oscar-nominated actress Charlotte Rampling as chief instructor of the Sparrow School; Matthias Schoenaert as head of the Russian Secret Service and Mary-Louise Parker as a U.S. informant.

The BMW 7 Series accompanies Dominika on her journey from elegant and graceful prima ballerina to self-assured secret agent. The luxury sedan reappears at key moments in the plot, including the scene where Dominika is driven to the secret Sparrow School for the first time. The drive through the snow-covered Russian landscape, assisted by the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system, symbolises the transition from Dominikas’s past to her mysterious, but exciting future.

“We were excited about this suspenseful adaptation of the bestselling novel Red Sparrow from the beginning. Jennifer Lawrence as Dominika embodies an elegant and strong agent. The BMW 7 Series and its positioning suit her character perfectly,” said Uwe Dreher, head of Brand Communications BMW.

“We have been working with BMW to find the best project that could fit the BMW 7 Series,” said Zachary Eller, Executive Vice President, Marketing Partnerships, 20^th Century Fox Film.  “When this opportunity came around, we were thrilled with the natural fit of story and car and the ability to complement our campaign with BMW’s marketing.”

The BMW 7 Series Sedan has made numerous appearances in the glamorous world of secret agents and spy thrillers. Who could forget the legendary performance of the BMW 750iL in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, which caused a sensation back in 1997, with a range of new technology like a remote control via touchpad phone. In general, BMW vehicles have a long been featured on the big screen, including in iconic films like Mission: Impossible and the James Bond franchises. BMW is also a long-standing partner of the Directors’ Guild of America, whose annual DGA awards are highly respected in Hollywood and across the film industry.

As part of the cooperation with 20th Century Fox Film, BMW will be promoting Red Sparrow widely through its own digital channels and print campaign.

The film was shot on location in London, Budapest and Vienna between January and April 2017 and was directed by Francis Lawrence. Red Sparrow will debut in cinemas on 2 March.

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 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2017, the BMW Group sold over 2,463,500 passenger vehicles and more than 164,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2016 was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 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

Social Media Pages:

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Beverly Hills. Returning for a fifth consecutive year, BMW proudly supported the Directors Guild of America as the exclusive automotive partner at the organization’s 70^th Annual DGA Awards Ceremony on February 3, 2018. The Awards, which celebrate outstanding directorial achievement, took place at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. 

“BMW has a long tradition of supporting creative visionaries across artistic disciplines,” said Uwe Dreher, Head of Brand Communication BMW.  “We are proud to once again partner with the Directors Guild of America to honor some of Hollywood’s most exciting storytellers.”  

Comedian Judd Apatow hosted the ceremony which was attended by some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Betty Gabriel, Marcus Henderson, Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer, Sam Rockwell, and David Hasselhoff.

Director and former DGA President Michael Apted (The World Is Not Enough, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader) was the recipient of the DGA Honorary Life Member Award in recognition of leadership in the industry, contribution to the Guild and the profession of directing, and outstanding career achievement – presented to him by DGA President Thomas Schlamme and Former National Executive Director Jay D. Roth. 

Guillermo del Toro took home the evening’s most coveted prize of the Directors Guild of America; the Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2017 for the film “The Shape of Water”, which was presented to him by last year’s winner Damien Chazelle (La La Land).

Seen on-site at the Directors Guild Awards were three iconic BMW vehicles: the BMW X3, the BMW i8 and the BMW 7 Series.

BMW’s support of the Directors Guild of America is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to arts, entertainment and culture. BMW vehicles have a long been featured on the big screen, including in iconic films like Mission: Impossible and the James Bond franchises.

The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally been a near-perfect barometer for the Best Director Academy Award. Only seven times since the DGA Award’s inception has the DGA Award winner not won the same year’s Academy Award®.

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 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2017, the BMW Group sold over 2,463,500 passenger vehicles and more than 164,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2016 was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 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

Social Media Pages:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup (BMW South Africa, BMW Motorrad SA, MINISouthAfrica)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup (@BMW_SA, @BMWMotorradSA and @MINISouthAfrica)

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Munich. Millions of gamers worldwide can look forward to an exciting new addition to “Need for Speed^TM No Limits”. The new BMW M5 (fuel consumption combined: 10.5 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 241 g/km) is now available for the highly successful smartphone racing game. The high-performance sedan is an exclusive feature of the latest “Xtreme Racing Championship”; until 9 February, players can register for the championship. After registration, they have seven days to drive the BMW M5 in a series of competitive races to test their skills. Winners will be able to permanently unlock the model.

“Need for Speed^TM No Limits” is the first adaptation of the extremely popular racing game series “Need for Speed^TM” for mobile devices. In the two-and-a-half years since its market launch, it has become one of the most popular smartphone racing games in the world, with several million downloads and a very active community. The game offers a wide range of unlockable vehicles that can be customised to individual preferences and then tested against other players around the world in different racing modes. More than 11 billion races have already been completed.

BMW is already part of the game, with the BMW M3 Coupé (1999), the BMW M4 Coupé (2014) and the BMW M2 Coupé (2015). The new BMW M5 Sedan will now join this trio. It will be integrated into the game’s app icon and also features in the game trailer. With the BMW M5, BMW has the fastest model in the Sports category. By this, gaming enthusiast around the globe can experience the new Sports Sedan even before its market launch in March 2018.

Electronic Arts and the BMW M5 already share a history. The sedan celebrated its world premiere last year – not, as is customary, at a motor show, but at Europe’s biggest trade show for interactive games and entertainment, GamesCom in Cologne. Why? Even before the BMW M5 was available in showrooms, gamers were already able to experience it in the action racing game “Need for Speed^TM Payback” that had just been released at GamesCom 2017. In the meantime, gamers worldwide had already clocked up around 480,000 hours – equivalent to about 55 years – in the new BMW 5 Series Sedan on the virtual racetracks of “Need for Speed^TM Payback”.

The BMW M5 continues the long history of BMW models in the successful “Need for Speed^TM” racing game series. The first BMW featured in “Need for Speed^TM” back in 1997; the first BMW M5 in 1999. These were followed by the BMW M3 in “Need for Speed^TM Most Wanted” in 2005, the BMW M3 GTR in “Need for Speed^TM Shift” in 2009 and many other appearances, including the BMW M4, M6 and Z4 M. Just three years ago, in 2015, the new BMW M2 made its big debut in the newest instalment of “Need for Speed^TM” at that time.

Download Need for Speed^TM No Limits

AppStore

GooglePlay

 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 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2017, the BMW Group sold over 2,463,500 passenger vehicles and more than 164,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2016 was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 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

Social Media Pages:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup (BMW South Africa, BMW Motorrad SA, MINISouthAfrica)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup (@BMW_SA, @BMWMotorradSA and @MINISouthAfrica)

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview (BMW South Africa and BMW Motorrad SA

Cologne. Today, Electronic Arts and the BMW Group debuted the all-new BMW M5 (fuel consumption combined: 10.5 l/100 km [26.9 mpg imp]*; CO2 emissions combined: 241 g/km*) in Need for Speed^TM Payback, the action driving blockbuster releasing this fall. This marks first time BMW has revealed a car through a videogame partnership, unveiling the new BMW M5 at gamescom, Europe’s biggest trade fair for interactive games and entertainment. The new BMW M5 builds on the traditional concept of a luxurious four-door business sedan by appealing to drivers with a taste for high speed and adrenaline. Need for Speed^TM Payback players will be among the first to experience the new M xDrive all-wheel drive as they tear through the city streets and diverse landscape of Fortune Valley this fall.

Trailer: https://youtu.be/PAlqelMXJ6U (Release 21 August 2017, 7.30 p.m.)

“The new BMW M5 is a stunning car,” said Marcus Nilsson, Executive Producer at Ghost Games. “With immense horsepower and torque combined with gorgeous design, our players are going to love getting behind the wheel of the new M5. Whether it’s pulling off intense heist missions, or outrunning cops in epic pursuits or just cruising the open world, this car embodies performance, speed and desire, making it one of the pinnacle rides in Need for Speed^TM Payback.”

The M5 takes the BMW M-series into new territory, with 441 kW, peak torque of 750 Nm and 10.5 l/100 km fuel consumption combined/ 241 g/km CO2 emissions combined, which promise supreme propulsive power and formidable performance. The new M xDrive developed by BMW M GmbH is the most engaging all-wheel-drive system yet to grace the high-performance segment and will be on display across various terrains in Need for Speed^TM Payback.

“The M is not only synonymous for the world’s most powerful letter, but has also become a synonym worldwide for the prototype of the Ultimate Driving Machine. Take a look at the new BMW M5: its power output, torque and acceleration, the M specific all-wheel drive system M xDrive and its stunning design make our all-new toy the perfect feature for Need for Speed,” said Frank van Meel, President BMW M Division. “While the M5 won’t be officially released until next spring, Need for Speed players can drive it first and exclusively in Need for Speed^TM Payback. We at BMW M are really proud of this collaboration.”

