Note: This press release is a 1:1 copy of the original issued by BMW headquarters in Germany. No adaptions have been made to cater to the UK market.  

Munich. “RELAX. WE CARE.” – this is the new service promise now also at MINI, which applies in all participating markets* and qualified vehicles thanks to the innovative offering “Proactive Care.” The vehicle acts like a digital concierge, recognising existing and predictable service needs and proactively reaching out to the customer with proposed solutions.

“With the introduction of Proactive Care at MINI, we are now implementing our service promise ‘RELAX. WE CARE.’ in the premium segment of small and compact cars. Our offering acts as a digital concierge, proactively analysing all service needs and providing timely support to our customers. This ensures that our customers are always well-informed and that potential needs are identified early,” says Ralf Hattler, Senior Vice President Customer Support and Aftersales.

Tyre diagnostics, error messages and much more: if sensors in the car detect a service need, the customer is proactively informed about potential faults and upcoming maintenance before it becomes urgent. The customer receives tailored solution proposals: depending on their preference, via the MINI app, through in-car messages, by email, SMS, or phone, through their preferred dealer, or even by a call from roadside assistance. If a workshop visit is necessary, a contact option to the preferred MINI service partner is provided, who can conduct a remote diagnosis based on the service need report. Completed work, costs, and handover appointments are transparently viewable and manageable at any time and from anywhere.

MINI Service with Proactive Care: Customer Satisfaction at the Forefront.
Whereas previously customers approached their MINI service partner, this principle is reversed with MINI Service with Proactive Care – creating a completely new service experience that places customer satisfaction even more firmly at the centre. For MINI drivers, this means one thing above all: they can fully concentrate on the joy of driving. To do this, it is necessary to download the MINI app and activate the MINI Connected contract.

In the next step, the vehicle must be registered, and the preferred MINI service partner and contact details entered. To fully experience MINI Service with Proactive Care, consent to the data protection regulations, activation of push notifications in the MINI app, and agreement to communication from BMW AG or the service partner are required.

Greatest Focus on Data Protection.
The BMW Group places the utmost importance on data protection and data security, particularly regarding personal data. Therefore, information is collected specifically and precisely for the relevant services. This is done in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation and in compliance with national laws such as the Federal Data Protection Act.

Following the launch in Italy and the United Kingdom at the beginning of 2025, Germany, Korea, Spain, and the Benelux countries followed in the second quarter. The introduction will also take place in France, China and the USA in the second half of the year.

Campaign Showcases MINI in Scotland – Thanks to Artificial Intelligence.
The current advertising campaign for MINI's new service promise is set in the Scottish Highlands, in true British style and will be presented at the IAA. For the production, neither a MINI nor a photo and film crew was needed: the images are generated by artificial intelligence. The campaign will be rolled out globally starting in October.

*The availability of features varies depending on the market.

Ends


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.


www.bmwgroup.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bmwgroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwgroup

X: https://www.x.com/bmwgroup


MINI Press Office Contacts:

Sam Buckingham
MINI Press Officer
Tel: 07815 362262
Email: Samuel.Buckingham@mini.co.uk

Helen Wilson
MINI Media Relations Manager
Tel: 07815 372480                   
Email: Helen.Wilson@mini.co.uk

Christina Burnham-Hepe
Corporate Communications Director
Tel: 07815 371206
Email: Christina.Burnham-Hepe@bmw.co.uk

Media website:
www.press.bmwgroup.co.uk
www.mini.co.uk
www.twitter.com/miniuk
www.facebook.com/miniuk
www.youtube.com/miniuk  

Note: This press release is a 1:1 copy of the original issued by BMW headquarters in Germany. No adaptations have been made to cater for the UK market.  

Munich/Miramas. At the end of series development, the new BMW X3 undergoes final tuning of all chassis control and driver assistance systems at the BMW Group test centre in Miramas, southern France. The fourth generation of the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) in the premium mid-range vehicle segment will be presented in a few weeks' time with both highly efficient combustion engines and an advanced plug-in hybrid drive. The development and test engineers ensure that all model variants of the new BMW X3, regardless of drive concept and weight, demonstrate superior handling in every situation with an intensive tuning programme. The well-coordinated functionality of all automated driving and parking systems in the new BMW X3 also contributes to a harmonious customer experience.

The new BMW X3 has already undergone extensive testing on snow and ice, in extremely hot regions and off-road on its way to series production. The SAV's suitability for everyday use and travelling was tested and refined in urban stop-and-go traffic as well as on winding country roads, highways and selected race tracks.

Perfectly coordinated systems for a typical BMW driving experience.

The development engineers use the versatile test track in Miramas to put the finishing touches to the driving experience of the new BMW X3. In addition to an asphalt oval and a highway ring, there are also slalom, serpentine and circular tracks as well as off-road courses and handling courses with different road surfaces. This allows the longitudinal and lateral acceleration, suspension and damping, steering precision and braking behaviour of the new BMW X3 to be analysed and optimised down to the last detail.

