•Oportunidade antecipada para encomendar o BMW i3 50 xDrive.

•Segundo modelo da Neue Klasse.

•Os modelos da Neue Klasse são sinónimo de progresso tecnológico, sistemas de propulsão potentes, elevada autonomia e tempos de carregamento reduzidos.

•O “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” inclui um equipamento completo e amplas possibilidades de personalização.

• Preços atrativos para o BMW i3 50 xDrive no modelo base (65 500 euros) e para o “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” (74 000 euros)

Munique. A BMW inicia uma nova e emocionante era no prazer de condução com o seu segundo modelo da Neue Klasse - o novo BMW i3. Os clientes podem fazer as suas encomendas do BMW i3 50 xDrive totalmente elétrico na versão “First Edition” antes do lançamento oficial no mercado, exclusivamente nos concessionários BMW.

Jochen Goller, Membro do Board of Management of BMW AG, Customer, Brands, Sales, afirma: “O novo BMW i3 é um automóvel revolucionário para nós. Sendo um modelo totalmente elétrico, irá competir num segmento de grande volume e é, por isso, extremamente significativo para o BMW Group. Ao mesmo tempo, já podemos constatar, pelo elevado nível de interesse neste modelo, que será muito bem recebido pelos nossos clientes. O início das encomendas a 18 de junho na versão “First Edition” – antes do lançamento oficial no mercado – constitui um importante passo neste sentido.”

O novo BMW i3 – o segundo modelo da Neue Klasse a ser lançado – também personifica o salto tecnológico dado pela marca. A tecnologia BMW eDrive de sexta geração altamente eficiente, alia-se ao novo BMW Panoramic iDrive e ao “Heart of Joy” para elevar o “Sheer Driving Pleasure” a um patamar totalmente novo. A experiência de condução assistida entra também numa nova era com o BMW Symbiotic Drive. Além disso, o BMW i3 traz uma interpretação moderna das características de design emblemáticas de uma berlina BMW.

Os clientes poderão configurar o seu novo “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” com uma série de equipamentos adicionais para complementar o já extenso equipamento de série do veículo. Isto inclui o Pack Desportivo M, o Pack exterior BMW Iconic Glow e o BMW 3D Head-Up Display. O “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” pode ser encomendado pelo preço de 74 000,00 EUR (WLTP, combinado [EnVKV]: consumo de energia 16,1–13,5 kWh/100 km; emissões de CO₂: 0 g/km; classe de CO₂ A) e oferece uma autonomia de 758 – 906 km. Com a sua tecnologia de 800 V, o sistema BMW eDrive de sexta geração do BMW i3 50 xDrive permite uma potência máxima de carregamento de até 400 kW. Após dez minutos de carregamento em corrente contínua, isto traduz-se em 423 km de autonomia.

No lançamento oficial no mercado, no outono de 2026, o BMW i3 50 xDrive (WLTP, combinado [EnVKV]: consumo de energia 16,1 – 13,4 kWh/100 km; emissões de CO₂: 0 g/km; classe de CO₂ A), na versão de série e com uma autonomia de até 912 km estará disponível ao preço de 65 500,00 EUR.

Mike Reichelt, Head of Neue Klasse BMW, explica: “O BMW Série 3 tem sido um ícone da nossa marca há sete gerações e, por conseguinte, há mais de cinco décadas. Personifica o puro prazer de condução, a inovação e o design intemporal. Com o Neue Klasse e o seu conjunto tecnológico, estamos literalmente a saltar uma geração de veículos. Este é o ADN da nossa berlina desportiva num conceito de veículo completamente novo, à medida que escrevemos o próximo capítulo da história de sucesso do BMW Série 3.”

O BMW i3 exemplifica a nova linguagem de design da BMW: centrada no essencial, num estilo moderno e inconfundível.
Com o seu design de 2.5 volumes, o novo BMW i3 oferece uma interpretação moderna das proporções características de uma berlina desportiva BMW – sendo imediatamente reconhecível como um BMW Série 3. A sua silhueta é definida por uma longa distância entre eixos, uma superfície envidraçada recuada e pequenas saliências. Familiar, mas também nova, é a frente com quatro faróis, uma assinatura típica da marca. A linguagem de design “Neue Klasse” orienta a nova interpretação da icónica zona dianteira. A dupla grelha BMW - tal como os seus faróis - fundem-se numa assinatura luminosa inovadora, tornando-a numa peça de design única. Os faróis traseiros, com a sua horizontalidade acentuada, apresentam a forma abstrata de um “L”. As jantes realçam a postura desportiva do novo BMW i3.

Elevando o foco no condutor a um novo patamar.
Os interiores modernos e dinâmicos caracterizam a linguagem de design “Neue Klasse”: O habitáculo espaçoso do novo BMW i3 permite-lhe explorar todo o potencial de uma arquitetura de veículo totalmente orientada para a mobilidade elétrica.
O BMW Panoramic iDrive com o Sistema Operativo BMW X utiliza um ecrã e um sistema operativo exclusivos numa nova dimensão orientada para o condutor. No seu cerne está o BMW Panoramic Vision, que projeta conteúdos ao longo de toda a largura da parte inferior do pára-brisas. A lógica de funcionamento multimodal do BMW Panoramic iDrive combina interações táteis, hápticas e por voz. O BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant desempenha aqui um papel fundamental, permitindo que inúmeras funções do veículo, a introdução de destinos de navegação e os conteúdos multimédia sejam controlados através de uma linguagem fluída.

O BMW i3 dá um salto tecnológico com o sistema de propulsão elétrica de sexta geração.
O primeiro BMW Série 3 totalmente elétrico possui um motor elétrico no eixo dianteiro e outro no eixo traseiro, que, em conjunto, produzem uma potência total de 345 kW/469 cv. O binário máximo é de 645 Nm. O BMW i3 50 xDrive acelera dos 0 aos 100 km/h em 4,7 segundos. O novo “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” apresenta motores e valores de desempenho idênticos.
No novo BMW i3, a tecnologia BMW eDrive de sexta geração, altamente eficiente, une forças com o supercomputador “Heart of Joy” e o sistema de condução BMW Dynamic Performance Control. Em conjunto, conferem ao veículo características de condução seguras e extremamente precisas. O “Heart of Joy” responde dez vezes mais rápido do que os sistemas anteriores e reduz o número de intervenções de controlo necessárias. O resultado eleva o “Sheer Driving Pleasure” a um patamar totalmente novo. A experiência de condução assistida no BMW i3 entra igualmente numa nova dimensão com o BMW Symbiotic Drive.
A função Soft Stop garante a travagem mais suave da história da BMW. O controlo preciso dos motores elétricos leva a berlina totalmente elétrica a uma paragem impercetivelmente suave, sem qualquer solavanco nem ruídos de travagem.
No que diz respeito às tecnologias de assistência ao condutor no novo BMW i3, o BMW Symbiotic Drive permite uma interação perfeita entre as funções de assistência e o comportamento de condução. Com os sistemas de assistência à condução ativos, o condutor pode responder às diversas situações - acelerando, virando o volante ou travando - sem desativar o sistema de assistência relevante durante o processo. O Assistente em autoestrada (opcional) permite uma condução assistida na autoestrada “hands-free” até 130 km/h com mudanças de faixa automatizadas após confirmação por sinal visual.

Maior autonomia, tempos de carregamento mais curtos.
Outra característica do salto tecnológico dado pelo novo BMW i3 é a bateria de alta tensão com novas células cilíndricas que oferecem uma capacidade de 108,7 kWh. O design “pack-to-open-body” do compartimento da bateria transforma esta última numa parte estrutural do novo BMW i3.
O “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” tem uma autonomia de até 906 quilómetros (de acordo com o ciclo de testes WLTP) e, por isso, oferece uma elevada capacidade de percorrer longas distâncias, combinada com tempos de carregamento drasticamente reduzidos, graças à tecnologia de 800 V. As taxas de carregamento em corrente contínua (CC) de até 400 kW permitem que o BMW i3 50 xDrive carregue, em dez minutos, energia suficiente num ponto de carregamento rápido de CC para uma autonomia de até 423 km (de acordo com a norma ISO 12906 no ciclo WLTP).

O equipamento de série do “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” inclui o Pack Desportivo M Sport e o Pack exterior BMW Iconic Glow.
O extenso equipamento de série do BMW i3 50 xDrive inclui o Panoramic Vision, o Driving Assistant Plus, o Comfort Access, a BMW Digital Key Plus e bancos dianteiros elétricos e aquecidos. Uma característica de destaque do “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” é o Pack Desportivo M. Este inclui o Pack M exterior, travões M Sport azuis e projeção do logótipo M nos espelhos retrovisores exteriores, complementados no interior do veículo pelo design exclusivo do interior BMW M em Veganza e M PerformTex Black (estando disponíveis outras variantes de estofos). O Pack Desportivo M torna evidente à primeira vista, o potencial dinâmico da nova berlina totalmente elétrica.

As especificações do “First Edition” incluem também o Pack exterior BMW Iconic Glow, que realça a profundidade visual das icónicas grelhas da BMW com uma iluminação de contorno precisa. Outra característica deste pacote é uma animação de boas-vindas e despedida, que apresenta três efeitos de luz visualmente impressionantes. O Pack exterior BMW Iconic Glow permite personalizar e adaptar estes efeitos ao gosto pessoal de cada cliente.

Outros destaques do interior incluem bancos multifunções, o BMW 3D Head-Up Display e o sistema de som HiFi Harman Kardon.
O interior do “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” inclui uma série de opcionais de destaque: Entre estes contam-se os bancos dianteiros multifunções com regulação elétrica, controlo de climatização de três zonas automático, vidros com proteção solar e o volante aquecido.
O BMW 3D Head-Up Display complementa o ecrã e o sistema operativo do novo BMW i3, estando integrado acima do BMW Panoramic Vision. Além disso, o BMW 3D Head-Up Display projeta conteúdos selecionados exclusivamente na linha de visão do condutor. Isto permite uma perceção espacial extremamente precisa – como por exemplo, instruções de navegação.
O sistema de som HiFi Harman Kardon com suporte para Dolby Atmos proporciona um nível de qualidade de som particularmente elevado ao “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition”.

O funcionamento automático da porta da bagageira, incluindo o Smart Opener, proporciona um acesso extremamente fácil ao compartimento de carga. O toque final nas especificações do “First Edition” é o Carregamento rápido AC, que aumenta a potência de carregamento CA de 11 para 22 kW.

Opcionais no novo “BMW i3 50 xDrive First Edition”.
O cliente pode dar um toque ainda mais pessoal ao seu “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” com a ajuda de equipamentos opcionais específicos do modelo. Uma opção é o teto de vidro panorâmico opcional, com vidros de conforto climático, cria uma sensação de espaço banhado pela luz. Também é possível encomendar um gancho de reboque de rotação elétrica.

A extensa oferta de entretenimento disponível através do BMW Connected Drive permite aos clientes especificar funções adicionais opcionais do BMW Maps, o Security Assistant e um pacote de dados como parte do BMW Digital Premium.
No que diz respeito a funções de condução e estacionamento, o cliente pode escolher ainda mais opções para o “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition”: A gama de opcionais concebidas para aumentar a segurança e o conforto inclui o Assistente de estacionamento Plus e Professional, bem como o Assistente de autoestrada.

Ampla gama de opcionais em matéria de cores exteriores, jantes, acabamentos interiores e volantes.