“Young, enthusiastic and 100% devoted to their passion: This is not only true for BMW M fans but also for millions of gamers around the globe, who love Need for Speed^TM. BMW is joy and excitement for cars, whether it is in real life or digital,” said Hildegard Wortmann, Senior Vice President Brand BMW. “With this cooperation BMW can reach out to a new audience that is truly digital. This is a perfect example for a fruitful cooperation in modern marketing with benefits for everyone and a new milestone after the BMW M2’s debut in 2015’s Need for Speed^TM.”

BMW and Need for Speed^TM share a long tradition together. Already in 1999 the BMW M5 was part of the first Need for Speed^TM. BMW was part of the history of Need for Speed^TM ever since: Whether it was the BMW M3 in 2005’s Need for Speed^TM Most Wanted, the BMW M3 GTR in Need for Speed^TM Shift in 2009, and many other appearances of BMW M4, M6 and many alike. Just recently the new BMW M2 entered the stage in 2015’s Need for Speed^TM.

Need for Speed^TM is one of the world’s bestselling video game franchises.

Its latest instalment, Need for Speed^TM Payback, will be available worldwide on November 10th for Xbox One, PlayStation®4, and Origin™ for PC. Need for Speed^TM Payback Deluxe Edition owners will get their three-day early access starting Tuesday, November 7th. Players can also get into the action before launch through EA Access and Origin Access, where members can play for up to 10 hours starting Thursday, November 2nd with the EA Access and Origin Access Play First Trial.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: “Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen” (Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html.

 * Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures are provisional, based on the EU test cycle and may vary depending on the tyre format specified.

For further information, please contact:

BMW Group South Africa Corporate Communications

Edward Makwana

Manager: Group Product Communications

BMW Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Tel: +27-12-522-2227

Mobile: +27-71-666-2227

Email: edward.makwana@bmw.co.za

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

Electronic Arts

Jino Talens
Sr. PR Manager
650-628-9111
jtalens@ea.com

Danica Stanczak
Publicist
650-628-3722
dstanczak@ea.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and 145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 employees.

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

www.bmwgroup.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 300 million registered players around the world.

In fiscal year 2017, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.8 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster brands such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

EA SPORTS, Origin, Need for Speed, The Sims, Dragon Age, Plants vs. Zombies, Battlefield,are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. and its subsidiaries. John Madden, NFL, UFC and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.

Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Munich/Spartanburg. The BMW Group has been a committed “local player” in the US market for a quarter-century: On 23 June 1992, the BMW Group announced its decision to build its US plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Continuous expansion of the plant with extensive additions and the decision to build the successful BMW X models in Spartanburg have made the plant the largest manufacturing facility in the BMW Group production network within the space of 25 years. During the ceremony to mark the anniversary, the all-new BMW X3 rolled off the production line in Spartanburg. More than 1.5 million BMW X3 vehicles have been delivered to customers worldwide since it was first launched at the end of 2003. The new BMW X3 will be launched in fall 2017.

Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, stated at the ceremony: “The BMW Group’s success story in the US would not have been possible without the open arms and warm hearts of the people and elected officials in the great state of South Carolina and the surrounding region. Our relationship with South Carolina has been built upon decades of professionalism, mutual trust and respect – and goes far beyond just building great cars.”

The BMW Group has invested eight billion US dollars in the production location to date and produced around 3.9 million vehicles since going online on 8 September 1994. “From 2018 to 2021 we will invest further 600 million US dollars in manufacturing infrastructure for future generations of the BMW X models,” said Harald Krüger. At present, the plant is getting ready for production of the all-new BMW X7, which will be launched onto the market in late 2018.

The BMW Group produces BMW X models in Spartanburg for the US and global markets. With record production of more than 411,000 units in 2016, Spartanburg is the largest BMW Group plant worldwide. Around 1,400 BMW X3, X4, X5, and X6 vehicles come off the assembly line every working day. Maximum production capacity is 450,000 vehicles per year.

Around 70 percent of the vehicles produced in Spartanburg are exported to more than 140 countries worldwide. According to the US Department of Commerce, the BMW Group is the largest vehicle exporter from the US in terms of monetary value. In 2016, 287,700 BMW vehicles with a total value of more than 10 billion US dollars were exported from Spartanburg: 86 percent were shipped from the Port of Charleston, with the remaining 14 percent dispatched from five other ports in the Southeastern United States.

The BMW Group has 235 local suppliers in the US. In 2016, 80 percent of the BMW Group’s purchasing volume in the NAFTA area originated in the US. The US is the company’s second-largest purchasing market, after Germany, and accounts for 5.2 billion euros.

Harald Krüger: “Free trade has made this success story in the US possible. I firmly believe in free trade and open markets. It is essential for global businesses and economies around the world to flourish. We will keep investing in our people and in our business in the US. Therefore, I remain confident that our footprint and commitment will continue to grow not only in the great state of South Carolina, but also in the United States in the years to come.”

The Spartanburg plant employs more than 9,000 people. “By 2021we will create further 1,000 jobs,” stated Harald Krüger. “Training and qualifying our associates is key to our future success.” Training at the plant is based on the German dual apprenticeship training system that combines classroom learning with practical experience. In the past ten years, the BMW Group has invested more than 220 million US dollars in vocational and continued training at its Spartanburg facility, with another 200 million US dollars planned over the next five years. The training programs are run in cooperation with local colleges. The “BMW Scholars” apprenticeship program launched in 2011 is currently preparing around 100 apprentices for their careers within the plant.

According to an independent study of University of South Carolina (Moore School of Business), the nationwide economic impact of BMW Group Plant Spartanburg is 38.5 billion US dollars annually.

US sales market

In the first five months of 2017, the BMW Group delivered 137,916 BMW and MINI vehicles to customers in the US (-4.8%). Sales of Sports Activity Vehicles rose 13.8% and accounted for 46.8% of total US sales in the year to the end of May (56,233 vehicles). 37.1% of the vehicles sold in the US over the same period were produced at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg. The BMW Group retail network in the USA comprises 657 dealerships. In total, the company supports approximately 70,000 direct and indirect jobs in the US. According to an independent study of University of South Carolina (Moore School of Business), the multiplier effect results in even more than 120,000 jobs, if further 50,000 jobs outside the automotive industry are also taken into account.

Current photo material from the ceremony to mark the “BMW Group Plant Spartanburg 25^th anniversary” can be found under http://www.spartanburg.bmwpictures.de/.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Saskia Eßbauer, Business and Finance Communications, Saskia.Essbauer@bmw.de

Telephone: +49 89 382-18364

Glenn Schmidt, Head of Business and Finance Communications, glenn.schmidt@bmwgroup.com

Telephone: +49 89 382-24544

Sandra Schillmöller, Communications Production Network, Sandra.Schillmoeller@bmw.de

Telephone: +49 89 382-12225

Frank Wienstroth, Head of Communications Production Network, Frank.Wienstroth@bmw.de

Telephone: +49 89 382-54459

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

Email: presse@bmw.de

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and 145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 employees.

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

www.bmwgroup.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Knudt Flor, President and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Co

Governor McMaster,

Senator Graham,

Ambassador Wittig,

Distinguished Guests,

BMW Associates,

Good morning and welcome to BMW Plant Spartanburg!

Each and every one of you here today is important to the United States, the state of South Carolina and to Plant Spartanburg, so I would like to begin by taking a moment to recognize all elected officials. Please be kind enough to stand for us so you may be acknowledged. On behalf of the BMW Group, I would like to thank you for twenty-five years of continued support and personal commitment to this plant’s success. Thank you!

Governor McMaster, thank you for your continued efforts in promoting this partnership, as many governors – especially the late Governor Carroll Campbell - before you have done. We’d also like to say a special “thank you” to Bobby Hitt, the Secretary of Commerce, who has been instrumental in the tremendous growth of Plant Spartanburg.

From the BMW Group, I would like to introduce Mr. Harald Krueger, Chairman of the Board of Management, and Mr. Oliver Zipse, Member of the Board of Management, responsible for Production worldwide. We welcome the national and international press, as we celebrate 25 Years Spartanburg and the All-New BMW X3!

Also, please join me in welcoming our valued dealers and suppliers from the U.S., our managers from Munich, and last, but certainly not least, I am delighted to welcome all of our associates here on site - the heart and soul of Plant Spartanburg!

25 years ago, our company reached an historic agreement with local government to build our first U.S. BMW plant in the great state of South Carolina. It was the start of something very special - a wonderful friendship and a new beginning. As BMW’s Chairman, Mr. Eberhard von Kuenheim stated back in 1992: “Seldom in the history of our company, has a community extended such a warm welcome to us as here in Spartanburg, in the state of South Carolina, USA. We have felt at home here from the first day on.”

In 1994, Spartanburg began operations with 570 associates, under the motto of “Welcome to the Future”. Today, we are proud to have over 9,000 associates here! Spartanburg has grown to become the largest plant in the BMW Group’s worldwide production network. That, in itself, is a very strong statement about our commitment to South Carolina and to the U.S.

It is our global competence center for our very successful BMW X vehicles. Currently, the plant produces X3, X4, X5 and X6 models, as well as M and hybrid variants. We are looking forward to starting production of the BMW X7 in late 2018. Today, we are delighted to give you an exclusive world premiere of the All-New BMW X3. The BMW X3 is without a doubt, the best vehicle in its segment. More on that shortly!

Of course, the success story of Plant Spartanburg wouldn’t have been possible without people. People have made and continue to make the difference.