The driving dynamics and efficiency of the new BMW X3 benefit from intelligent lightweight construction and optimised aerodynamic properties. With a drag coefficient (C_d) of 0.27, it sets new standards in its competitive environment.

Compared to its predecessor, the new BMW X3 also has a wider track and reduced lift at the rear axle. In addition, the rigidity of the body and the chassis connection has been increased. Targeted improvements to the kinematics and elastokinematics of both axles, combined with a 19 per cent increase in the caster of the front wheels, ensure noticeably improved directional stability. A more direct steering ratio enhances steering comfort, while extensively modified anti-roll bars improve cornering dynamics without compromising ride comfort.

An Adaptive Chassis with electronically controlled shock absorbers is available as an option for the new BMW X3. The final tuning is part of the driving dynamics test at Miramas and offers two maps that can be selected via My Modes. In addition, the new version of the SAV comes as standard with the latest version of BMW Lateral Dynamics Management, which ensures precise control of the required steering torques, the actuator-based wheel slip limitation and the yaw torque distribution of Performance Control, adapted to the driving situation at all times.

Thanks to BMW's unique development expertise, all components and systems of the drive and chassis technology are perfectly matched. The result is the characteristic combination of precision, sovereignty and versatility that characterises the driving experience in a BMW SAV. 

Automated driving is also optimised by BMW's typical level of integration.

The new BMW X3 features the latest BMW iDrive based on the BMW Operating System 9 including BMW iDrive Controller and offers a significantly expanded selection of systems for automated driving and parking compared to the predecessor model. With its standard equipment, it clearly exceeds the requirements of the Euro NCAP safety test. The particularly sensitive braking and steering interventions of the assistance systems compared to the competition are another example of the unique integration performance of BMW riving dynamics development. They enable harmonious interaction between driver and vehicle in every situation.

The outstanding functionality of all assistance systems is based on state-of-the-art sensor technology as well as software, processor and network technology. Highlights in the new BMW X3 include the Active Lane Change Assistant and the Parking and Manoeuvre Assistant, which allows the driver to control manoeuvres from outside the vehicle using a smartphone.

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 2023, the BMW Group sold over 2.55 million passenger vehicles and more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 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

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

Munich. The BMW Group is stepping up its activities in the field of sustainability, becoming the first automotive manufacturer worldwide to equip its cars with tyres using certified sustainable natural rubber and rayon, a wood-based material used to strengthen the tyres. The company will source 22-inch tyres in the first instance exclusively from Pirelli and, from August of this year, will use them in the BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-in-Hybrid (fuel consumption combined: 1.7-1.2 l/100km (WLTP), 2.1-1.6 l/100 km (NEDC); power consumption combined: 27.7-24.3 kWh/100 km (WLTP), 25.2-23.5 kWh/100 km (NEDC); CO2 emissions combined: 39-27 g/km (WLTP), 47-37 g/km (NEDC)). Certification of the rubber plantations and the complex supply chain for natural rubber and rayon takes place in accordance with the strict standards of the independent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

“As a premium manufacturer, we aspire to lead the way in sustainability and take responsibility,” said Dr Andreas Wendt, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network. “We have been committed to improving cultivation of natural rubber and increasing transparency in the supplier network since 2015. The use of tyres made of certified natural rubber is a pioneering achievement for our industry. In this way, we are helping preserve biodiversity and forests to counteract climate change.”

Natural rubber is the basic material for many products we use in our daily lives, such as boots and mattresses. About six million small farmers worldwide are responsible for over 80% of the world’s natural rubber cultivation. In the so-called rubber belt across the tropical regions, they run farms of between one and two hectares in size under a wide variety of different conditions. Agreeing uniform social and environmental growing conditions with these millions of small individual farms is therefore a major challenge.

By far the largest share of natural rubber grown worldwide goes into tyre production. Natural rubber’s high elasticity and sturdiness currently make it irreplaceable for tyre production.

Small label, big impact
As an independent organisation, FSC has developed an internationally recognised and demanding certification standard in recent years that is used worldwide for environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the forests. The organisation, whose well-known logo is already established in the wood and paper industry, also applies this standard to products made of natural rubber.

The new 22-inch P ZERO ∗ tyre has now become the world's first tyre to receive the coveted FSC label. To earn this certification, Pirelli adapted its US plant in Rome, Georgia, to produce tyres using FSC-certified natural rubber and rayon. From there, the tyres are delivered to BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, around 370 km away, and mounted on the BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid. The star ∗ in the name indicates that the new tyre meets the BMW Group’s strict performance requirements, including particularly low rolling resistance and noise level.

Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Future Mobility, said: “Before even reaching the road, sustainable mobility begins with raw materials. With the world’s first FSC-certified tyre, Pirelli once again demonstrates its commitment to pursuing increasingly challenging goals in terms of sustainability, a testament to the constant work on innovative materials and increasingly cutting-edge production processes. We continue to invest in sustainable growth for our planet, aware that this is also essential for the future of our businesses.”