Estão disponíveis um total de seis acabamentos de pintura exterior para o “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition”. Entre estes encontra-se a exclusiva tonalidade metálica M Le Castellet Blue.
A gama de jantes compreende três modelos aerodinâmicos e uma variante BMW Individual: os clientes podem escolher entre jantes de 19 e 20 polegadas.
No que diz respeito ao interior do novo “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition”, o design de interiores “Contemporary” e “BMW M” permitem a escolha de várias combinações de cores. Além disso, a gama de volantes oferece ainda mais possibilidades de personalização, estando disponíveis por encomenda - o volante desportivo opcional, o volante M e o volante BMW Individual (apenas em combinação com o design de interiores “Contemporary” bicolor Digital White).

Para mais informações, por favor contactar:

Corporate Communications
BMW Group Portugal
João Trincheiras, Corporate Communications Director
E-mail: Joao.Trincheiras@bmw.pt

Sobre o BMW Group
Com as suas quatro marcas BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce e BMW Motorrad, o BMW Group é o líder mundial no fabrico de automóveis e motociclos premium, prestando igualmente serviços financeiros de alta qualidade. A rede de produção do BMW Group inclui mais de 30 unidades de produção em todo o mundo; a empresa tem uma rede global de vendas em mais de 140 países. Em 2025, o BMW Group vendeu mais de 2.46 milhões de veículos de passageiros e mais de 202.500 motociclos em todo o mundo. O lucro antes de impostos no exercício de 2025 foi de 10.2 mil milhões de euros, sobre receitas no valor de 135.4 mil milhões de euros. A 31 de dezembro de 2025, o BMW Group tinha um efetivo de 154.540 colaboradores. O sucesso do BMW Group tem sido, desde sempre, construído numa ótica de longo prazo e assente numa conduta responsável. A Sustentabilidade é um elemento-chave da estratégia corporativa do BMW Group e abrange todos os produtos da cadeia de valores, desde a produção até ao fim de utilização de todos os seus produtos.

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O BMW Série 3 é a essência da marca BMW: durante cinco décadas, este ícone tem representado o prazer de condução desportivo, um design inconfundível e uma evolução consistente.

O novo BMW i3 totalmente elétrico reforça o legado e o carácter familiar do Série 3, com características únicas adicionais. Como segundo modelo da geração Neue Klasse, representa um salto tecnológico para uma nova era, sendo o BMW i3 50 xDrive a primeira motorização a ser lançada no mercado.

Potência e autonomia revolucionárias

O BMW i3 50 xDrive está equipado com a sexta geração da tecnologia BMW eDrive, que inclui dois motores eléctricos de alta eficiência (EESM e ASM) nos eixos dianteiro e traseiro, com uma potência combinada de 345 kW (469 cv) e um binário de 645 Nm (valores provisórios). Esta configuração permite uma autonomia de até 900 km¹ (em ciclo WLTP). O sistema de carregamento rápido DC suporta até 400 kW, possibilitando carregar até 400 km em apenas 10 minutos.² 

Design - O núcleo da marca reinterpretado: moderno, intemporal e inconfundível

O novo BMW i3 incorpora a linguagem de design Neue Klasse com uma estrutura moderna 2.5-box, proporções desportivas e linhas precisas. A dianteira apresenta a icónica grelha da BMW, agora com uma assinatura luminosa inovadora. Como opcional, o pacote Iconic Glow oferece três animações de iluminação personalizáveis (Balanced, Relaxed e Excited), realçando o efeito de profundidade visual da grelha. Na secção traseira destacam-se os faróis horizontais tridimensionais e um difusor que reforça as características dinâmicas do veículo.

Na estreia no mercado do novo BMW i3 estarão disponíveis onze cores exteriores diferentes, com acabamentos na cor solid, frozen e metálica. A nova cor metálica M Le Castellet Blue é exclusiva da gama.

O interior alia espaço, modernidade e foco absoluto no condutor, numa interação harmoniosa entre geometria, luz e som. Com o novo BMW Panoramic iDrive, teto panorâmico opcional com vidro climate Comfort, bancos desportivos M, novas jantes aerodinâmicas M de 21 polegadas, materiais sustentáveis e acabamentos sofisticados - o novo BMW i3 eleva a experiência de condução a um novo patamar.

Experiência digital integrada e intuitiva

Com o BMW Panoramic iDrive, o BMW i3 apresenta um sistema operativo revolucionário que projeta informações no pára-brisas. Este sistema, que inclui o BMW Panoramic Vision e o BMW 3D Head-Up Display opcional, foi desenvolvido com o contributo português da Critical TechWorks ³, e confere ao novo BMW i3 uma experiência digital imersiva e personalizada onde as funcionalidades de realidade aumentada são totalmente focadas no condutor.

O volante multifuncional com tecnologia Shy Tech garante controlo intuitivo sem distrações, enquanto o assistente pessoal inteligente BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, agora com tecnologia de modelo de linguagem avançada (LLM) integrada à Alexa+³, permite comandos de voz naturais e personalizados. Esta tecnologia será implementada gradualmente em todos os modelos com o BMW Operating System 9 e X, ainda que não tenha data prevista para integração no mercado nacional.

Tecnologia de última geração

No coração do BMW i3 encontra-se uma nova arquitetura com quatro supercomputadores dedicados às principais funções do veículo: condução, regeneração, assistência ao condutor e infotainment, sendo o sistema “Heart of Joy” responsável por gerir principalmente a dinâmica da condução. Estes computadores oferecem até 20 vezes mais poder de cálculo em comparação com modelos BMW anteriores e permitem atualizações over-the-air, garantindo que o veículo evolui continuamente ao longo do tempo.

Sustentabilidade e inovação

O BMW i3 segue o conceito holístico de sustentabilidade da marca, com recurso a materiais reciclados e processos que reduzem significativamente as emissões de CO2 ao longo do ciclo de vida do veículo. O sistema BMW eDrive de 6ª Geração, incorpora uma bateria que utiliza células cilíndricas com alta densidade energética e design cell-to-pack que optimiza o peso e o espaço. A construção pack-to-open-body aumenta a rigidez e diminui o peso da carroçaria. O veículo suporta também carregamento bidireccional, permitindo usar a bateria como fonte de energia móvel – tanto para um aproveitamento doméstico como para utilização de dispositivos externos, promovendo uma nova forma de integração energética.

Produção e disponibilidade

O novo BMW i3 será produzido na fábrica da BMW em Munique, com início de produção em agosto de 2026 e previsão de chegada a Portugal no outono do mesmo ano. A produção na fábrica de Munique será direcionada exclusivamente para veículos do Neue Klasse - 100% elétricos - a partir de 2027, consolidando o compromisso do BMW Group com a mobilidade sustentável.

¹ Não existem valores WLTP vinculativos atualmente disponíveis, sendo estes dados provisórios. Além disso, os valores reais dependem de vários fatores, como carga, estilo de condução, trajeto, condições meteorológicas, consumos auxiliares (incluindo ar condicionado), pneus e idade da bateria.

² Segundo ISO 12906 no ciclo WLTP.

³   A Critical TechWorks (CTW), uma joint-venture entre o BMW Group e a empresa portuguesa Critical Software, é hoje o maior hub de desenvolvimento de software do BMW Group na Europa e um dos principais responsáveis pela tecnologia que equipará os novos modelos da BMW, MINI. Na BMW Motorrad, esta implementação será feita de forma gradual, abrangendo a maioria dos novos modelos. Com mais de 3.300 colaboradores nos escritórios de Lisboa, Porto e Braga, a CTW desenvolve hoje uma parte significativa do software presente nos novos modelos baseados na plataforma Neue Klasse. Entre os sistemas com contributo português e presentes no novo BMW i3, incluem-se:

• O novo BMW Panoramic iDrive, centrado no condutor com a abordagem "Eyes on the road", aliando uma experiência digital imersiva e personalizada a funcionalidades de realidade aumentada;
• Sistemas avançados de condução assistida, como o Modelo Digital da Estrada e a Previsão de Mudança de Faixa;
• Funcionalidades de aprendizagem contínua, com reprocessamento de dados em tempo real;
• Infraestruturas de base como a POSIX, Safe POSIX e Node 0, que sustentam a arquitetura modular e segura do sistema operativo BMW;
• A nova geração da MyBMW App, que liga condutor, veículo e mundo exterior;
• A infraestrutura que possibilita Remote Software Updates, que mantêm os veículos tecnologicamente atualizados ao longo do seu ciclo de vida.

Além do que acontece a bordo dos veículos, a CTW está também envolvida no desenvolvimento de soluções de eficiência que permitam um plano de produção mais inteligente, otimizar a logística através da digitalização e ainda outras operações internas do BMW Group.

Para mais informações, por favor contactar:

BMW Group Portugal

João Trincheiras, Corporate Communications Director

joao.trincheiras@bmw.pt

Sobre o BMW Group

Com as suas quatro marcas BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce e BMW Motorrad, o BMW Group é o líder mundial no fabrico de automóveis e motociclos premium, prestando igualmente serviços financeiros de alta qualidade. A rede de produção do BMW Group inclui mais de 30 unidades de produção em todo o mundo; a empresa tem uma rede global de vendas em mais de 140 países. Em 2025, o BMW Group vendeu mais de 2.46 milhões de veículos de passageiros e mais de 202.500 motociclos em todo o mundo. O lucro antes de impostos no exercício de 2025 foi de 10.2 mil milhões de euros, sobre receitas no valor de 135.4 mil milhões de euros. A 31 de dezembro de 2025, o BMW Group tinha um efetivo de 154.540 colaboradores. O sucesso do BMW Group tem sido, desde sempre, construído numa ótica de longo prazo e assente numa conduta responsável. A Sustentabilidade é um elemento-chave da estratégia corporativa do BMW Group e abrange todos os produtos da cadeia de valores, desde a produção até ao fim de utilização de todos os seus produtos.

www.bmwgroup.com

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Munich. Please find the satellite and streaming details of the BMW Group Keynote as follows:

18 March 2026.

11:00 - 11:40 A.M. CET – Design Premiere of the new BMW i3. LIVE

Technical data TV satellite transmission:

Contact SNG: +49 (0) 179-5079009 (Torsten Jobmann)
Contact on site : +49 151 23456 889 (Tom Forster)

Live Stream available at:

https://www.live.bmwgroup.com/en/live-streaming/ and

on BMW Group YouTube: https://b.mw/IuTd3

Munich. With the new BMW i3, the BMW Group is reaffirming its holistic approach to product sustainability – shining a light on a relevant dimension of product development that has been less visible up until now: health and well-being in the passenger compartment. To address this aspect of vehicle development, interior air quality, material selection and olfactory perception are systematically studied and evaluated at the company’s own odour laboratory.

Holistic product sustainability as a guiding principle.
The BMW Group considers sustainability throughout a vehicle's entire lifecycle – from raw material extraction through the supply chain and production all the way to the use phase and recycling. This 360° approach combines product sustainability, technological innovation and long-term company success. Health and well-being are embedded into product development and systematically integrated into processes and standards.