We are proud of the people who work here – they are highly skilled and dedicated to building premium quality vehicles for our customers. I am proud to be the leader of such an incredible team at such a remarkable time. World class products are built here every single day. It’s thanks to you, our associates that BMW feels very much at home here in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

We are honored to have so many friends here and immensely proud to call South Carolina “our home away from home”. It is our goal, and our commitment, to remain a strong and reliable partner for our associates, our customers, South Carolina, and the United States.

Of course, a picture is worth a thousand words – here’s a film to remind us of a few highlights from the past 25 years.

Thank you!

Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG

Governor McMaster,

Senator Graham,

Ambassador Wittig,

Honored guests,

It’s great to be back in Plant Spartanburg again!

The film we just saw underscores the BMW Group’s strong commitment

• to the United States of America,
• to South Carolina,
• and to all our associates and partners here in the U.S.

All of this shows that the U.S. is clearly our home away from home.

We are proud to be responsible for around 70,000 jobs in this great nation – including dealer network and suppliers. The effect of that employment multiplies to a total of more than 120,000 jobs nationwide. This is according to a new study from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. Furthermore, our purchasing volume in America is now at 5.7 billion US dollars.

25 years ago, we made a crucial and forward looking decision. We decided to build our first full production plant outside of Germany in the U.S. – right here, in South Carolina. The BMW Group’s success in America would not be possible without the open arms and warm hearts of the people and elected officials in the great state of South Carolina and the surrounding region.

Senator Graham, it is an honor to have you with us here today. We greatly appreciate your ongoing support over the years.

Our relationship with South Carolina has been built upon decades of mutual trust and respect – and goes far beyond just building cars. Governor McMaster, as you have kindly said – we have become part of the very fabric of this great state. And David Britt, we were deeply touched by your words when you said: “BMW is the gift that keeps on giving”.

I am extremely proud of the highly skilled people who work here for the BMW Group. Their passion for excellence ensures that BMW vehicles built in the U.S. excite and inspire customers all over the world. Some of my fondest memories are from my time here at the plant as a manager. Since then, one thing has never changed – the unique spirit that makes BMW Plant Spartanburg so special: It’s all about People, Performance, Passion and Pride.

Today, I would like to thank all of our associates here, at Plant Spartanburg, for their strong commitment. You bring this plant to life – with your work, every single day. Thank you for your outstanding dedication! I am sure you all would agree that our associates deserve a round of applause.

Governor McMaster,

Senator Graham,

World-class people build world-class products. Today, Spartanburg is our largest plant worldwide. It is the global competence center for our X family vehicles, including the BMW X3. The BMW X3 is the most successful vehicle in its segment worldwide. Today, we are very proud to present you the third generation – “Built by BMW in the U.S. for the world”!

About 70% of our production from Spartanburg is exported to more than 140 countries. Thanks to our great, hardworking team here in the U.S., BMW was once again the leading U.S. automotive exporter by value in 2016 - a title we hold with pride.

Free trade has made our joint success story in South Carolina and the U.S. possible. A story, we want to continue, together with all of you. I firmly believe in free trade and open markets. It is essential for global businesses and economies around the world to flourish.

Altogether, the BMW Group has invested eight billion US dollars in Plant Spartanburg to date. I am delighted to say, we are investing a further 600 million US dollars in our manufacturing infrastructure here, up to 2021. This is for future generations of our X models. In the next four years, we will also create 1,000 new jobs, taking our workforce here to over 10,000.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Training and qualifying our associates is key to our future success. We believe in education! That’s why the BMW Group will invest $200 million over the next five years – solely for the training and further education of associates at Spartanburg. In addition to this, we will begin to roll out a nationwide training program. We work together with local universities and colleges to offer a combination of training on the job and earning a degree. We will keep investing in our people and in our business in the U.S. This underscores our enduring commitment to the people of this great state and nation.

Therefore, I remain confident: Our footprint and commitment will continue to grow – not only in the Great State of South Carolina but also in the United States in the years to come.

(Unveiling of new BMW X3)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The new BMW X3!

I can tell you, it’s really amazing to drive. Over two generations, the BMW X3 has been delivered to more than 1.5 million customers worldwide. I’m certain: This new generation will raise the bar even higher! Thanks to the team in Spartanburg for your great contribution. “Built by BMW in the U.S. for the world”!

Governor McMaster, Senator Graham, Ambassador Wittig, Oliver, Knudt, dear Associates – please come and join me on stage.

Thank you!

Munich. BMW honoured its 36 best dealers worldwide during the Excellence in Sales awards ceremony in Munich. The awards were presented by the programme’s patron, Ian Robertson, BMW AG Management Board member for Sales and Brand BMW, Aftersales BMW Group. 2016 was a record year for BMW Group sales and these awards recognise the outstanding contribution made by the company’s dealers.

The awards programme was the fifth time BMW celebrated the efforts of its global dealer body and it underlines the BMW Group’s appreciation of the role the dealers play in the company’s success. It also recognises the long-term efforts of the BMW Group and the dealer body to set new benchmarks in sales around the world and strengthens the dealer’s leading position in their home markets.

“The international dealer body is one of the most important elements in the BMW Group’s ongoing success,” commented Ian Robertson. “By inviting these outstanding dealers to Munich, we are saying thank-you to our partners who helped us achieve new record results in 2016. Now we’re working together to achieve even better figures this year. That ambition will be supported by the introduction of the new BMW 5 Series and by our model offensive, with 40 new and updated models due onto the market in the next two years.”

The six categories of Excellence in Sales awards are awarded in the BMW Group’s six sales regions worldwide. From these 36 regional winners, six global winners are selected, one in each category. These recognise exceptional achievement in the areas “Sales”, “Conquest and Loyalty” and “Customer Care” as well as outstanding sales results regarding the brand’s flagship “BMW 7 Series” and – reflecting the BMW Group’s leadership in electrification – “BMW i & iPerformance” cars. The final category is awarded to the “Manager of the Year”.

An impressive jury including Ian Robertson, his first-line management team, and representatives from BMW Group Corporate Quality decided on the award winners. They had a wealth of choice: 3,000 entries were received from 80 different countries.

The 36 regional winners from 22 countries were then invited to a three-day visit to Munich, with a programme designed to deepen the participants understanding of the brand’s home town. In addition to the gala evening event, the winners drove some of the brand’s most iconic classic cars through the city centre and enjoyed a craft beer seminar as part of a Bavarian lunch. The focus remained firmly on business, however, as the group caught a glimpse of the future of retail in the Trendjourney and experienced new concepts of Luxury in the BMW Welt.

The BMW brand is represented by around 4,400 dealers in 150 countries. 2016 was the first year in the brand’s history it sold more than 2 million vehicles with 2,003,359 delivered to customers around the world, an increase of 5.2% on the previous year. The brand offers the world’s broadest range of premium electrified vehicles; over 62,000 units were sold last year.

The winners:

Category: Best Dealer in Sales

Dusseldorp Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Barigui, Brazil

Balcom BMW, Japan

Peformance Motors, Singapore

Shanghai Baozen, China

Becker-Tiemann, Germany

Category: Best Dealer in Conquest & Loyalty

Pelras, France

Tulley BMW, USA

Eurosib Lahta, Russia

Borusan Otomotiv, Turkey

Shangyu Jinchang Baoshun, China

Heermann-Rhein, Germany

Category: Best BMW 7 Series Dealer

BMW Centrauto, Belgium

South Bay BMW, USA

Bavarian Motors, South Korea

Abu Dhabi Motors, UAE

Beijing Yan De Bao, China

Euler, Germany

Category: Best Dealer in BMW i & iPerformance

Bilia Skøyen, Norway

South Bay BMW, USA

Deutsch Motors, South Korea

Abu Khader Automotive, Jordan

Chengdu Zhongbao, China

Procar Automobile, Germany

Category: Best Dealer in Customer Care

Lloyd Blackpool, United Kingdom

Auto Welt, Mexico

Sime Darby Auto Bavaria, Malaysia

Astra Sunter, Indonesia

Weifang Shengbao, China

Kruft, Germany

Category: Manager of the Year

Antonio Amoros García, Móvil Begar, Spain

Boris Said, BMW of Murrieta, USA

Luke E. Dreyer, Auto Bavaria, South Africa

Shachar Shemesh, Delek Motors, Israel

Zuming Zhang, Shaoxing Baoshun, China

Björn Heilmann, Hansa Nord, Germany

If you have any queries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Emma Begley, Business and Finance Communications (Global Sales) emma.begley@bmwgroup.com , Telephone: +49 89 382 72200

Bernhard Ederer, Business and Finance Communications (Sales Germany) bernhard.ederer@bmwgroup.com , Telephone: +49 89 382 24418

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en
Email: presse@bmw.de

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 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and 145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 employees.

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

www.bmwgroup.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Beverly Hills. Returning for a fourth consecutive year, BMW proudly supported the Directors Guild of America at the organization’s 69^th Annual DGA Awards Ceremony on February 4, 2017 as the exclusive automotive partner.  The Awards, which celebrate outstanding directorial achievement, took place at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. 