Jeremy Harrison, Chief Markets Officer, FSC International, added: “The new FSC-certified Pirelli Tyre is a significant milestone in the drive to deliver economic, social, and environmental benefits across the natural rubber value chain. This is a major step forward in the journey towards a more sustainable natural rubber value chain, thereby helping to mitigate deforestation and support the fight against climate change.”

Long-standing commitment to greater transparency and sustainability in the natural rubber supplier network
The use of the first tyres containing certified sustainable natural rubber and rayon at the BMW Group is the result of the company’s extensive commitment in this area. In 2019, the BMW Group joined forces with well-known tyre manufacturers, NGOs, rubber producers and consumers to create the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR). Small farmers are also represented in this initiative. The GPSNR is committed to improving social and environmental conditions for cultivation of natural rubber and pushing for more sustainability. It also implements measures to stop deforestation and make supply chains more transparent. The GPSNR currently has almost 100 members, who are responsible for about 50 percent of the global natural rubber market.

Through its activities in the GPSNR and close cooperation with its suppliers, the BMW Group is constantly working to further improve sustainability in the natural rubber supply chain. The BMW Group is stepping up these activities and plans to steadily expand its sourcing of tyres made from sustainably grown natural rubber.

The BMW Group has been working with the FSC organisation for many years (Licence code FSC-N002012). The company decided to use FSC-certified wood in the BMW i3, which was first launched onto the market in 2013. The BMW iX for release later this year will also feature FSC-certified wood. In 2017, the BMW Group and FSC advocated for further development of FSC standards for cultivation of natural rubber in Thailand.

Sustainability an integral part of all purchasing activities
Independently of these measures, the BMW Group has contractually obligated all its direct suppliers to respect human rights, comply with expanded environmental and social standards and to introduce management systems to promote occupational safety and protect the environment since 2014. This also includes protecting forests and biodiversity. These requirements must also be contractually passed on to subcontractors. BMW Group Purchasing does not rely on contractual obligations alone for this but is also implementing a large number of additional measures in a transparent process. A risk filter is used to evaluate potential supplier locations worldwide even before the call for bids.

The next step is to require possible suppliers to outline their sustainability activities in a detailed questionnaire. External partners also work with internal appraisers to review selected locations. Throughout the contract period, external partners work with internal appraisers to verify compliance with sustainability requirements through questionnaires and audits. In this way, BMW Group Purchasing is able to monitor thousands of locations every year.

Sustainable mobility with the BMW X5 xDrive45e
The BMW Group has completed full lifecycle CO₂ certification for the BMW X5 xDrive45e – from raw material procurement, through the supply chain, production and use phase, all the way to recycling. If charged during the use phase with the average European electricity mix, this gives it an advantage of around 40 percent over the BMW X5 xDrive40i. If charged with green power, the advantage is around 70 percent. The electric range amounts to 77-88 kilometres (WLTP).

Team BMW driver, Colin Turkington has secured his third title in the 2018 season finale of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch. The Northern Irishman is one of only eight drivers to have won three or more BTCC crowns (adding to those he won in 2009 and 2014), after a dramatic and competitive season.

BMW also returned to the podium and were crowned winners of the Manufacturers’ Championship, while WSR-run Team BMW became Team Champions at the Kent track.

Turkington entered the weekend with a 34-point advantage over his nearest rival and a chance to win the title in Race One. Having qualified 17^th, he drove a cautious first race to 12^th, extending his lead to 36 points.

In the second race however, Turkington encountered a collision which resulted him finishing 22^nd. Despite this, Turkington’s consistency in his BMW 125i M Sport throughout the season ensured that he wrapped up his title and lifted the crown.

Colin Turkington, said: “It feels sensational to be a three-time champion. It is special to win it once but to secure the hat-trick is something I never dreamed possible. 2018 was the toughest BTCC season ever both in terms of competitiveness and from a personal point of view. There were 17 different race winners so to come out on top is amazing. The team has done a super job all year, and to win the Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles is some feat.”

Graeme Grieve, CEO of BMW Group UK, said: “We are absolutely delighted for Colin and Team BMW, particularly as the BTCC is one of the most significant race series in the UK. The title is testament to their commitment and the competiveness of the BMW 125i M Sport.” 

BMW UK’s financial investment in the BTCC team included the funding of technical developments on all fronts, focused on the very latest BMW engine technology.

                                                                         Ends

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.

Facebook: BMW UK
Twitter: @BMW_UK
Instagram: BMWUK
LinkedIn: BMW Group UK Limited
YouTube: BMW UK

For further information please contact:
Lauren Prema                                         BMW Media Relations Executive

Tel: 07815 370746

Email: Lauren.Prema@bmw.co.uk         

Piers Scott                                               General Manager, Product and Internal Communications

Tel: 01252 921265 

Email: Piers.Scott@bmw.co.uk

Graham Biggs                                         Corporate Communications Director

Tel:  01252 921256

Email:  Graham.Biggs@bmw.co.uk