Interior air quality and its impact on health.
Vehicle interior air quality is an important factor for health and well-being inside the vehicle. Emissions from materials, as well as influences such as temperature and humidity directly impact vehicle occupants. When selecting materials for the vehicle interior, the BMW Group therefore pays close attention to avoiding emissions that could be detrimental to health. For more than 25 years, the company has relied on its own testing methods to measure and evaluate emissions and scent profiles in the vehicle interior. The latest findings from toxicology, health and sensory research are continuously applied to in-house standards that the BMW Group also actively shares in international standardisation and specialised bodies.
The aim is to ensure the interior has a scent that is authentic, discreet and high-end, reinforcing the brand's premium promise. The use of artificial fragrances is deliberately avoided.

Scent as a subconscious dimension.
The BMW Group deliberately addresses on scent in the vehicle interior, as this has a significant influence on the occupants’ health and well-being.
Scents act directly on the limbic system, evoking emotions and memories, and contributing to the subjective feeling of safety. A pleasant and subtle scent is therefore part of the premium experience and an expression of the brand's aspirations.
By minimising harmful emissions and selecting high-quality materials, the BMW Group acknowledges its responsibility for the health of its customers. Managing scent is therefore part of a holistic approach to sustainability across the entire lifecycle.

Inside the BMW Group scent laboratory.
At the BMW Group scent laboratory, materials, components and complete vehicle interiors are tested under realistic conditions. The analysis relies on the integration of modern measurement technologies and the trained sensory evaluation of BMW Group experts. Humans remain central to this process. This approach ensures compliance with legal requirements and adherence to internal quality standards. Scent is viewed as part of a multi-sensory, holistic experience. What matters most is not the individual component, but the interaction of all materials in the vehicle interior, which determines the overall olfactory experience.

Health and well-being as elements of product sustainability.
The new BMW i3 embodies an aspiration that applies to the entire BMW Group brand portfolio: In addition to a consistent decarbonisation strategy throughout the vehicle lifecycle, the model relies on a high percentage of secondary materials and innovative material concepts for the interior.
“Health and well-being are an integral part of product sustainability for us. Environmental factors and a growing health awareness are changing how we perceive our living spaces – including our cars. Our customers expect products that are designed to take their health and well-being into account. That is why interior air quality is a key product feature in our holistic approach to sustainability,” according to Nils Hesse, Vice President Product Sustainability at the BMW Group.

Munich. In the BMW i3, as with the BMW iX3, the BMW Group applies a 360° approach to sustainability. At its core is decarbonisation throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle – from product development through the supply chain and production to the end of the use phase. In this way, the second Neue Klasse model also contributes to achieving the ambitious, overarching CO₂e targets the company has set itself.

CO₂e benefits already after 1-2 years of use.
Depending on the drive train variant, annual mileage and source of the electricity used for charging, the new BMW i3 50xDrive already achieves a CO₂e advantage over a comparable model with an internal combustion engine after one to two years of use[1].

Decarbonisation in the supply chain.
Targeted decarbonisation is a key starting point for reducing CO₂e emissions throughout the supply chain. The use of renewable energies, the increasing share of secondary material, and product and process innovations – for example, in the Gen6 cell and high-voltage battery – contribute to a significant emissions reduction across the entire supply chain.
The results of this systematic approach are demonstrated by the emission reductions achieved: Specific measures during product development of the BMW i3 lowered supply chain CO₂e emissions by about a third.[2]

Innovative materials and technologies for interior and exterior.
The “Design for Circularity” principle is also systematically applied in the new BMW i3. The concept incorporates gradually increased use of secondary materials, targeted reduction of material selection and optimised dismantling capability.
For example, the BMW i3 uses 30 percent recycled plastic in its front bumper trim. At the same time, the number of different materials used for the entire bumper, excluding mounted parts, was reduced from 15 to 7, compared to the predecessor model (seventh-generation BMW 3 Series). Due to the high use of a plastic particularly suitable for recycling, the proportion of recyclable plastic was increased from approximately 46 percent in the predecessor to about 85 percent[3]. This enables the recovery of high-quality plastic recyclates from the vehicle.
Another example of how the “Design for Circularity” principle is implemented in the new BMW i3 is the Econeer seat covers offered as part of the “Essential” equipment line, which are made from a recyclable textile composite. The basic material for the upper fabric is 100-percent recycled PET. The use of recycled PET granulate – as the base material for the polyester yarn required – significantly reduces CO₂e emissions and water consumption during manufacturing compared to primary material. The dismantling capability of the seat cover has also been improved to facilitate a material-specific separation at the end of the lifecycle.

Use of secondary materials in the new BMW i3.
The new BMW i3 consists of approx. 30 percent secondary materials in total[4]^: These include cast aluminium components, such front and rear knuckle, with 80 percent secondary material content, and cast aluminium wheel rims with 70 percent secondary aluminium.The housing for the rear electric motor, produced at BMW Plant Landshut, comprises up to two-thirds secondary aluminium. A portion of the energy used in production comes from renewable sources.
In the Gen6 battery cells of the BMW i3 high‑voltage battery, secondary materials are partially used for cobalt, lithium and nickel. Energy from renewable sources is used in manufacturing the anode and cathode materials, as well as for cell production. In comparison to the previous model’s Gen5 cell, CO₂e emissions were reduced by approx. 33 percent per watt hour.
Further examples of the innovative use of engineering and secondary materials include the engine compartment cover and the storage compartment under the BMW i3's bonnet. The starting material for these consists of 30 percent recycled maritime plastic – post-consumer material from used fishing nets and ropes – while the base material for the yarn used in the textiles for the headliner, A-pillar and parcel shelf consists entirely of recycled material.

Enhanced efficiency during use phase.
With the EfficientDynamics technology package, vehicle efficiency is optimised across all subsystems during the use phase.
This encompasses aerodynamics, lightweight construction, rolling resistance and overall energy management, for example. Efficientynamics has been employed by the BMW Group since 2007, across all drive technologies.

BMW Group Plant Munich undergoes extensive modernisation.
BMW Group Plant Munich is the BMW Group’s main plant.For more than a century, the plant has been producing premium mobility in Munich’s Milbertshofen district. Over the past four years, the site has been completely modernised: In addition to a new body shop, a state-of-the-art vehicle assembly was also built, including logistics areas. The new facilities are now in the final stages of construction. Production of the new BMW i3 will get underway here in 2026. Just one year later, the Munich location will transition its production portfolio to exclusively fully-electric vehicles for the Neue Klasse. As the BMW Group’s oldest automobile production site, the plant sources 100 percent of its external electricity requirements from renewable energy.

In line with BMW Group’s sustainable development goals.
The BMW Group’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and to reaching “net zero” no later than 2050 is an integral part of its holistic 360° approach to sustainability, which is anchored in its corporate strategy. The company has set itself ambitious science-based CO₂e targets for the coming years. The BMW Group intends to reduce its CO₂e emissions by a total of at least 40 million tonnes from 2019 levels by 2030.

Transparency through Product Carbon Footprint .
The BMW Group has published its vehicles’ Product Carbon Footprint, as validated by the German Technical Inspection Association (TÜV), for many years in the so-called Vehicle Footprint. This report is publicly available here for all drive trains of the new BMW 3 Series from the Start of Production and can also be accessed in the My BMW app. In this way, the BMW Group creates transparency around the percentage of secondary materials and CO₂e emissions across the vehicles’ entire lifecycle.

Munich/Arjeplog. The BMW 3 Series has been the embodiment of driving pleasure in the premium midsize class for five decades. All over the world, this icon of the BMW brand is renowned for its superior sportiness, precise handling and effortless agility, combined with long-distance driving comfort. As the latest generation BMW 3 Series is getting ready for launch, so is the first sedan model of the Neue Klasse: the fully electric BMW i3. Prototypes are currently undergoing a comprehensive test programme at the BMW Group winter test centre in Arjeplog, Sweden.

The BMW i3 will have its design premiere on 18 March 2026. The new fully electric model generation features a sixth-generation eDrive (Gen6). “The BMW i3 applies the sporty sedan’s typical characteristics to a completely new vehicle concept defined by the BMW 3 Series DNA. At the same time, pushing the conventional boundaries of electric mobility into new territory, thanks to the potential of our Neue Klasse,” says Mike Reichelt, Head of Neue Klasse BMW. The control unit consisting of the “superbrain” Heart of Joy and the BMW Dynamic Performance Control driving stack takes driving dynamics to an entirely new level. As the BMW i3 approaches series-production readiness, the test and development team is performing the final fine-tuning of driving dynamics components on the snow-covered roads and frozen lakes of Sweden.

Test drives for fine-tuning in extremely cold weather are a key part of vehicle testing. 
Endurance tests in freezing temperatures and wintry road conditions in Sweden’s extreme north are a long-standing BMW tradition. The snow-covered roads around Arjeplog and the specially prepared surfaces of frozen lakes provide the ideal environment for evaluating and fine-tuning drive and suspension systems Electronic control systems are a good example – the low friction coefficients of surfaces covered by snow and ice enable engineers to test, analyse and optimise the interactions of these systems under precisely reproducible conditions. This provides the foundation of the hallmark BMW driving pleasure. 

Highly innovative overall concept is key to an outstanding driving experience.
The Heart of Joy is one of four “superbrains” in the Neue Klasse. Complemented by the BMW Dynamic Performance Control software developed in-house, it forms the powerful new driving and dynamics control unit in the BMW i3, controlling the powertrain, brakes and some steering functions along with recuperation. Its responses are ten times faster than with previous systems. The result of this technological quantum leap is evident in the particularly effortless and exceptionally precise handling of the new BMW i3.

Even on slippery surfaces like those in Arjeplog, the Heart of Joy ensures agile propulsion. In addition, the extremely fast control of the two electric motors ensures superior driving stability. Only electric motors are capable of processing and executing the lightning-fast commands. This enables the BMW i3 to deliver a light-footed and comfortable drive in every situation. And with typical BMW 3 Series characteristics, it sets new standards in driving dynamics.

Even at the limits, the BMW i3 offers an extremely safe driving experience.
The new BMW i3 can be controlled with maximum precision. It responds instantly to steering inputs and creates a feeling of effortlessness. The Heart of Joy reduces the number of control interventions required – for example by the DSC system. The resulting cornering behaviour is more consistent and reproducible, giving the driver an even greater sense of assurance. In addition, the BMW i3 remains easy to control even when approaching the limits. The Soft-Stop function of the new BMW i3 is exceptional: precise control of the electric motors enables the smoothest stopping process in the history of the BMW 3 Series, without jerks and brake noise. The exceptional stability that the Heart of Joy provides, even on slippery surfaces like those found in Arjeplog, also improves efficiency. The precise control processes of the Heart of Joy allow the BMW i3 to recuperate energy as often and as intensely as possible, even when cornering, without compromising driving stability. “Sheer driving pleasure” redefined. 

Second model of the Neue Klasse: BMW i3 50 xDrive 
• Start of production: Second half of 2026
• Sixth-generation BMW eDrive (Gen6) with 800-volt technology
• Charging capacity: peak charging capacity up to 400 kW
• Electric drive unit with EESM technology on the rear axle and ASM technology on the front axle
• Max. system output: 345 kW/469 hp*
• 645 Nm torque*

* As this is a development-phase prototype, the figures given are provisional. Energy consumption information as per WLTP is not yet available. 