“BMW’s continued presence at the Directors Guild Awards not only underscores our brand’s close ties and commitment to Hollywood, but furthers our goal of being an active partner in the film industry,” said Uwe Dreher, Head of Brand Communication BMW. “From Mission: Impossible to BMW Films, BMW has a long history of working with Hollywood’s best and brightest.”  

Actor Jane Lynch hosted the ceremony which was attended by some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Amy Adams, Nicole Kidman, Casey Affleck, Helen Mirren, Rooney Mara, Isabelle Huppert, Anna Chlumsky, Laverne Cox, Cuba Gooding Jr., Tony Hale, Christine Lahti, Mandy Moore, Kevin Nealon, Trevante Rhodes and Milo Ventimiglia.

Director Sir Ridley Scott (e.g. known for ”Alien“ (1979), ”Blade Runner“ (1982), ”Thelma & Louise“ (1991), ”Gladiator“ (2000), ”The Martian” (2015)) received the Guild’s Highest Tribute, the Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Motion Picture Direction, presented to him by Michael Fassbender and Billy Crudup. Orlando Bloom and Josh Hartnett, who starred in films directed by Sir Ridley Scott, also attended in his honor.

Damien Chazelle took home the evening’s most coveted price of Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2016 for the film “La La Land”, which was presented to him by last year’s winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu (“The Revenant”).

The all-new BMW 5 Series had another Hollywood moment on the DGA Awards red carpet after making its big screen debut co-starring alongside Clive Owen, Dakota Fanning and Jon Bernthal in the latest BMW Film “The Escape” – an action-packed short film directed by Academy Award® nominated director Neill Blomkamp (“District 9,” “Elysium”).

The all-new BMW 5 Series sedan is the most efficient, powerful and advanced BMW 5 Series to date and will arrive at dealerships on February 11, 2017. The seventh generation features advanced driving dynamics, new technology including Gesture Control, a BMW 3D Remote Camera, remote control parking, and a host of advanced driver assistance systems. The global advertising launch campaign of the model features actor Scott Eastwood.

The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally been a near-perfect barometer for the Best Director Academy Award. Only seven times since the DGA Award’s inception has the DGA Award winner not won the same year’s Academy Award®.

 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 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and 145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2015 was approximately € 9.22 billion on revenues amounting to € 92.18 billion. As of 31 December 2015, the BMW Group had a workforce of 122,244 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

Social Media Pages:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup (BMW South Africa, BMW Motorrad SA, MINISouthAfrica)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup (@BMW_SA, @BMWMotorradSA and @MINISouthAfrica)

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview (BMW South Africa and BMW Motorrad SA

Midrand.  BMW i3, South Africa’s most successful electric car, will now be available for rent from Europcar’s Cape Town International Airport branch. A small fleet of BMW i3s with the Range Extender (REX) will be made available for customers to rent from mid-December 2016, making this the first time a car rental company in South Africa is offering the BMW i3 in its fleet to be driven by customers.

“We have introduced the fully-electric, 0% emissions BMW i3 to our fleet, with sustainability in mind and looking at future trends in mobility. The BMW i3 is a unique, cost effective and innovative vehicle option for our customers”, explains Jody Naidoo, Divisional Fleet Procurement Executive for Europcar.

Naidoo says the addition of the BMW i3 adds another dimension to the Europcar fleet, which boasts over 20 000 vehicles at more than 100 locations across Southern Africa.   

The BMW i3 REX features a 650cc two-cylinder petrol engine with an output of 28kW (electric motor: 125kW), which maintains a minimum charge level and boasts a range of up to 300 kilometres. It is the BMW Group’s first volume-produced model driven purely by electric power and introduces a new era of mobility for urban dwellers looking for alternative mobility solutions. It is the only vehicle worldwide that uses 70% less water, 50% less energy and 100% renewable electricity for production compared to a conventional BMW in the Leipzig plant.

Since the successful market launch of the BMW i brand in South Africa in March 2015, a total of 154 BMW i3s and 182 BMW i8s have been delivered to customers. To date BMW i3 is the most successful electric vehicle in the local market. On 3 November 2016, the BMW Group reached a milestone of delivering more than 100,000 pure electric-powered cars and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to customers worldwide. The BMW i3 alone has sold more than 60,000 units, making it the most successful electric vehicle in the premium compact segment. 

In November 2016, Avis introduced three BMW i3s to its Point 2 Point fleet in Johannesburg – a service that provides customers a professional destination chauffeur service in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. In addition they also introduced four BMW i8s to their Luxury Fleet as part of their ongoing initiative to lower emissions and introduce alternative energy vehicles into its rental fleet.

“The local and global success of the BMW i models offers clear evidence of the growing interest in sustainable personal mobility. Achieving even greater market penetration of all-electric and plug-in hybrid drive systems depends not only on attractive cars but also committed rental companies like Europcar,” says Mr Tim Abbott, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

As part of the expansion of its 360° ELECTRIC portfolio for BMW i Home and Public Charging Services, BMW South Africa became the first market within the global BMW Group network to roll out solar carport charging. 

“With the roll out of the BMW i solar carport, the BMW Group is demonstrating its commitment of shaping the future of individual mobility and continuing to enable customers to have easy access to an extensive charging network. With innovative services like the solar carport, BMW is the first vehicle manufacturer to offer such a broad-based EV smart charging product to reduce costs for customers,” says Abbott.

For more information about BMW i, visit www.bmw.co.za/bmwi.

BMW Group South Africa Corporate Communications:

Thando Pato

Manager: Product Communications (MINI, BMW i and BMW Motorrad)

BMW Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Tel:  +27-12-522-2070

Mobile:  +27-71-666-2070

Email:  thando.pato@bmw.co.za

Amy Davis

Europcar: Marketing Manager

Tel: +27-11 479 4000

Email: amy.davis@europcar.co.za

Media websites:

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

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

The BMW Group

With its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of cars and motorcycles and provider of premium financing and mobility services. It operates internationally with 30 production and assembly plants in 14 countries and a global sales network represented in more than 140 countries.

During the financial year 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and some 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. Group profit before tax reached € 9.22 billion on revenues totalling € 92.18 billion € 92.18 billion. At 31 December 2015, the BMW Group had a workforce of 122,244 employees.

Long-term thinking and responsible action have long been the foundation of the BMW Group’s success. Ecological and social sustainability along the entire value-added chain, full responsibility for our products and an unequivocal commitment to preserving resources are prime objectives firmly embedded in our corporate strategy.

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Munich / Woodcliff Lake. The new short film “The Escape”, featuring Clive Owen, Dakota Fanning, Jon Bernthal and Vera Farmiga, will premiere on BMWFilms.com on 23 October. The film continues in the tradition of “The Hire”, a series of unique short films released between 2001 and 2002 that created a stir on the international marketing scene and beyond: The eight films, aired in two seasons, realised a totally new approach.

David Fincher, who was already well-known as the director of films such as “The Game” with Michael Douglas and “Fight Club” with Brad Pitt, executive produced the first series. Renowned authors, directors and actors brought gripping stories to life. In each film, British actor Clive Owen played the lead role alongside a BMW. The supposedly most popular film of the first season titled “Star” featured Madonna as Clive Owen’s “passenger” in a BMW M5. The second series, which was released in 2002, was executive produced by cult Hollywood producers Ridley and Tony Scott.

15 years on, BMWFilms.com returns with a tribute film, once again featuring Clive Owen behind the wheel and also starring Dakota Fanning (“War of the Worlds,” “I am Sam”), Jon Bernthal (“The Punisher,” “Daredevil”) and Vera Farmiga (“The Departed,” “Up in the Air”). The film was directed by South African director and Academy Award® nominee Neill Blomkamp (“District 9”, “Elysium”) and realised for BMW North America by Geisel Productions, New York.

“The Escape” will premiere on Sunday, 23 October 2016, at 12.00 CET on BMWFilms.com.

“I firmly believe that 'Sheer Driving Pleasure' can be communicated effectively through emotional stories and that, by this, we can strengthen our BMW brand’s core values. With a Hollywood-quality realisation, global stars, an Academy Award® nominated director and a consistent 'online first' approach, we are once again setting new standards for content marketing,” explained Hildegard Wortmann, Senior Vice President Brand BMW. “The new short film 'The Escape' is designed as an homage to the 15th anniversary of 'The Hire'. Clive Owen was keen from the start when he heard of our plans. We are delighted to have Clive on board again – with his style and coolness he is perfect for the role.”

“The Hire” – the original BMW short-film series with eight unique episodes

Season 1 of “The Hire” premiered on BMWFilms.com on 26 April 2001 with John Frankenheimer’s “Ambush,” followed by “Chosen” from Ang Lee, who would go on to win Academy Awards® for “Brokeback Mountain” and “Life of Pi.”  The third film in the series, “The Follow,” was directed by Wong Kar-wai and featured Forest Whitaker, Adriana Lima and Mickey Rourke. Completing Season 1 was Guy Ritchie’s “Star,” featuring pop icon Madonna, and “Powder Keg,” starring Stellan Skarsgård and directed by then up-and-comer and current multiple Academy Award® winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Season 1 was executive produced by David Fincher (“The Social Network,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”) and was viewed over 11 million times in four months.

Season 2 of “The Hire” was executive produced by Tony and Ridley Scott and debuted in October 2002 with Tony Scott’s “Beat the Devil”, starring soul legend James Brown, with Gary Oldman as the devil. John Woo’s “Hostage” featuring Maury Chaykin, and Joe Carnahan’s “The Ticker”, with Don Cheadle, completed the series.

Acclaim for “The Hire” series

“The Hire” was released exclusively online at BMWFilms.com and received more than 100 million views prior to the proliferation of high-speed internet connectivity and introduction of YouTube.

After the first two films in “The Hire” series premiered online, Wong Kar-wai’s third film, “The Follow,” made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2001 to critical acclaim. The media also praised “The Hire”. The New York Times wrote that the films “tingle with zest”, while Time magazine added that it “deserves the attention of discerning movie watchers”.

“The Hire” inspired the Cannes International Advertising Festival to create the Titanium Lion in 2003, to honor creative ideas that point to a new direction for the industry and redefine the creative landscape. Besides taking home the inaugural Titanium Lion, the films went on to win the top honour in virtually every creative competition. They were named “The Best of the Digital Decade” by The One Show in 2011 and accepted into the Clios Hall of Fame in 2009. “The Hire“ series was inducted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in 2003.

BMWFilms.com online

“The Escape” will premiere on Sunday, 23 October 2016, at 12.00 CET on BMWFilms.com. Already today, you can see the sneak peek on BMWFilms.com.

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 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and nearly 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2015 was approximately € 9.22 billion on revenues amounting to € 92.18 billion. As of 31 December 2015, the BMW Group had a workforce of 122,244 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

Social Media Pages:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup (BMW South Africa, BMW Motorrad SA, MINISouthAfrica)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup (@BMW_SA, @BMWMotorradSA and @MINISouthAfrica)

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview (BMW South Africa and BMW Motorrad SA

Munich. To coincide with the market launch on 16 April, BMW released its “digital-first” campaign for the new BMW M2 Coupé. Stars of the campaign “Eyes on Gigi” are the new BMW M2 Coupé and American supermodel Gigi Hadid, who is appearing in front of the camera for an automobile brand for the first time.

The dynamic performance and agility of the first-ever BMW M2 Coupé and the sensuous beauty and elegance of Gigi Hadid inspired renowned film producer and screenplay author Marc Forster, who directed films such as “James Bond – Quantum of Solace”, “Monster’s Ball” and “World War Z”, to create a highly unusual spot.

Eyes on Gigi.

The exciting film, which will initially be released exclusively on YouTube and Facebook from 14 April, invites viewers to play a very different kind of “shell game”: The film starts with supermodel Gigi Hadid climbing into one of three parked BMW M2 Coupés; from then on, the viewer tries to keep track of Gigi and her BMW M2 Coupé.
Within a short space of time, two more BMW M2 Coupés join in and a fast-paced vehicle choreography begins – making the task virtually impossible.
At the end of the drive, all five M2 Coupés come to a halt and the viewer has to identify which car Gigi Hadid is in.

The spectacular one-shot stunt – captured in a single uncut tracking shot – was filmed at an airfield in California’s Mojave Desert under the direction of Oscar-winning cameraman Mauro Fiore (“Avatar”, “The Equalizer”).

The interactive resolution of the game takes place on the campaign microsite EyesOnGigi.com, where the viewer can also follow the fast-paced vehicle choreography from a 360-degree perspective.

“Eyes on Gigi” is the first time the top model from Los Angeles has officially worked with an automobile brand. “We are delighted to win Gigi Hadid as the face of our global campaign for the new BMW M2 Coupé,” commented Uwe Dreher, head of International Brand Communications BMW, BMW i and BMW M. “Gigi and the M2 are the perfect match: Both are strong personalities with fascinating charisma.”
Hadid was immediately impressed: “BMW is such an iconic brand. The fact that I get to be the face of this campaign is definitely a career highlight for me. The M2 is such a cool, fun car.”

Campaign adopts “digital-first” approach for the first time.

The digital spot kicks off an integrated campaign for global rollout through TV, digital, social media and CRM channels, starting 14 April. The “digital-first” approach preferred for the first time for “Eyes on Gigi” also benefits from Hadid’s strong social media presence. With 16.1 million subscribers on Instagram, nearly 1.9 million followers on Twitter and aprox. 2.6 million fans on Facebook, Hadid is extremely successful in this area.
If the player picks the right BMW M2 Coupé, the campaign’s sophisticated digital architecture leads into the digital BMW M2 Coupé showroom of the BMW sales company in the player’s country.

Hadid liked the unusual campaign idea: “When they came to me with this concept, I loved it, and was honoured to be a part of it. I had a blast working on this project.”

To guarantee the new “fan of the brand” continued driving fun over, BMW will provide the top model with her own BMW M2 Coupé for six months.

Agencies responsible:

KBS (New York) / Serviceplan (Hamburg)

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group South Africa Corporate Communications

Edward Makwana

Manager: Group Product Communications

BMW Group South Africa

Tel: +27-12-522-2227

Email: edward.makwana@bmw.co.za

Mobile: +27-71-666-2227

 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 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and nearly 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2015 was approximately € 9.22 billion on revenues amounting to € 92.18 billion. As of 31 December 2015, the BMW Group had a workforce of 122,244 employees.

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

www.bmwgroup.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Midrand. Multinational engineering conglomerate Siemens South Africa, has introduced two BMW i3s to its vehicle fleet as part of its goal to reduce its fleet fuel consumption and overall carbon foot print by 2030. Today, Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW Group South Africa, handed the keys of two BMW i3s with range extenders (REX) to Sabine Dall’ Omo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Siemens Southern and Eastern Africa at their Midrand Head Office.

“Since its successful market launch in South Africa in March 2015, a total of 124 BMW i3s have been delivered to customers. In addition, BMW South Africa is working with various partners to roll out public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across the country. Internationally, Siemens has been one of the key players in developing solutions and charging infrastructure products for electric vehicles. Therefore, we are pleased that they have opted for BMW i3s to reach their sustainability goals,” says Abbott.

Sabine Dall’ Omo, CEO of Siemens Southern and Eastern Africa, explains that the two vehicles can be used by Siemens employees to do customers visits in the Gauteng region, and will act as a visual showcase of Siemens commitment to sustainability. However, the vehicles will form the basis for a much bigger goal.

“Siemens aims to be the world's first major industrial company to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030. The company plans to cut its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – which currently total about 2.2 million metric tons a year – in half by as early as 2020. To achieve these goals, Siemens will invest some €100 million over the next three years in order to reduce the energy footprint of its production facilities and buildings.

“To reduce its CO2 emissions over the long term, the company will also apply three additional levers. First, we will use distributed energy systems at our production facilities and office buildings to optimize energy costs. Second, we will systematically employ low-emission vehicles and e-mobility concepts in our global car fleet. And third, we will move toward a clean power mix by increasingly tapping sources of energy ‒ such as natural gas and wind power ‒ that emit little or no CO2, ,” explains Dall’ Omo.

The BMW i3 is the BMW Group’s first volume-produced model driven purely by electric power and introduces a new era of mobility for urban dwellers looking for alternative mobility solutions. Since the global market launch, more than 80% of BMW i3 customers worldwide are new BMW customers.

In the listings of the most popular electric vehicle (EV) models in 2015, the BMW i3 occupies third place worldwide. It is the world’s first premium car conceived from the outset to incorporate an all-electric drive system. A crucial element within the success story of the BMW i3 has been that it is the only EV worldwide with an optional REX.

In its mission to deliver driving pleasure in urban areas, the BMW i3 has come up with the perfect package. The BMW i3 REX features a 650cc two-cylinder petrol engine with an output of 28kW (electric motor: 125kW), which maintains a minimum charge level and boasts a range of up to 300 kilometres.

-Ends-

BMW Group South Africa Corporate Communications:

Thando Pato

Manager: Product Communications (MINI, BMW i and BMW Motorrad)

BMW Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Tel: +27-12-522-2070

Mobile: +27-71-666-2070

Email: thando.pato@bmw.co.za

Media websites:

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

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

The BMW Group

With its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of cars and motorcycles and provider of premium financing and mobility services. It operates internationally with 30 production and assembly plants in 14 countries and a global sales network represented in more than 140 countries.

During the financial year 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and some 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. Group profit before tax reached € 9.22 billion on revenues totalling € 92.18 billion € 92.18 billion. At 31 December 2015, the BMW Group had a workforce of 122,244 employees.

Long-term thinking and responsible action have long been the foundation of the BMW Group’s success. Ecological and social sustainability along the entire value-added chain, full responsibility for our products and an unequivocal commitment to preserving resources are prime objectives firmly embedded in our corporate strategy.

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Los Angeles. For the third consecutive year, BMW proudly supported the Directors Guild of America at the organization’s 68th Annual DGA Awards Ceremony. The awards, which celebrate directorial excellence in feature film and television, took place on February 6, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Actor Jane Lynch presided over the ceremony which also featured two of BMW’s newest stars – the new BMW M2 Coupe and new BMW 7 Series – on the red carpet alongside Hollywood’s biggest directors and stars including Angela Basset, Abigail Breslin, Rachel McAdams, Leonardo DiCaprio and Alejandro González Iñárritu, who also won the award for “Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film”.