Leipzig. An era is coming to an end at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig. The serial production of the BMW i3 is now to come to an end, some eight and a half years after it was launched. A source of inspiration, a driver of innovation, a pioneer of locally emission-free driving pleasure: The list of attributes that have accompanied the BMW Group's first large-series production automobile with fully electric drive since its debut in 2013 is long. The BMW i3 (combined power consumption: 16.3 - 15.3 kWh/100 km according to WLTP, 13.1 - 14.0 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO₂ emissions: 0 g/ km) started out as an exotic specimen on the still barely tapped market for electric vehicles, developed into a classic with unmistakable charisma already in the course of its production period and goes down in the company's history as a pioneer of sustainable mobility.

For the BMW Group Plant Leipzig, the farewell to the BMW i3 is linked to the start of a new chapter in electric mobility. In a seamless transition, further e-drive components will be manufactured there with immediate effect in addition to producing high-voltage battery modules, which is already being done since May 2021. And already next year, the next generation of the MINI Countryman will be manufactured at the same location - with a fully electric drive, among other things. In this way, the electric mobility expertise of the workforce, which has been built up over the past years, will be used and advanced further. At the same time, the BMW Group Plant Leipzig becomes the first location in the company's global production network where BMW and MINI models are manufactured together.

The final anniversary: 250 , 000 units of electric driving pleasure made in Leipzig.

The BMW i3 ends its production run with an impressive homerun. Just a few days ago, the 250,000 unit of the compact e-vehicle was produced in Leipzig. This makes the BMW i3 the world's most successful electric vehicle in the premium compact segment. And contrary to what might be expected for a model that is being phased out, its popularity did not wane as it matured.

The BMW i3 has been sold in more than 74 countries around the world. In many markets, it achieved a significantly higher market share in the electric vehicle segment than the BMW brand in the area of conventionally powered cars. It also succeeded in inspiring additional target groups in the premium mobility offers from BMW. In the early years, more than 80 per cent of all BMW i3 buyers were new customers for the BMW Group.

The enduring appeal of the BMW i3, which is manufactured exclusively at the Leipzig site for the entire global market, is also due to its especially individualistic character. Its independent vehicle architecture consists of a drive module as an aluminium chassis, which carries the e-drive, the suspension and the high-voltage battery as well as a passenger cell made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) called the life module. This design, developed from the outset for pure e-mobility, made possible a particularly generous amount of space in the interior and a cockpit and centre console design which is both high-quality and very advanced. The same applies to the exterior design, which is still groundbreaking in its ninth year of production, and which is dedicated less to fashion or status than to technological avant-gardism.

Visionary technology standard-bearer with great symbolic power.

These characteristics have not only made the BMW i3 into a trailblazer for the transformation to CO₂-free mobility, but are also proof of how innovative the BMW Group is in a wide range of areas. "The BMW i3 has great symbolic power," says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. He describes the development of the BMW i3 as a prime example of the "BMW way". This is characterised in particular by the courage to "pioneer topics, to do something different and not just follow the mainstream". This mindset continues to endure, according to Zipse, because "even the BMW iX, which is quite surprising in its capabilities, has its origins in this corporate culture".

The employees involved in manufacturing the BMW i3 at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig know all too well what this culture means in practice. After all, the BMW i3 was a visionary technology standard-bearer from day one, and not just because of its electric drive. With its Life-Drive architecture, it also set new standards in the field of intelligent lightweight construction. In Leipzig, innovative processes unique in the automotive industry have been established for moulding large-format car body parts from the particularly lightweight high-tech material CFRP. Today, the BMW Group has unique expertise in the industrial use of carbon fibre in body construction and aluminium in designing chassis components.

"The BMW i3 is a true pioneer and the epitome of pioneering spirit," says Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management for Production at BMW AG. "Thanks to the BMW i3, the Leipzig plant became the birthplace of e-mobility at BMW." With the expansion of the production of e-drive components, the Leipzig plant will remain "electric" in the future, says Nedeljković. "It will become the hub for electric mobility and supply our production network worldwide with components."

Innovation driver for e-mobility and multiple award winner.

Thanks to its model-specific technology developments, the BMW i3 has also become an innovation driver for the BMW and MINI brands in numerous other areas. The 135 kW/184 hp electric motor of the BMW i3s (power consumption combined: 16.6 - 16.3 kWh/100 km according to WLTP, 14.6 - 14.0 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) has been delivering urban driving fun and locally emission-free go-kart feeling in MINI style since 2020. The purely electric MINI Cooper SE (power consumption combined: 17.6 - 15.2 kWh/100 km according to WLTP, 16.9 - 14.9 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) has since become the most popular model variant of the British brand.

Originally developed for the BMW i3, the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology is now being produced. It is used in numerous purely electric and plug-in hybrid models from BMW and MINI. The ramp-up of electric mobility will continue in the coming years. By 2030, every second BMW Group vehicle sold worldwide is to be fully electric.

The BMW i3 has received numerous awards during its production period. In Germany, it was awarded the "Green Steering Wheel” already in 2013, followed three years later by the "Golden Steering Wheel", also awarded by "Auto Bild" and "Bild am Sonntag". The design, vehicle concept, interior, sustainability, value retention and connectivity technology of the BMW i3 received further national and international awards and public survey successes. These include class victories in the competitions of the magazines "Auto Zeitung" and "auto, motor und sport", awards as "UK Car of the Year", "Green Car of the Year", "Classic of the Future" and "Swiss Car of the Year" as well as the "World Car Design Award", the "iF gold product design award" and the French "Trophée de l'argus".

Rethinking mobility: The holistic approach of the BMW i brand.

In addition to the all-electric drive, the BMW i3's outstanding eco-balance also stems from the choice of materials, which is fully geared towards sustainability and resource-conserving production. It was the first BMW Group model to receive an ISO certificate issued by independent auditors at the time of its market launch, confirming its optimised environmental performance throughout its entire life cycle.

Partly recycled raw materials are used for its outer skin made of thermoplastics. The plastic used in the interior is made op of 25 percent recycled material. The textiles used for the seat surfaces are made entirely from recycled fibres. The door panels of the BMW i3 are made of kenaf fibres. Eucalyptus wood from certified cultivation in Europe serves as the raw material for parts of the instrument panel.

The holistic concept for sustainability also includes the extensive use of renewable energy in the production of the BMW i3. Four wind turbines on the site of the BMW Group plant in Leipzig supply the electricity needed for its production. At an early stage, they made the Saxon location a pioneer for CO₂-neutral vehicle production, which has been standard in all BMW Group plants around the world since last year.

In addition, the BMW i brand has provided impetus for sustainable driving pleasure and a comprehensive transformation to CO2-neutral mobility in many ways and far beyond the development of electrically powered vehicles. These activities include the urban car-sharing service DriveNow (called SHARE NOW today) which for many users is the ideal opportunity to come into contact with electric mobility for the first time, as well as the services now known as BMW Charging and MINI Charging for convenient charging at home and for easily accessing public charging stations, and the BMW Group's participation in the European fast-charging network Ionity.

The perfect introduction to the world of e-mobility - and a reliable endurance runner.

For many customers, the BMW i3 became a constant companion early on in urban settings, for the daily commute and often far beyond. The frequent drivers among the "early adopters" above all praise the low energy and maintenance costs, but also how reliable the vehicle is and the cycle stability of its high-voltage battery. They report on brake pads that have not had to be replaced even after more than 250,000 kilometres, because a large part of the deceleration power is provided by recuperation when driving the BMW i3, and of the impressive long-term quality of the high-voltage battery, which leads to only a negligible reduction in range even after similarly long running times. The BMW Group took this positive experience as an opportunity to increase the maximum mileage associated with the eight-year warranty period for the battery from 100,000 to 160,000 kilometres at the beginning of 2020.

The BMW i3's high-voltage battery has undergone continuous development since its market launch, doubling its storage capacity while retaining the same installation space. With a cell capacity of 120 ampere hours (Ah) and a gross energy content of 42.2 kilowatt hours (kWh), it now enables ranges of up to 307 kilometres (BMW i3) according to WLTP.

The high-voltage batteries developed and produced by the BMW Group are used in other areas as well. Examples of this are the Streetscooter vans used by the German postal service and the city buses of the Turkish manufacturer Karsan, as well as motorboats with electric drives of the Torqeedo brand, for which they also serve as a source of energy. In addition, BMW i high-voltage batteries are used as stationary energy storage systems for electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind or solar power. The BMW Group plant in Leipzig also has such an energy storage farm. It consists of 700 interconnected BMW i3 high-voltage batteries in which the electricity generated by the four wind turbines on the plant site can be stored.

Locally emission-free, elegant and exclusive: The HomeRun Edition of the BMW i3s.

On its home stretch, the BMW i3 once again showcases the elegant and extravagant side of its character that has already been the subject of several limited special models. The BMW i3s HomeRun Edition, was treated to a Frozen paint finish from BMW Individual for the first time. This premiere is associated with a maximum of exclusivity: Only ten units of the BMW i3s HomeRun Edition have been produced.

An an exclusive for the BMW i3s HomeRun Edition, two new BMW Individual paint finishes have been added to the range: Frozen Dark Grey and Frozen Red II. In addition the HomeRun Edition includes 20-inch light-alloy wheels in a double-spoke design, an electrically operated glass roof, solar control glazing and Adaptive LED headlights. The special models also come with the particularly high-quality Suite interior design, which includes Vernasca Dark Truffle leather upholstery, a leather instrument panel, a leather steering wheel with galvanised trim, a Carum Grey roof lining, Ambient lighting and the welcome light. Other options include heated seats, comfort access, alarm system, Real Time Traffic Information, Concierge Service, Park Distance Control and rear view camera. Also included are the Comfort package and Driving Assistant Plus, the Professional navigation system, telephony with wireless charging, the Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and online entertainment with music flat rate.

The production of the ten special models was a final highlight not only for the employees involved in its production at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Customers of the special models were able to witness the completion of the vehicles in the assembly hall for themselves.

Munich. The BMW i3 (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) is sustainably on course for success - in both senses of the word. Almost seven years after its market launch, the purely electrically powered and thus locally emission-free compact model is still in continuous high demand. At the BMW Group plant in Leipzig, the 200 000th BMW i3 model rolled off the production line yesterday - almost silently as always. The BMW i3s (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) with Fluid Black metallic paint finish and accents in BMW i Blue was produced for a customer from Saxony and will be delivered by the BMW branch in Leipzig.

The BMW i3 with 125 kW/170 hp and BMW i3s with 135 kW/184 hp are built in Leipzig for the entire world market on a dedicated production line and by specially trained employees. With the start of production in 2013, the plant in Saxony became a pioneer and centre of excellence for sustainable mobility. The BMW i3 was the BMW Group's first purely electrically powered large-scale serial model and also the company's first vehicle with a passenger cell made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). The Life module made of CFRP is part of a vehicle architecture specific to BMW i and designed for electric mobility from the outset. It is shaped in Leipzig from carbon fibre scrims and assembled in a unique process developed by the BMW Group. This is followed by the union with the drive module, the aluminium chassis, which bears the drive, chassis and high-voltage battery. State-of-the-art manufacturing processes ensure that the body construction and assembly of the BMW i3 in Leipzig takes only about half the time required for conventional vehicles.

BMW i3 as innovation driver for electric mobility and lightweight construction.

The success of the BMW i3 and the experience gained in developing and manufacturing it have significantly boosted progress in the fields of electric mobility and lightweight construction. In this way the BMW i brand has become the workshop of the future for the entire company. The drive of the BMW i3s now also powers the MINI Cooper SE (fuel consumption combined: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 16.8 – 14.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) to provide purely electric driving joy. In addition, the gross energy content of the high-voltage storage unit was almost doubled from initially 22.6 to 42.2 kWh without changing its size. The range of the BMW i3 thus increased to between 285 and 310 kilometres in the WLTP test cycle.