As the newest member of BMW M family, the BMW M2 Coupe offers both full power on the racetrack as well as top performance on the street. The BMW 7 Series is the brand’s flagship, setting new benchmarks in lightweight design, driving dynamics, comfort, intelligent connectivity and intuitive operation, while delivering the highest level of driving refinement in the premium class.

The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally been a near perfect barometer for the Best Director Academy Award. Only seven times since the DGA Award's inception has the DGA Award winner not won the Academy Award.

 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 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and nearly 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2014 was approximately € 8.71 billion on revenues amounting to € 80.40 billion. As of 31 December 2014, the BMW Group had a workforce of 116,324 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

Social Media Pages:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup (BMW South Africa, BMW Motorrad SA, MINISouthAfrica)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup (@BMW_SA, @BMWMotorradSA and @MINISouthAfrica).

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview (BMW South Africa and BMW Motorrad SA

Midrand. Almost a year after its market launch in South Africa, the BMW i3 was presented with two awards at the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards hosted in Johannesburg yesterday. The BMW i3 was awarded with Design of the Year and Game Changer of the Year awards.

The credentials for winner of Design of the Year were, according to Cars.co.za, manufacturers who brought fresh thinking to their respective segments and demonstrated innovation.

While the winner of the Game Changer of the Year category was one whose impact on the new vehicle market was either increasing sales volumes, introducing new technology, improving brand perception or simply representing a vast product improvement. Judges selected the finalists in this category from all the new vehicles that were launched in the South African market during 2015. The Cars.co.za Consumer Awards recognises nine vehicles that represent the best-considered new purchases in their respective categories of the South African new vehicle market and names three special category winners: Game Changer, Design and Brand of the Year.

The BMW i3 represents the BMW Group’s first volume-produced model driven purely by electric power and introduces a new era of mobility for urban dwellers looking for alternative mobility solutions.

Since its international market launch in November 2013, the BMW i3 has established itself at the pinnacle of its segment worldwide. In the listings of the most popular electric vehicle (EV) models, the BMW i3 occupies third place world-wide. It is the world’s first premium car conceived from the outset to incorporate an all-electric drive system.

A crucial element within the success story of the BMW i3 has been that it is the only EV worldwide with an optional Range Extender (REX). Since market launch in March 2015, 83 BMW i3's have been sold in South Africa. Internationally, a total of 24,057 BMW i3s were handed over to customers in 2015. In its mission to deliver driving pleasure in urban areas, the new BMW i3 has come up with the perfect package.

The BMW i3 battery electric vehicle (BEV) offers a range of up to 160 kilometres, while the BMW i3 with the range extender (REX) offers a range of up to 300 kilometres.

In 2014 the BMW i3 was named the 2015 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. The evaluation by Green Car Journal was based on BMW i3’s zero emissions at the point of use, its innovative lightweight design and the high percentage of sustainably produced materials in its production process.

For media queries, please contact:

Ms Thando Pato

Manager: Product Communications (MINI, BMW i and BMW Motorrad)

BMW Group South Africa

Telephone: +27-12-522-2070

Mobile: +27-72-232-5624

Email: thando.pato@bmw.co.za

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 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and nearly 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2014 was approximately € 8.71 billion on revenues amounting to € 80.40 billion. As of 31 December 2014, the BMW Group had a workforce of 116,324 employees.

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

www.bmwgroup.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Midrand. BMW Group South Africa announced today its first BMW i3 customer. The new BMW i3, the world’s first premium car conceived from the outset to incorporate an all electric drive system, went on sale in South Africa on Monday, 2 March 2015.

Mr Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW Group South Africa, and Mr Antonio Antela Martinez, Director of Sales and Marketing, recently handed over the keys of a Solar Orange BMW i3 with a range extender (REX) to Mr Nicky Oppenheimer, one of South Africa’s leading philanthropists and businessmen, at BMW Group South Africa’s Head Office in Midrand.

˝The new BMW i3 presents the BMW Group’s first volume-produced model driven purely by electric power and introduces a new era of mobility for urban dwellers looking for alternative mobility solutions. We are very excited to launch this sub-brand in South Africa. We wish Mr Oppenheimer many happy memories in his new BMW i3,˝said Abbott.

Mr Oppenheimer, who describes himself as a technology enthusiast, says the BMW i3‘s originality and technological advancements are what appealed to him. ˝I have always enjoyed cars that introduce innovation and the new BMW i3 is taking electric motoring to the next level.˝

˝What I am really enjoying about my BMW i3 is its stealth and robustness on the road. It is an absolute pleasure to drive.˝

In 2014 the BMW i3 was named the 2015 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. The evaluation by Green Car Journal was based on BMW i3’s zero emissions at the point of use, its innovative lightweight design and the high percentage of sustainably produced materials in its production process.

In its mission to deliver driving pleasure in urban areas, the BMW i3 has come up with the perfect package. With a DIN kerb weight of 1,195 kilograms the car is lighter than most compact vehicles, yet offers significantly more space for up to four occupants. It also has the edge over conventionally powered models of a comparable size and sprints from 0 to 100 km, in 7.2 seconds, and 0 to 60 km/h in 3.7 seconds.

The BMW i3 battery electric vehicle (BEV) offers a range of up to 160 kilometres, while the BMW i3 with the REX offers a range of up to 300 kilometres.

In 2014, global deliveries of the BMW i3 totaled 16,052; nearly three-quarters of those sales occurred in the second half of the year, following the vehicle’s market launch in the second quarter in several major markets.

Both the BMW i3 and BMW i8 are available exclusively through four selected BMW i dealers announced earlier this year. They include:

• Club Motors Fountains, Pretoria
• Sandton Auto, Johannesburg
• SMG, Cape Town
• Supertech, Durban

For more information visit www.bmwi.co.za

-Ends-

For media queries, please contact:

Ms Thando Pato

Manager: Product Communications (MINI, BMW i and BMW Motorrad)

BMW Group South Africa

Telephone: +27-12-522-2070

Mobile: +27-72-232-5624

Email: thando.pato@bmw.co.za

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

OR

Mr. Edward Makwana

Manager: Group Automotive Communications

BMW Group South Africa

Telephone: +27-12-522-2227

Mobile: +27-83-717-3184

Email: edward.makwana@bmw.co.za

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

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 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2014, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.118 million cars and 123,000 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

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Munich. The BMW 2 Series Coupe takes brand-typical driving pleasure to a new dimension. The sportiest vehicle in the premium compact segment fascinates with powerful drive technology and exceptionally agile handling characteristics. The BMW M235i Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 8.1 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined: 189 g/km), which offers the extremely intensive experience of superior dynamics, recently put on a spectacular performance in the centre of the South African metropolis Cape Town. The city’s streets became a stage for a “drift mob show” featuring the BMW M235i Coupe, professional stunt drivers and a Hollywood film crew that documented the sensational happening in a video clip. On 30 July 2014, the drift mob video starring the BMW M Performance automobile will celebrate its online debut on the new communication platform www.bmw.com/BMWstories.

Munich. The latest generation of the BMW X5, which founded the segment for Sports Activity Vehicles and is global market leader in its class, stars in a new TV commercial with a sense of humour. The ad features a series of follow-on scenarios that show in a slightly ironic way how a BMW X5 earns respect.

The television commercial shows the new BMW X5 driving through a deserted landscape to a crossroads, where it encounters a large gang of leather-clad bikers – who promptly come to a stop and give way. The camera then cuts to the BMW X5 driving through a busy city by night, where a colourful parade of dancers and fire-eaters also respectfully makes way. Following an impressive flight over the mountains, the camera catches up with a train the new BMW X5 is travelling parallel to – until the powerful locomotive slows to a halt to allow the car to pass. The BMW X5 finally reaches a stretch of rapids: since the water obviously refuses to stop for it, the BMW X5 ultimately ploughs right through. An off-screen voice remarks: “Respect isn’t commanded. It’s earned.”

The third generation of the BMW X5 raises the bar for powerful design, luxurious interior comfort, modern versatility and high efficiency. The striking new design and enhanced sportiness of the new BMW X5 in both urban and off-road settings are portrayed very effectively in the commercial.

The TV spot can be viewed online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLOOjyn4KrU&list=UUBSVw6f8KBFLn7r1cQsFhLw&feature=c4-overview

The commercial will be shown in the following countries: Italy, the United States of America, Canada, Japan and South Africa.

The ad was realised by the agency kbs+, New York.

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

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 around 1.963 million cars and 115,215 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2012 was € 7.82 billion on revenues amounting to € 76.85 billion. As of 31 December 2012, the BMW Group had a workforce of 105,876 employees.

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

www.bmwgroup.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Start of communications for new electric BMW i3 to coincide with world premiere

Munich. The international premiere of the BMW i3 was held simultaneously in the cities of London, New York and Beijing today. The revolutionary concept behind the new BMW i3 was presented to the global public in a live broadcast from the three locations. Launch communications for the new electric BMW i3 also got underway at the same time. The campaign for the new BMW i3 started worldwide with a standard international online presence focused on the launch film, a redesigned website with configurator and the first print ads. Social network communications round out the campaign. The corresponding TV campaign will debut in November to coincide with the vehicle’s pan-European market launch. The integrated campaign is a logical continuation of the urban positioning that has defined the BMW i brand since its launch in February 2011. Electric driving in a BMW i3 requires no sacrifice: This comfortable vehicle with the latest technology is highly suitable for everyday driving and boasts all the characteristics of a premium vehicle.

With the start of the campaign, interested users can easily configure the BMW i3 on the redesigned BMW i website and find all information on relevant topics, such as charging, everyday driveability, technology and BMW i dealerships. It is also easy and convenient to configure the BMW i3 or register for a test drive through the social networks – for example, on Facebook, where BMW i already has more than 1.3 million fans. Online banner ads will be displayed on relevant sites, such as blogs or comparison portals for electrical and hybrid vehicles, and also inserted into editorial content. From mid-August, the BMW i app for Android, iPhone and iPad will also be available with extended functionality such as location-based visualisation of the BMW i3 range, a photo gallery, a visualiser with 360° panorama interior views of the new BMW i3 and a tool for arranging test drives.

Uwe Dreher, responsible for BMW i Marketing Communications worldwide, summarises: “The aim of all our communications activities is to encourage people to take a test drive and, in that way, win them as potential customers for the vehicle – because the best way to experience the fascination, unique feeling and typical BMW driving pleasure of the electric BMW i3 is to actually drive the car for yourself.”

Shooting for both print and online launch campaigns for the BMW i3 took place in Los Angeles. Abstract scenes were deliberately avoided in the choice of visuals. Instead, the BMW i3 is shown in everyday situations familiar to its urban target audience. The band Phoenix provides the soundtrack for the launch film with its song “Lisztomania”.

The TV campaign, shot between the high-rises of downtown Chicago, will follow in November, to coincide with the market launch in Europe.

BMW i stands for visionary vehicles and mobility services, inspiring design and a new understanding of premium that is strongly geared towards sustainability. The BMW i brand redefines individual mobility. The BMW i3 is the world’s first premium electric vehicle purpose-built from the ground up for electric power, creating a car that guarantees typical BMW sheer driving pleasure with zero emissions.

The BMW i3 – the first series-produced vehicle from BMW i – transforms emission-free mobility into pure driving pleasure in a premium automobile. The BMW Group’s first pure electric model creates totally new and ground-breaking possibilities for driving pleasure, sustainability and networking in urban traffic. The visionary design of the BMW i3 provides an authentic expression of typical BMW sportiness and the efficiency of a four-seater. Its innovative vehicle concept includes a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell that combines light weight, stability and safety with an exceptional feeling of spaciousness. Driver assistance systems and BMW ConnectedDrive mobility services specially developed for BMW i, combined with the services of 360° ELECTRIC, make emission-free mobility in the urban environment a fascinating everyday experience.

Link to the BMW i3 website special: www.bmw.com/i3

Link to the BMW i3 film: www.bmw.com/i3film

Link to the BMW i3 visualiser:  www.bmw.com/i3visualizer

Link to BMW i on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMWi

As lead agency for BMW i since January 2012, Dorten, based in Stuttgart and Berlin, was responsible for campaign concept, design and development.

If you have any queries, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

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 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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Series version of the BMW i3 unveiled simultaneously worldwide

Reithofer: BMW i3 is a great leap forward

BMW i3 sets new benchmark for sustainable mobility

Already more than 90,000 requests for test drives

New York, London, Beijing. The BMW Group debuted the series version of its innovative electric vehicle, the BMW i3, simultaneously in New York, London and Beijing on Monday. “Innovation drives change. The i3 is more than just a car. It’s a revolutionary step towards sustainable mobility. It is purpose-built around an electric power train to serve the needs of our megacity customers,” said Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Norbert Reithofer, at the world premiere in New York on Monday.

The BMW i3 – the BMW Group’s first pure electric series-produced model – has the same sporting genes as every BMW and is characterised by sheer driving pleasure. Sustainability is a priority throughout the entire BMW i3 value chain: “The BMW i3 sets a new benchmark for sustainable mobility in all stages of development and production, as well as aftersales,” said Friedrich Eichiner, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Finance, at the unveiling of the BMW i3 in Beijing.

Range of 130 to 160 kilometres generally quite sufficient

The vehicle achieves a range of 130 to 160 kilometres. The BMW Group’s experience with test fleets of MINI E and BMW ActiveE cars has shown that a range of 130 to 160 km is quite sufficient for the vast majority of drivers. The average distance driven daily worldwide is no more than 64 km.

If desired, the BMW i3 is also available with a range-extender, which maintains the charge of the lithium-ion battery at a constant level enroute, as soon as it falls below a specified value. This is performed by a two-cylinder gasoline engine with 25 kW, mounted adjacent to the electric motor above the rear axle. The range extender increases the car’s maximum range in day-to-day driving to around 300 kilometres.

Low running costs and strong global interest

The BMW i3 will be released in Germany and other European markets in November 2013. The market launch of the BMW i3 in USA, China, Japan, South Africa and several other markets will take place in the first half of 2014. The base price for the BMW i3 has been set at 34,950 Euros in Germany. Local pricing (SA) has not been confirmed yet. If customers opt to purchase the Range Extender as an extra, the price in Germany will amount to 39,450 Euros.

The vehicle’s running costs are comparatively low: Over a period of three years, the maintenance and running costs for a BMW i3 are about 40% lower than those of a highly-economical 320dA registered in Germany. In other countries, figures may even be lower, depending on the level of subsidies available for electric vehicles.

Public interest in the BMW i3 and BMW i overall is extremely high and the response has been very positive: BMW i already has more than 1.2 million fans worldwide on Facebook, and more than 90,000 people have already requested a test-drive with the BMW i3.

BMW i3 sets a new benchmark in lightweight construction

The BMW i3 features a large number of technological innovations – such as a carbon-fibre passenger cell and a chassis made of aluminium – and sets new standards in the field of lightweight construction. With a curb weight of 1,195 kilogrammes, it is lighter than most vehicles in the compact segment, yet offers significantly more space for up to four occupants.

Its low weight contributes to the agility and dynamic performance of the BMW i3. The car’s electric drive-train generates output of 125 kW and peak torque of 250 Newton metres, which is immediately available from a standing start. The BMW i3 sprints from 0 to 60 km/h in 3.7 seconds and from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 150 km/h for efficiency reasons.

Sustainability throughout the value chain

Sustainability plays a vital role for the BMW Group. For example, the electricity needed for production of the BMW i3 at the Leipzig plant is generated from wind power. In addition to its CO2-free electricity supply, the plant also uses 50% less energy and 70% less water than the average for the already highly-efficient BMW production network.

Sale of BMW i vehicles via multi-channel sales model

BMW i products and services will be marketed through a multi-channel sales model, comprising authorised retail partners (BMW i agents), a multimedia Customer Interaction Centre (CIC) and an online sales platform. All sales channels will be fully integrated and customers will be able to choose their own individual customer journey. Customers can easily switch between all four channels.

With the introduction of the new online sales channel, BMW is responding to changed customer behaviour. Customers want new possibilities in how they inform themselves about products and how they purchase them. BMW i Partners will be the backbone of the BMW i sales network and the main contact point for the customer.

With its holistic „360 ° ELECTRIC“ approach, BMW i provides the customer with an extensive product and service offer designed to meet the driver’s needs. “We will support our BMW i3 customers with a comprehensive package of premium services for seamless and uncomplicated “sheer driving pleasure”, explained Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing BMW, at the BMW i3 launch in London.

Global market for electric vehicles likely to exceed 150,000 vehicles in 2013

The global market for electric vehicles is showing positive development: After almost 93,000 electric vehicles were registered worldwide last year, a total of 150,000 units is already forecast for the current year.

 If you have any queries, please contact:

BMW Corporate Communications:

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 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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Ladies and Gentlemen,

Innovation drives change.

And truly revolutionary innovations can even transform society. There is a powerful idea behind them – and a strong desire to create something better for tomorrow.

This is why we are here today. We are at the starting-blocks of a new era — the era of sustainable mobility.

Welcome to New York City, America’s premier megacity with over 8.3 million residents.

I am delighted to present – for the first time – the BMW i3.

Big changes start small. Looking back in history, we can find many examples of this. Today, the BMW i3 marks the beginning of a new mobility age. To put this into perspective, take a look at the mobile phone in your pocket. We had more than one hundred years of landline telephones. Then came the mobile phone and it completely changed how we interact with our world. The mobile phone opened up business opportunities that no one would have believed possible.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The car industry has waited well over a century for its own revolution. Today the wait is over. What the mobile phone did for communication, electric mobility will do for individual mobility.

The BMW i3 is more than an evolutionary step —it is a great leap forward. From sketch to street, the i3 is unique in every respect. With the intention of creating a truly sustainable car, we conducted research in megacities around the world.

This included:

• Millions of test miles with our retro-fitted electric cars, MINI E and BMW ActiveE,
  
  
• Years of research in collaboration with Megacity experts around the world, and
  
  
• Thousands of hours talking with customers.

From the start, we redesigned our entire development and production processes. The BMW i3 is purpose-built around an electric powertrain to serve the needs of our megacity customers.

The BMW i3 is Born Electric.

This is premium at its very best.