Based on the know-how acquired with the BMW i3, numerous innovations have also been achieved in the fields of drive, power electronics and charging technology. The fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology is now ready for series production. It is used, among other things, in the new technology flagship of the BMW Group, the BMW iNEXT, which will be manufactured at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing, with components from the BMW plant Landshut, from 2021 onwards. The high-tech material CFRP is for example now also contributing to intelligent lightweight construction in the BMW 7 Series.

Leipzig as a location for the future: Battery module production to start in 2021.

The BMW Group plant in Leipzig will continue to make a significant contribution to expanding electric mobility in the future. The site will become part of the BMW Group's international production network for battery modules as early as 2021. By 2022, the BMW Group will invest more than 100 million euros in establishing battery module production in Leipzig. In future, the lithium-ion cells supplied, will be assembled into standardised modules in a highly automated process. These will then be assembled together with the connections to the vehicle, the control units and the cooling units in an aluminium housing specific to each model. By 2022 more than 150 employees will be working in the battery module production in Leipzig.

In this way, the expertise gained at this BMW i3 production site is consistently used for manufacturing electrified vehicles in Germany. The BMW Group plant in Leipzig, where in addition to the BMW i3, models of the BMW 1 and 2 Series with conventional and plug-in hybrid drive are also manufactured, is thus even more comprehensively equipped for the "Power of Choice" approach in the company's model strategy in the future.

Pioneer for premium electric mobility in the city and for an overall understanding of sustainability.

The BMW i3 was developed as a revolutionary new vehicle concept for individual mobility in urban areas. With the BMW i3, the BMW Group has provided significant impetus for change in the field of inner-city transport, which has also inspired other car manufacturers to devote more attention to electric mobility. Today, the BMW i3 is not only still the best-selling premium car in its segment, but also a world-renowned symbol of locally emission-free driving in the city and for commuting between home and work.

According to a 2019 study by the German Automobile Club (ADAC), customers benefit not only from ecological but also from significant economic advantages. According to the calculations, the total costs for a BMW i3 or BMW i3s are on average around 20 percent lower than for a BMW model with a combustion engine that is comparable in terms of engine performance and equipment. All expenditures for the acquisition, operation and depreciation of the vehicles were taken into account, with a holding period of five years each and a total mileage of 75 000 kilometres. Thanks to the now increased state subsidies for electrified vehicles, the lead of the BMW i3 and the BMW i3s in terms of economy is currently even greater.

In addition, the BMW i3 represents a new understanding of premium mobility, which is also strongly characterised by sustainability beyond the purely electric drive. Its roof is made of recycled CFRP at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig. Painting its plastic outer skin requires 75 percent less energy and 70 percent less water compared to conventional processes. 25 percent of the materials used for the thermoplastic exterior parts were either recycled or produced from renewable resources. A high proportion of renewable raw materials and recycled materials is also used in the interior. Production of the BMW i3 at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig is 100 per cent CO₂ neutral. Wind turbines on the factory premises supply the electricity required for production.

The outstanding life cycle assessment of the BMW i3 has already been confirmed by an ISO certificate issued by independent auditors immediately after its market launch. To this end, experts from TÜV Süd analysed all relevant data and evaluations, from which the environmental balance of the BMW i3 for the entire vehicle life cycle was derived, from raw material extraction and production to use and recycling. According to the study, the use of energy from the EU-25 electricity mix already resulted in a greenhouse gas potential reduced by around 30 percent compared to similar vehicles with conventional drive systems. When operated exclusively with regeneratively generated energy, such as wind or solar power, the CO₂ footprint was even reduced by more than 50 percent.

Fuel consumption, CO₂ emission figures and power consumption were measured using the methods required according to Regulation VO (EC) 2007/715 as amended. The figures are calculated using a vehicle fitted with basic equipment in Germany, the ranges stated take into account differences in selected wheel and tyre sizes as well as the optional equipment. They may change during configuration.

The figures have already been calculated based on the new WLTP test cycle and adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes. In these vehicles, different figures than those published here may apply for the assessment of taxes and other vehicle-related duties which are (also) based on CO₂ emissions.

For further details of the official fuel consumption figures and official specific CO₂ emissions of new cars, please refer to the “Manual on the fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and power consumption of new cars”, available at sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.

In case of queries, please contact:

Wieland Brúch,
Product Communication BMW i and Electromobility

Tel.: +49-89-382-72652

E-mail: wieland.bruch@bmwgroup.com

Kai Lichte,

Head of Communication BMW Group Plants Leipzig, Berlin, Eisenach

Tel.: +49-151-607-38000

E-mail: kai.lichte@bmwgroup.com

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

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

Munich. Trailblazer for sustainable mobility and endurance runner – within the six years following its launch, the BMW i3 has become an extremely successful model and a symbol of electric mobility. Since its market launch, it has been the most widely sold electric vehicle in the premium compact segment. More than 165,000 units have been sold worldwide to date. And since the car’s launch, sales figures have steadily increased year after year. The BMW i3 convinces in everyday use with a future-oriented interpretation of driving pleasure and versatile qualities reaching far beyond driving short distances in major metropolitan regions. This is underscored by the experience gained by electric car pioneers who regularly travel longer distances in their BMW i3 and have each completed more than 200,000 emission-free kilometres.

Thanks to its role as a visionary technology flagship and continuing sales success since its launch in 2013, the BMW i3 has acquired the status of an icon. The BMW Group will continue to further develop this vehicle and currently plans to extend production until at least 2024. Customers emphasize above all the reliability, durability and the practicable range of the BMW i3, whether in the heat of South Africa or in the cool north of Sweden. The first all-electric vehicle from the BMW Group has for years now proven everywhere to be a cost-effective means of transport that is fully suitable for day-to-day use. Customers who had their BMW i3 delivered shortly after its launch and since then have subjected both the vehicle and its original battery to a real endurance test, use sustainable mobility not only for daily commuting between home and the workplace, but also regularly for longer distances and even holiday trips.

Over 277,000 kilometres with the original set of brake pads.

“The vehicle concept of the BMW i3 is unique,” comments Helmut Neumann from the community of Titz in North Rhine Westphalia. “It looks so modern from the outside that people still turn around to catch a glimpse of it.” Neumann has been driving around locally emission-free since 2014 and even drove his BMW i3 BMW (60 Ah) (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 12.9 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) as far as Berlin and the Alps without any trouble. “Apart from the immense driving pleasure, the BMW i3 is simply an extremely economical car,” he says. “This applies both to power consumption and maintenance costs alike.” With an average power consumption of 13 kWh per 100 kilometres over the entire lifespan, energy costs are kept to an absolute minimum – not only compared with an automobile with combustion engine, but also with other electric vehicles. At an electricity rate of 30 cents per kilowatt-hour, Neumann’s energy costs are just EUR 3.90 per 100 kilometres.

An analysis by the German Automobile Club ADAC has already shown that in addition to ecological aspects, economical aspects speak in favour of the electric vehicle. In a comparison of overall costs, the BMW i3 was around 20 percent better in terms of size and performance than a comparable BMW model powered by a combustion engine. In addition to lower energy costs and high value retention, low expenditure for maintenance and wear also contribute towards cost-effectiveness. For the driver of a BMW i3, oil changes or defective exhaust systems are relicts of the past. Deceleration is usually effected by means of recuperation. Therefore, even after over 277,000 kilometres, Helmut Neumann has still not had to replace the brake pads and discs on his BMW i3 one single time.

Neumann is one of the customers who participated in the retrofit programme and substituted the 60 Ah battery of his BMW i3 with a gross energy content of 22 kWh for a 94 Ah high-voltage battery unit (BMW i3 (94 Ah): combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.6 – 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) with a higher energy content of 33 kWh. The new battery offers greater energy reserves. “This makes things simply more convenient on long journeys,” he says.

Consistent vehicle range confirms the quality of the high-voltage battery.

Experience obtained by customers who use a BMW i3 from the first years of production shows that even with the original battery, the achievable vehicle range decreases only marginally even after high mileage. This validates the BMW Group’s expectations in regards to the quality of the high-voltage battery unit. Not one BMW i3 high-voltage battery has had to be replaced due to premature ageing to date. As the battery’s potential is far from being exhausted when reaching the previously quoted 100,000 kilometres, the BMW Group has now extended its European warranty for the battery in new BMW i3 vehicles even further. The maximum mileage over a warranty period has been extended to 8 years and/or 160,000 kilometres.

The BMW Group has also developed solutions for re-using batteries that are no longer suitable for demanding use in automobiles. After a long life in cars they can still provide valuable service as stationary energy storage units. High-voltage batteries from pre-series vehicles and those handed in by customers participating in the BMW i3 retrofit programme are used on the grounds of the BMW plant in Leipzig as storage units for the green power produced there by means of wind turbines.

Offering a range that is actually achievable in practice, the BMW i3 meets the requirements of regular long-term use. Gabriele Forster from Austria immediately found the ideal drive and charge rhythm, for example. She made a conscious decision in favour of an environmentally friendly vehicle with which she now commutes every day between home and work. At midday and overnight she plugs her BMW i3 (60Ah) into a wall box, which is sufficient to cover a distance of around 200 kilometres each day with a battery that has a capacity of 22.6 kWh.

Robert Cleary from the US drives locally emission-free almost 150 kilometres every day. Only on one single occasion did he run out of power – about 50 metres from his front driveway. The problem was solved using an extension cable. Robert had already participated in field testing with the BMW Active E and in 2014 was therefore given a BMW i3 (60Ah) in the “Electronaut” version for electric vehicle pioneers. His car constantly provides a topic for discussion. Together with colleagues from his company, Robert initiated an electric vehicle workgroup that, among other things, advocates the provision of additional public charging stations. He is convinced that “electric driving strengthens environmental awareness”.

To Shaun Maidment from South Africa “range anxiety” is completely unknown. “I once drove the BMW i3 from Johannesburg to Cape Town. It took slightly longer, but it was okay,” he says. On normal workdays, he drives up to 300 kilometres, making use of customer visits to charge the battery. In 2014, Maidment opted for a BMW i3 (60 Ah) with Range Extender (combined fuel consumption: 0.6 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.5 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 13 g/km). However, he now considers the petrol-driven “emergency power generator” indispensable. “The Range Extender is essentially just a kind of assurance.” In order to further promote electric mobility in his home country, Maidment has launched a crowd funding platform designed to support the installation of further public charging stations in South Africa.

With a battery of the latest generation installed in the BMW i3 (120 Ah) (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km), whose gross energy content has now been extended to 42.2 kWh, it was possible to increase the vehicle range to values between 285 and 310 km as per WLTP test cycle and to 260 kilometres in everyday use. This equates to an increase of around 50 percent vs. the BMW i3 featuring a high-voltage battery of the first generation.

Sustainable driving pleasure – a characteristic feature of the BMW i3.