With every step of the way from development, to production, to after-sales, the BMW i3 sets new benchmarks in sustainable mobility. In the brand-new architecture, we use carbon fibre for the passenger cell — a first in high-volume car production. Our expertise in manufacturing with this material makes the passenger cell extremely strong and light weight. We produce the carbon fibre material using hydroelectric power. And we build the BMW i3 using wind power.

This is an industry first.

Our innovative production methods are also unique.

Carbon fibre components are bonded together in a fully automated process. The bonding techniques we have developed in-house are setting new industry standards.

The innovations of the BMW i3 go beyond R&D and production to include customer experience. 

We will support all of our BMW i3 customers with a comprehensive set of premium service offerings. This approach, “360 Degree Electric”, will make BMW i3 driving enjoyable and easy. Adding to the BMW i3’s relaxing experience is the open interior with its lounge atmosphere.

And of course, the BMW i3 will share one dynamic quality with every other BMW on the road: It will be an Ultimate Driving Machine.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In response to global trends such as urbanization and increasing carbon emissions, sustainability is an important part of a modern, urban lifestyle. The BMW i3 is the perfect solution to the mobility needs of people here in New York City. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has committed the remainder of his term to making New York City the greenest city on earth by supporting several citywide programs. Foremost, he seeks to improve and expand sustainable transportation infrastructure. We support with Mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to connect public parking spots in NYC for electric vehicle charging – up to 20 percent over the next seven years. This promotes not only sustainable mobility solutions, but also cost savings.

Charging your electric car costs up to 30 percent less than the average of what you now pay at the pump.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The car has existed for nearly 130 years.

Today marks a shift — a change — in the future of mobility.

The BMW Group is proud to be driving this change. 

Today, the BMW i3 begins a new era:

The era of true sustainable mobility. 

Thank you.

The 14.2 percent global growth in new car registrations posted by the BMW AG subsidiary last year – which precisely matches the growth rate of the BMW Group as a whole – bears witness to the enduringly strong fascination exerted by these high-performance sports cars. The production phase-out of the BMW M5 and BMW M6 models was more than compensated for by a consistently high demand for the BMW M3 and the newly introduced all-wheel-drive models BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M. Yet again the BMW M3 demonstrated its status as the most popular ambassador for the M ethos. Worldwide, 5,729 units of the BMW M3 Coupé were sold, to which were added 2,544 units of the BMW M3 Convertible and 1,843 BMW M3 Saloons. Sales of the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M totalled 2,778 and 3,082 respectively.

The most important single market in 2010 was once again the USA, where overall BMW M car sales rose by more than 6 percent to 6,821. The number two sales region, as before, was the German domestic market with sales of 1,716 cars, followed by Britain and Northern Ireland with 1,264 units. The most dynamic growth by far was seen in the Chinese car market, where sales rose by 355 percent to 1,088 units, making China the fourth-strongest market for BMW M cars. BMW M GmbH also registered outstanding growth rates in Brazil  (+ 237 percent) and Russia (+ 104 percent).

M Sport packages: growth in sales, range to expand in 2011 too.

In terms of sales of the M Sport packages – now available for virtually all the model ranges – BMW M GmbH also recorded positive growth in the last financial year. The model-specific development of aerodynamics, chassis, exterior and interior components lends attractive highlights to ultra-sporty driving pleasure across all the vehicle categories, and the range of options on offer is steadily expanding. The spectrum currently ranges from the BMW 1 Series to the BMW 7 Series, and also encompasses the BMW Z4 and the BMW X5. 2011 will see the BMW X3 and BMW X1 models added to the list.

In total, the number of M Sport packages produced in 2010 rose by 1 percent to 138,800. The main market for M Sport packages was Britain and Northern Ireland, followed by Germany and the USA. These markets once again posted a growth in figures for 2010, with the biggest percentage increases shown by the Korean car market (+ 411 percent) and China (+ 125 percent) and Russia (+ 107 percent).

BMW Individual boasts the strongest growth rates.

A significant jump in the demand for highly exclusive special options in the areas of bodywork paint, alloy wheels and interior fittings pushed up production figures for the BMW Individual business unit in 2010. Over the course of the year, production was ramped up to 24,155 options, with which the relevant cars were specifically enhanced based on personal preferences. This amounts to a growth rate of 47 percent.

Germany, which continues to be the most important single market for the BMW Individual programme, posted growth of 16 percent. Following a 119 percent leap, the USA now constitutes the second most important sales region. Demand for BMW Individual products experienced exceptionally dynamic growth in China (+ 275 percent) and Russia (+ 182 percent).

BMW Group Driving Experience: professional know-how for enhanced driving pleasure proves ever more popular.

The BMW Group’s Driving Experience programme also met with heightened interest in 2010. The number of participants rose by 21 percent to 12,945 – a unique achievement in the German marketplace. This programme, devised and organised by BMW M GmbH, covers BMW Driving Experience and MINI Driving Experience. The options range from short courses for beginners all the way to adventure tours and track training for motor sport fans. Experienced instructors convey target group-oriented know-how for self-assured driving pleasure.

It was above all the Experience courses of the BMW Group Driving Experience programmes that reflected a steep rise in demand with figures swelling by 69 percent. Efficient Dynamics Training in conjunction with safety exercises, introduced in 2008, likewise enjoyed growing popularity in 2010. The number of participants keen to learn more about economical as well as safe driving rose by 27 percent. The restructured programme for BMW Motorrad Training also triggered a boost in interest: the expanded programme led to a 208 percent increase in participants.

BMW M GmbH: top performance for special requirements – now for special task and security vehicles as well.

A further important aspect of the BMW Group Driving Experience scheme is the special training of drivers of BMW security vehicles. BMW Security Training teaches drivers of armoured and unarmoured vehicles to carry out challenging manoeuvres with confidence, to master all kinds of tricky situations with practised skill and to convey passengers to their destination in safety and comfort. Around 200 participants signed up for this course in 2010.

2011 sees BMW M GmbH extending its sphere of responsibility to include the development of security vehicles as well as special task vehicles for government authorities and public bodies. With this fifth business area, BMW M GmbH gains new possibilities for utilising and further expanding its more than 30-year experience in customer-led individualisation of vehicles – all the way to building one-off models. In a similar way to the high-performance sports cars from BMW M GmbH, these security and special task vehicles are also built as part of an integral development process that is guided by specific customer requirements and that ensures that these specifications are reconciled with maximum everyday utility and with the stringent quality and safety standards of premium carmaker BMW.

BMW security vehicles guarantee effective and tailored protection from criminal attacks and other hazardous situations. The current range includes security vehicles in various protection classes, all of which come with certification in compliance with internationally recognised standards. The protective equipment forms an integral part of the relevant vehicle concept. Unlike retrofit security measures, this principle ensures that all components are perfectly adapted to the relevant model. For example, an armoured passenger cell provides protection for the whole interior that covers all joints and seams. When it comes to the suspension tuning, too, the specific attributes of the security vehicle – including extra weight – are taken into account from the outset. Plus, all specific equipment details comply with the high quality and safety requirements of the BMW Group. Another advantage of this integrated development process is that the design of the vehicle is not affected by the implementation of security features. At first glance BMW security models are indistinguishable from production models and are therefore particularly discreet when out on the road.

In the field of special task vehicles for police forces, fire brigades and emergency services in Germany and abroad, the integration of specific requirements stipulated by each target group presents a particular challenge for the development and production process. BMW is the only German carmaker to systematically integrate these requirements during the series production process. This means that police patrol cars, for example, along with their specific radio, signalling and measuring technology are built in parallel with the corresponding series production models at the relevant plant.

Beyond that, a functionally optimised link-up with the production vehicle is given priority right at the development stage of components built to order for special task vehicles. Regular dialogue between BMW and the future users ensures that the appropriate integrated solutions are found. This ensures an overall concept for equipping special task vehicles which, on the one hand, complies with BMW’s high quality standards and, on the other, meets the specific demands of the respective users.

-Ends-

Media queries:

Stefan Behr, Product Communication BMW Automobiles,

Tel: +49-89-382 51376, Fax: +49-89-382 20626

Dirk Arnold, Head of Product Communication,

Tel: +49-89-382 12325, Fax: +49-89-382 20626

Edward Makwana, Manager: Group Automotive Communications

BMW South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Tel: +27-12-522-2227

Email: edward.makwana@bmw.co.za

The BMW M GmbH.

The BMW M GmbH is a one hundred percent subsidiary of the BMW AG. With products and services in the five business areas BMW M Automobiles, BMW Individual, M Sport Packages and Options, BMW Group Driving Experience as well as special task and security vehicles, it addresses customers with particularly high demands on the performance, exclusivity and individuality of their vehicle.

The Munich-based company was founded in 1972 as the BMW Motorsport GmbH. Since then, the letter M has been internationally synonymous with success in motor sports and with the fascination of high-performance sports cars for use in everyday road traffic. Production of BMW M automobiles is integrated into the manufacturing processes of BMW plants. The BMW M GmbH possesses the status of an independently operating automobile manufacturer. I

n the business year 2010, the BMW M GmbH achieved worldwide sales of approximately 17,000 vehicles. The BMW M GmbH currently employs around 500 people in the areas of development, administration and marketing.