Even after many years of all-electric driving, customers are still fascinated by the spontaneous power and torque of the electric motor and the one-pedal feeling with which their vehicle decelerates by means of recuperation. “In the past, I have also tested other electric vehicles, also larger and faster ones,” says Rob van Roon from the Netherlands, “but none of them was as agile and easy to handle as the BMW i3.” Since the end of 2013, Roon has driven 276,000 kilometres with the first series production electric vehicle from the BMW Group, with another 25,000 having been added since March 2019 in a new BMW i3 (120 Ah). The new model only needs to be charged once a day, and van Roon usually knows how to make practical use of this. “Charging doesn’t necessarily mean waiting,” he says. “I spend the time doing administrative work or making phone calls, which demands my full attention.” On long journeys he has discovered the advantages of the quick charging stations from Ionity, which can be found at around 200 service areas along European long-haul routes. “If you can eat there, you can charge your car there,” he has noticed. Consequently, Rob van Roon and his family have driven their BMW i3 on trips taking them as far as the North Cape, the Algarve and Sicily.

In October 2013, Leif Carlsson from Sweden had already taken the first opportunity of a test drive in Stockholm. “After one single lap I was convinced – this is my car. It was the coolest drive I had ever experienced.” Today he still drives a BMW i3 (60Ah) with Range Extender every day and after travelling more than 216,000 kilometres, he enjoys the ideal balance between driving pleasure and sustainability. At first, it is sufficient to charge the car from conventional power sockets at home or at the workplace. In Sweden, there is no shortage of these even in multi-storey car parks, because there, auxiliary heating systems in automobiles are often supplied with electricity from the mains. Meanwhile, quick charging stations have been installed at workplaces and the network of public charging stations is becoming increasingly denser. Therefore, Carlsson now hardly ever uses the Range Extender. On the other hand, he still appreciates the auxiliary heating in his BMW i3 during the winter. The timer function works perfectly. When I get in the car to leave, the interior is warm and the windows free from ice and snow.”

For João Gonçalves from Portugal a test drive in the winter of 2013 was also enough. It was “Love at first sight – combined with many economical and ecological advantages.” Since then he has enjoyed every trip “to work, in his spare time and on holidays. My BMW i3 takes me simply everywhere.” He drives up to 250 kilometres a day and an opportunity to recharge the battery is always easily found during working hours at the office or when visiting customers. Meanwhile Gonçalves changed to a BMW i3s (120 Ah) (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km). The increased output of 135 kW/184 PS hp adds to driving pleasure and the high-voltage battery’s extended storage capacity “makes daily life even easier”, he says. “And longer journeys are now more comfortable and faster.” To prepare for long journeys Gonçalves uses the navigation system of the BMW i3. “It plans my route and indicates quick charging stations along the way, so I can be sure of reaching my destination without any problems.”

Munich. The BMW Group is working in close collaboration with power grid operator TenneT to devise groundbreaking solutions that will turn electric mobility into one of the mainstays of the energy revolution. An intelligent charge control system developed for BMW Charging can help to adapt electric vehicle charging in a way that keeps the power grid stable and makes optimum use of energy from renewable sources. Following successful deployment in the USA, the technology’s practicability has now also been demonstrated in Germany as part of a subsequent pilot project. Providing the platform for this new solution is the connectivity technology already included as standard in the all-electric BMW i3.

The BMW Group is aiming to offer its customers ways of charging their electrified vehicles as easily and cheaply as possible while minimising the associated emissions. The digital integration of electric vehicles into the power grid will make it possible to adjust vehicle charging with customers’ mobility requirements, grid stability and the availability of renewable energy all factored in. Intelligent charge control can therefore play a role in preventing power grid congestion and give priority to green electricity at the same time. As and when the customer’s mobility schedule allows, charging of suitably equipped electric vehicles can be briefly decreased – in the event of an electricity supply shortfall, for example – in order to reduce the load on the grid. Charging of the high-voltage battery will resume as soon as the supply bottleneck has been alleviated, ideally at a time when sufficient reserves of wind or solar energy have accumulated.

Intelligent charge control responds to signals from the grid operator.

The system of charge control developed for BMW Charging acts as a link between car and power grid. It registers the grid requirements signalled by the operator, making it possible to control the charging of plugged-in electric vehicles for optimum results – whether the vehicle is hooked up to the electricity grid at a public charging station, via a BMW Wallbox or using a domestic power socket. The signals are processed by the digital charge control technology and the vehicle’s connected electronics.

In the latest pilot project, the team succeeded in recording and processing signals from grid operator and project partner TenneT that indicated an imminent grid overload. This allowed charging to be temporarily decreased in selected BMW i3 cars in response. Electricity from renewable sources could then be integrated into the grid to optimum effect and there was no need to use backup power plants running on fossil fuels. The results from the pilot project represent further progress towards digital integration of electric vehicles into the power grid and pave the way for implementing this solution on a larger scale.

Electric mobility: turning a problem for the energy revolution into a solution.

As the number of electric vehicles on our roads continues to grow, so does the amount of electric power needed to fuel individual mobility. Considered in terms of total requirements, however, electric mobility is a relatively small factor. Independent studies predict that in Germany, for example, a fleet of two million electric vehicles would only increase electricity demand by around one per cent.

At the same time, intelligent charge control means electric mobility can help grid operators handle new challenges arising from the increasing input of renewable energy. These centre on precisely balancing supply and demand – i.e. power generation and consumption – both geographically and in terms of quantity. Wind electricity generated in the north of Germany, for instance, must be able to reach consumers in the south. This is made more difficult when the grid is already working at maximum capacity. Without intelligent charging, this can lead to congestion that has to be cleared rapidly. So, if a particular region is at risk of an electricity shortage, the usual response is to increase output from coal- or gas-fired power plants that can be brought on line at short notice.

Intelligent charging can help to keep the price of electricity stable.

Known as “redispatching”, these interventions in the power generation network generate costs in the region of €500 millions a year in Germany alone – and these must be met by the power grid operators. Intelligently controlled charging holds potential to cut these costs, as briefly decreasing vehicle charging eliminates the grid congestion, allowing wind power to flow smoothly and dispensing with the need to use fossil energy in power plants.

As integrating electric vehicles into the power grid and implementing intelligent charge control reduces redispatching costs, it can also help to limit expansion of the cross-regional network of power lines – and thereby restrict electricity price rises.

Contributions made to stabilisation of the power grid also provide the basis for energy-linked business models, as owners of electrified vehicles can actually earn money through intelligently controlled charging. This represents a milestone on the road to realising the BMW Group’s vision of offering electric vehicle drivers electricity for charging their cars that is both free and generated with zero emissions.

An all-encompassing electric mobility offering.

The BMW Group has been running a precursor to the pilot project in Germany for several years already. The ongoing BMW i Charge Forward initiative in California has seen intelligent charging control – according to the needs of both customers and the power grid – undergoing practical trials under everyday conditions with a fleet of over 300 electric vehicles. The local grid operator has backed the scheme with financial rewards. And as the drivers of the electric vehicles participating in the scheme ultimately pocket the bonuses, this is a win-win situation for all involved.

Tabelas de PVP (Versões e Opcionais); Equipamento de Série; Dados Técnicos.
PVP's em vigor a partir de 1 de novembro de 2018.

Munich. Consistent further development of BMW eDrive technology once again ensures enhanced driving pleasure in the purely electrically powered models of the BMW i brand. With cell capacity increased to 120 ampere hours (Ah) and a gross energy content of 42.2 kilowatt hours (kWh), a new generation of high-voltage batteries enables the BMW i3 (120 Ah) (combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km)* and the BMW i3s (120 Ah) (combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km)* to achieve a significantly further enhanced range as of November 2018. In everyday use, the two models are now able to cover a distance of 260 kilometres*** – an increase of almost 30 per cent.

In this way, BMW i is consolidating its position as an innovation leader and trendsetter in the field of pioneering electromobility with hallmark brand driving pleasure and excellent everyday practicality. Since the market launch of the BMW i3, the storage capacity of its high-voltage battery has been doubled, thereby increasing the car's range as well. At the same time as the introduction of the new battery, a new body finish, a new colour for the optional interior design Loft and adaptive LED headlights with matrix function for the high beam are also available for the BMW i3 and BMW i3s. In future, a sports package will be available for the BMW i3 that includes black wheel arch surrounds and a sports suspension with specific dampers, springs and stabilisers, lowered suspension, a widened track and 20-inch light alloy wheels. The optimised guidance system in the tile design of the iDrive operating system is now available in conjunction with the optional navigation system Business. In future, the options telephony with wireless charging and wireless LAN hotspot will also be available for the BMW i3 and BMW i3s.

Ongoing progress in battery development: increased energy content while dimensions remain the same.

Like the electric motors and power electronics, the high-voltage batteries are an integral part of the BMW eDrive technology used in BMW i automobiles and developed independently by the BMW Group. Its lithium-ion cells are produced exclusively based on specifications defined by the BMW Group. Based on sound research and development work conducted in close cooperation with the manufacturer of the battery cells, consistent optimisation of the storage units is achieved in terms of power output, range, safety and durability. Installed deep in the floor of the vehicle, the high-voltage battery is produced at the BMW plant in Dingolfing and consists of eight modules, each with twelve storage cells: the latest advancements have resulted in a capacity of 120 Ah along with a gross energy content of 42.2 kWh – while the size remains unchanged. This is yet another major step towards increased range. For comparison: at the market launch of the BMW i3 in 2013, the equivalent figures were 60 Ah and 22.6 kWh, while the second-generation battery introduced in 2016 reaches a level of 94 Ah and 33 kWh.

In addition to vehicle weight and the installation space taken up by the high-voltage battery, driving performance and energy consumption likewise remain virtually unaltered by the increased range achieved by the latest advancements. The BMW i3, powered by a 125 kW/170 hp electric motor, accelerates in 7.3 seconds from zero to 100 km/h, while the BMW i3s with 135 kW/184 hp completes the standard sprint in 6.9 seconds. This means that the two models both set the benchmark for sporty performance within their vehicle segment. Thanks to spontaneous power delivery as is typical of electric motors, the BMW i3 and BMW i3s even reach the level of sports cars that have a considerably more powerful combustion engine: here the figures are 5.1 and 4.3 seconds respectively for the sprint from 80 to 120 km/h.

The combined power consumption of the BMW i3 (120 Ah) is 13.1 kWh per 100 kilometres*, while the BMW i3s (120 Ah) has a power consumption of 14.6 kWh to 14.0 kWh per 100 kilometres*. The high efficiency of the electric motor and the enhanced battery capacity result in a range that is nearly 30 per cent higher than that of the predecessor models. The range of the BMW i3 (120 Ah) is 359 kilometres* (previously 290 to 300 km) according to NEDC, and 285 to 310 kilometres** (previously 235 – 255 km) according to WLTP. For the BMW i3s (120 Ah), a range of 330 to 345 kilometres* (previously 280 km) has been calculated according to NEDC, and a range of 270 to 285 kilometres** (previously 235 –245 km) according to WLTP. In everyday conditions, both models now achieve a range of 260 kilometres*** (previously 200 km).

The high-quality charging electronics of the BMW i3 and BMW i3s allows fast and flexible refreshment of the energy reserves. The standard charging cable is designed to be plugged into a conventional household socket. Here the battery can be charged to up to 80 per cent of its full power in approximately 15 hours with a charging capacity of 2.4 kW. Connection to the BMW i Wallbox enables rapid three-phase charging with a capacity of 11 kW. Here the time required to achieve an 80 per cent charge of the large-capacity high-voltage battery is 3.2 hours. The power electronics and high-voltage battery in the BMW i3 and BMW i3s can also be used in conjunction with quick-charging stations that run on DC power. Here the charging capacity is 50 kW and the high-voltage battery reaches 80 per cent of its total power in just 42 minutes.

With its battery capacity increased to 42.2 kWh, the latest version of the BMW i3 also follows the brand's holistic concept, applicable since market launch and geared towards responsible use of resources: this includes not just locally emissions-free power but also material selection and production techniques as well as mobility services. The BMW i3 (120 Ah) and the BMW i3s (120 Ah) have a much more favourable CO₂ footprint across the entire vehicle lifecycle – from raw material extraction and manufacture through to use and recycling – and this makes for significantly lower global warming potential than is the case with comparable, conventionally powered automobiles.

Sports package as a new option for the BMW i3.

In future, the new sports package will enable additional emphasis of brand-based driving pleasure derived from locally emissions-free mobility in the BMW i3. The key element of the new option is the sports suspension, which is a standard feature in the BMW i3s and includes specific dampers, springs and stabilisers, a suspension lowered by 10 millimetres, a widened track and 20-inch light alloy wheels in Jet Black or Bicolor finish with mixed tyres. This increase in driving dynamics is visually underscored by means of black wheel arch surrounds, which also form part of the BMW i sports package.

New body finishes, adaptive LED headlights, optimised controls and connectivity.

Since 2014 the BMW i3 has been the world's best-selling electrically powered vehicle in the premium compact segment. On the streets of urban conurbations it has come to stand as a symbol of pioneering mobility. Its characteristic shaping is closely linked to the LifeDrive vehicle architecture, which combines an aluminium chassis with a passenger cell made carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). With the introduction of the new battery generation, the design of the BMW i3 and the BMW i3s has been enriched with fresh accentuations. The choice of body finish for the two models has been extended to include the new variant Jucaro Beige metallic with accentuations in Frozen Grey. Meanwhile the exterior paint finishes Mineral Grey metallic, Imperial Blue metallic, Melbourne Red metallic, Capparis White and Fluid Black are still available. To match the new body finish, the optional interior design Loft now includes upholstery in the fabric/Sensatec combination "Electronic" – in Carum Grey with accentuations in brown and interior surfaces in Electronic Brown.

As an alternative to the standard LED headlights, adaptive LED headlights are now available with an automatic, selective dip function for the high beam. The innovative matrix technology for the high beam increases visibility range while at the same avoiding any dazzle effect on other road users. For this purpose it is divided into four horizontally arranged segments which can be activated and deactivated independently of each other at speeds of over 70 km/h. The high beam segments are controlled based on the traffic situation. As soon as the front camera registers an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle travelling ahead in the same direction, the space in which this vehicle is located is illuminated using the low beam only. This is effected by deactivation of the matrix high beam segments that are responsible for this area. The remaining areas of the road continue to be illuminated by the high beam. Adaptive LED headlight functions also include the cornering light and the high beam assistant.

The optimised menu display for the iDrive operating system with buttons in tile structure and in live mode is now also available in conjunction with the optional navigation system Business. This means that the desired content is now available even more quickly and conveniently. What is more, the program of optional equipment items now also includes the option of telephony with wireless charging, which allows compatible mobile phones to be recharged without use of a cable. The wireless LAN hotspot, likewise newly available for the BMW i3 and the BMW i3s, provides a fast online connection for up to ten end devices inside the vehicle.

Munich. The eternal ice and the steep cliffs of Greenland are drawing professional adventurer and extreme climber Stefan Glowacz into his next big project. On his spectacular “Coast to Coast” expedition, the BMW outdoor ambassador will cross the island from West to East by ski, sledge and sow kites and then free-climb an unclimbed rock face. Glowacz, who will be accompanied on his expedition by photographer Thomas Ulrich and his climbing partner Philipp Hans, will also travel to his destination in an especially sustainable way. The trio heads out from Munich in two BMW i3s (fuel consumption in the legal EU test cycle: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.6/13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) with the first destination being Scotland. From there they travel to the West coast of Greenland by sailboat where they will cross the island by sledge presumably at the end of July.

Today BMW i product line manager Dr. Robert Irlinger handed over the car keys as the starting signal for the approximately three-month “Coast to Coast” expedition. The two fully packed BMW i3s are waiting at BMW Welt to take the adventurers and their equipment to Scotland emission-free at the local level. “Pioneering spirit and new approaches are our daily motivation also at BMW i. This is why we are supporting this project with great pleasure”, says Irlinger.

“Travelling the first leg of the journey in the BMW i3 is truly the dot on the i making our project the almost perfect sustainability expedition”, says Glowacz, who has reached many hard-to-access regions of the world in a very environment-friendly manner to then free-climb extremely demanding rock faces. “In our expeditions we have always been trying for several years now to reach our selected rock face under our own steam from the last outpost of civilisation.”  

The 53-year-old adventurer is undertaking the “Coast to Coast” expedition and facing the unrelenting forces of nature in an environmentally sound manner this time, too. Around two and a half weeks are planned for sailing from the Scottish coast to the Western shores of Greenland. Once there, Glowacz and his companions plan to cross the largest landbound ice surface in the world from West to East by kite-drawn sledges in around 30 to 40 days. A further two weeks are planned for climbing a hitherto unconquered, up to 1000 meters high rock face on the East coast of the island. Then the expedition members will once again travel by sailboat back to Scotland stopping over in Iceland and the Faroe Islands. “This route, which combines several adventures, is how I image a modern adventure to look like”, says Glowacz.

He came up with the idea two years ago on his way to an expedition to the Canadian Baffin Island. “We were flying over Greenland and I was fascinated by the immense frozen surfaces and the sheer cliffs on the East side of the island”, is how Glowacz recalls what inspired him to go on this expedition. He is planning to return to Munich at the beginning of October. If all goes well, he may even be back for the start of the European Outdoor Film Tour 2018/2019 in October at BMW Welt in Munich. Here he would report on his encounters with the rock and ice of Greenland.

*The fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and electric power consumption figures were determined according to the European Regulation (EC) 715/2007 in the version applicable. The figures refer to a vehicle with basic configuration in Germany. The range shown considers the different sizes of the selected wheels/tyres and the selected items of optional equipment, and may vary during configuration.

The values for the vehicles marked * are already based on the new WLTP test cycle and have been translated back into NEDC-equivalent values in order to ensure comparability between the vehicles. With respect to these vehicles, for vehicle-related taxes or other duties based (at least inter alia) on CO₂ emissions, the CO₂ values may differ from the values stated here (depending on national legislation).

The CO₂ efficiency specifications are determined according to Directive 1999/94/EC and the latest version of the Pkw-EnVKV, and based (for classification) on the fuel consumption and CO₂ values as per the NEDC cycle.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and specific CO₂ emission values of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: 'Leitfaden über den 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 free of charge from all dealerships and at https://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html.

Munich. The BMW i3 sets standards worldwide for driving pleasure in a purely electrically-driven vehicle. Key factors here are not only the increased output of the motor in the new BMW i3s, but also the innovative traction control system adapted specifically to the instantaneous power deliver of the BMW eDrive system. Presented for the first time in the new BMW i3s (270 Nm at 0 rpm, 135 kW / 184 HP, power consumption combined in European NEFZ test-cycle*: 14.3 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km), the system improves traction and driving stability in adverse weather and road conditions when pulling away, in active Brake Energy Regeneration phases and when accelerating out of tight corners. At the heart of this innovation is the control system’s 50-times-faster routine, made possible because – unlike conventional driving stability systems – the control process is now calculated directly in the powertrain instead of in a remote unit requiring long signal paths. This development provides further evidence of BMW i as a pioneer of innovative technology within the BMW Group.

“With their high levels of torque and instantaneous responses to every movement of the accelerator, electric motors already make significantly higher demands on driving stability systems than conventional power units,” explains Peter Langen, Head of Chassis Development at BMW.

That’s why the BMW engineers developed a new type of system geared squarely to the demands of electric mobility.
The positive impact of these shorter control cycles is not reserved for purely electrically driven cars; indeed, this innovative traction control system also optimises traction, driving stability and driving dynamics in vehicles with combustion engines. It will therefore be fitted in BMW and MINI models with front-, rear- and all-wheel drive to deliver noticeably greater assurance and driving pleasure when road conditions make pulling away difficult.

About BMW i
BMW i is a BMW Group brand focusing on visionary vehicle concepts, connected mobility services and a new understanding of premium strongly defined by sustainability. BMW i is represented in 54 countries with the BMW i3 electric car for urban areas, BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car and plug-in hybrid BMW iPerformance Automobiles. 
BMW i opens up new target groups for the company and serves as an incubator for innovations. Technologies which have debuted successfully in BMW i cars are carried over to parent brand BMW’s other models.
BMW i is also associated with enterprises including DriveNow (car sharing), ReachNow (car sharing 2.0), ChargeNow (easy access to the world’s largest network of charging points), ParkNow (straightforward location, reservation and payment of parking spaces), venture capital company BMW i Ventures (investment in start-up companies with a focus on urban mobility), BMW Energy (energy optimisation services) and the Centre of Competence for Urban Mobility (consultancy for cities).

^* 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 emissions 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. LeitfadenCO2 (GuidelineCO2) (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB)

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Wieland Brúch,
Media Relations Manager BMW i and Electric Mobility

Telephone: +49-89-382-72652

Email: wieland.bruch@bmwgroup.com

Paloma Brunckhorst
Media Relations Manager BMW i, BMW iPerformance

Telephone: +49-89-382-22322

Email: Paloma.Brunckhorst@bmwgroup.com

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

The BMW i3 shows the way ahead to a new era of mobility. It is recognised the world over as a symbol of driving pleasure, sustainability and intelligent connectivity in the urban traffic environment, which is why it has become the best-selling electric car in the premium compact segment. The recipe for success of the BMW i3 has now been further improved, thanks not just to refreshing styling accents, cutting-edge equipment features and new digital services, but also to the addition of a new model variant. For making its debut alongside the new edition of the first ever premium car to be conceived from the outset for all-electric mobility is the BMW i3s. With a higher output, model-specific chassis technology, noticeably more dynamic driving qualities and design features all of its own, it generates a particularly intense blend of the unrivalled sporty driving pleasure associated with electric cars from the BMW Group. By offering a premium-quality, all-electric driving experience, meaning zero local emissions, together with a whole new level of connectivity technology, both models represent the future of urban mobility.

The BMW i3 has reigned as the top-selling premium electric car in its class since 2014, not just in Europe but worldwide too. And in Germany, it has actually been topping the new vehicle registration statistics for the electric car segment as a whole, also since 2014. It’s not just the visionary electric vehicles and inspirational design that help to make BMW i so popular, but also its innovative mobility solutions and the revolutionary new form of premium character, with sustainability as a key defining element. By offering such products while also adopting an all-embracing approach that takes into account the complete lifecycle – from raw material production, through the manufacture and operation of the vehicles to their later recycling – the BMW i brand has established itself as a pioneer for forward-thinking mobility.

BMW eDrive electric motor in two output levels, high-voltage battery with large capacity of 94 Ah/33 kWh, optional range extender engine.

The driving experience in the BMW i models has played no small part in the growing appeal and popularity of electric mobility. Following systematic refinement, the BMW eDrive technology aboard the new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s enables drivers to enjoy locally emission-free mobility with wonderfully instantaneous power delivery, efficient use of energy and an optimised range for a level of everyday practicality that even extends beyond the demands of purely urban travel. Both models draw their energy from the lithium-ion high-voltage battery developed by the BMW Group with a capacity of 94 ampere hours (Ah) or 33 kilowatt hours (kWh). A range extender engine can be ordered as an option for both the new BMW i3 and the new BMW i3s.

The new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s will celebrate their world premieres at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt/Main in September 2017. The global market launch will begin in November 2017.

Design: sporty look.

The new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s have a remarkably dynamic character by premium compact electric car standards, and a number of design tweaks have been included to express this to particularly striking effect in their visual appearance too. The unmistakable, avant-garde exterior styling has already picked up the iF gold award for product design and the World Car Design of the Year award along with other accolades, and it has now been enhanced by a number of deft design touches that clearly convey the sporty and stirring driving experience on offer.

The trademark BMW i Black Belt running from the bonnet over the roof to the car’s rear end is now complemented by A-pillars and roof lines that also sport a black finish. The range of paint finishes for the remaining body elements has been extended to include Melbourne Red metallic and Imperial Blue metallic. Besides these two new additions, customers can also choose from the non-metallic shades Capparis White and Fluid Black as well as Protonic Blue metallic and Mineral Grey metallic.

The restyling of the front and rear aprons places particular emphasis on the car’s width, which has the effect of signalling just how sporty both models are to drive and how sure their handling is. A chrome-design trim strip running across the full width of the rear and the positioning of the model and eDrive badges on the outer edges of the boot lid serves to reinforce this impression.

The new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s come equipped with all-LED headlights as standard, which employ LED bulb units for dipped beam and high beam as well as the daytime running lights. The new turn signal indicators also feature LED technology and are integrated into the front apron in the form of horizontal strips. This means that LEDs are now used for all lighting functions at the front of the vehicle too, as was already the case with the glass-covered rear light assemblies.

The new BMW i3: new styling accents for a sense of sporty elegance.

The thoughtful evolution of the exterior design not only helps to bring the sporting credentials of the new BMW i3 more to the fore, but highlights its sophisticated elegance too. The front bumper is completely painted in the body colour and has a black U-shaped surround that reinforces the car’s presence when viewed from the front. Moving round to the rear end, the powerfully moulded contours and the contrast in colour between the black surround and the body-coloured inlay again create an energetic and expressive appearance.

The new silver-coloured roof line accent for the new BMW i3 adds a further touch of elegance and dynamism. It widens towards the rear, thereby accentuating the stream flow, as the distinctive outline of the side windows is known.

The new BMW i3s: a thoroughly dynamic performer.

The new BMW i3s incorporates a number of design elements all of its own that underscore its particularly dynamic character. Both the front and rear aprons are notable for their model-specific, powerfully shaped contours. At the front, the bumper inlay as well as the U-shaped surround encircling it have a black finish. The front apron’s side sections are bordered on their lower edge by accent strips in BMW i Blue or Frozen Grey that further emphasise the width of the car. The accent in the closed BMW kidney grille is also painted in high-gloss black on the BMW i3s to give the grille a larger and more prominent appearance. The rear apron of the new BMW i3s is likewise composed of individually styled contours, while the black surround frames an extra-wide, body-coloured inlay. On the new BMW i3s, the roof line accent also sports the same high-gloss black finish as the A-pillars.

The new BMW i3s comes equipped as standard with sports suspension that includes a 10-millimetre drop in ride height. The additional 40 millimetres of track width compared to the BMW i3 is given added impact by the black wheel arch borders. The new BMW i3s is available with exclusive 20-inch light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design that are 20 millimetres wider than the previously available versions. They can be ordered in the Bicolour and Jet Black colour variants.

Interior: great sense of roominess, sustainable materials.

Like the exterior design, the interior styling of the new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s is rooted in the novel LifeDrive vehicle architecture. The carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell has a wonderfully spacious feel about it and is dominated by a sense of lightness. The design principle of the two four-seater models means there is no need for either fixed B-pillars or a transmission tunnel. Doors that open in opposite directions allow the occupants to get in and out with the greatest of ease.

The Loft, Lodge and Suite equipment lines are available for the new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s as alternatives to the standard Atelier version. The Lodge interior design option includes a new covering for the seat surfaces in Solaric Brown that combines natural leather tanned using an olive leaf extract with a wool-based textile material. The fact that the BMW i3 and BMW i3s also count sustainability among their premium characteristics shines through in the rest of the materials selected for them too, including recycled plastics, renewable raw materials, natural fibres and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood. Over 80 percent of the surfaces visible to the passengers are made from recycled materials or renewable resources. The new blue seat belt option provides a splash of colour in the interior in typical brand style. The BMW i3s supplements all this with special model lettering on the front floor mats as standard.

Emission-free fun at the wheel: a more intense experience than ever, now with two power options.

The synchronous electric motor powering the new BMW i3 generates a maximum output of 125 kW/170 hp. Its peak torque is 250 Nm (184 lb-ft), all of which is available instantly from a standstill, as is usual with electric motors. This means that stepping on the accelerator pedal immediately unleashes a thrilling burst of speed. The motor smoothly delivers the kind of performance that drivers expect from a BMW via a single-speed automatic transmission, with continuous power delivery that builds up the car’s tempo in a characteristically dynamic fashion. 0-100 km/h (62 mph) is achieved by the new BMW i3 in 7.3 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 150 km/h (93 mph).

Located low in the vehicle floor, the lithium-ion high-voltage battery provides a range of 290 to 300 kilometres (180-186 miles)* based on the NEDC cycle, 235 to 255 kilometres (146 to 158 miles)** as per WLTP and up to 200 kilometres (124 miles)*** in everyday use. The combined electric power consumption of the new BMW i3 on the NEDC cycle varies between 13.6 and 13.1 kWh for every 100 kilometres*.

Bringing outstanding driving dynamics to the electric vehicle segment, with instantaneous torque, superb traction and precisely controllable drifts.

The agile handling characteristics of the BMW i3 are improved still further by the optimised Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system. This comprehensively revised, faster responding traction control system guarantees confident handling under all driving conditions. The BMW i3 now features a globally unique form of wheel speed limiting that ensures increased directional stability, both under dynamic acceleration and on the overrun with strong regenerative braking. Traction during pull-away on snow and wet roads has also been noticeably improved. DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) mode now boosts agility at higher speeds and during sporty cornering, even allowing mild and safely controllable drifts when grip levels are reduced.

The new BMW i3s provides an even sportier interpretation of silent mobility with zero local emissions and features a high-performance 135 kW/184 hp electric motor that generates peak torque of 270 Nm (199 lb-ft). Its updated drive system includes modified motor control and specific taper roller bearings, which have been utilised to further optimise power delivery and the performance curve at higher rpm. At the limits of the motor speed range, the power and torque of the further developed drive system represent an improvement of up to 40% for the BMW i3.

What’s more, the new BMW i3s boasts sports suspension with specially developed springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. Drivers can also select SPORT mode using the Driving Experience Control switch. This initiates more direct accelerator response and tighter steering characteristics to further accentuate the car’s sporting edge.

Just 6.9 seconds is enough to see the new BMW i3s burst past 100 km/h (62 mph) on its way to a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). It returns a combined electric power consumption of 14.3 kWh per 100 kilometres* on the NEDC cycle. Its electric range runs to 280 kilometres (174 miles)* based on the NEDC cycle, 235 to 245 kilometres (146 to 152 miles)** as per WLTP and up to 200 kilometres (124 miles)*** in everyday use.

A 28 kW/38 hp two-cylinder range extender petrol engine is available as an option for both the new BMW i3 and the new BMW i3s. The engine drives a generator that produces power as required while driving to maintain a constant level of charge in the high-voltage battery. This extends the car’s overall range in everyday use by 150 kilometres (93 miles), increasing it from around 180 kilometres (112 miles) to a maximum of 330 kilometres (205 miles)***. The all-electric range of the new BMW i3 with range extender is 225 to 235 kilometres (140 – 146 miles)* as per NEDC and 190 to 200 kilometres (118 – 124 miles)** as per WLTP. The corresponding figures for the new BMW i3s with range extender come in at 220 kilometres (137 miles)* on the NEDC and 185 to 195 kilometres (115 to 121 miles)** on the WLTP cycle.

On the NEDC cycle, the new BMW i3 with range extender returns combined consumption figures per 100 kilometres of 11.9 to 11.5 kWh of electric power and 0.6 litres of fuel (fuel consumption of 470.8 mpg imp; CO2 emissions: 14 –13 g/km)*. On the same combined NEDC cycle, the new BMW i3s with range extender consumes 12.5 kWh of electric power per 100 kilometres and 0.7 litres of fuel (fuel consumption of 403.5 mpg imp; CO2 emissions: 14 g/km)*.

Extensive range of driver assistance systems: Parking Assistant and Traffic Jam Assistant take over control of steering.

The driver assistance systems available for the new BMW i3 and BMW i3s ease the driver’s workload and provide support in various traffic situations, as well as helping with longitudinal and lateral vehicle control. The optional Parking Assistance package includes Park Distance Control, a reversing camera and the Parking Assistant. Once a suitable parking space parallel to the road has been selected, the Parking Assistant takes control of acceleration, braking, gear selection and steering.

Driving Assistant Plus, also available as an option, incorporates Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function, Speed Limit Info, Proactive Driving Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, and the Traffic Jam assistant, which not only maintains a safe distance to the car in front in stop-start traffic at up to 60 km/h (37 mph), but also keeps the car in lane. The system takes its cues from lane markings, the width of the road and vehicles travelling ahead.

Further developed iDrive system, BMW i ConnectedDrive with navigation features and On-Street Parking Information specially developed for electric mobility.

Both the new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s come with an updated version of the iDrive operating system, which provides an intuitive interface for controlling numerous vehicle, infotainment, communications and navigation functions. In vehicles equipped with the Navigation system Professional, the Control Display has a diagonal of 10.25 inches and an increased resolution of 1,440 × 540 pixels. The main menu is also presented in the form of horizontally arranged tiles with a live mode. The voice recognition system has also been further optimised. With the aid of Natural Language Understanding, spoken instructions can now be executed more quickly and precisely, e.g. when searching for music and phone numbers or dictating e-mails and SMS messages. New to the options list is Apple CarPlay preparation. This allows additional smartphone apps to be integrated seamlessly with the vehicle’s operating system.

The further expanded BMW i ConnectedDrive offering – unmatched by any rival – ensures intelligent connectivity through services specially tailored to electric mobility. The digital On-Street Parking Information search service, now available for the first time in the BMW i3, can also be used alongside the Real Time Traffic Information system if the Navigation system Professional is specified. Public charging stations and information about their availability can also be displayed on the navigation system’s map. When route guidance is activated, data about the route is also used to calculate the range shown in the instrument cluster as accurately as possible. The range map provides a visual representation of the current operating radius. It is also possible to display the different ranges achievable in each of the Driving Experience Control modes. BMW i-specific navigation features also include intermodal route guidance. This helps users to quickly and efficiently reach their destination by factoring in local public transport timetables and connections. Regular, automatic updates of the navigation data are now also provided “over the air” in the BMW i3, using a mobile network connection.

A package of new services were introduced in July 2017 under the BMW Connected+ banner which enable a highly personalised and more straightforward display of information inside the car. All of the digital services related to BMW Connected and BMW Connected+ will be available in the BMW i3 and BMW i3s. These span intelligent route planning, including stop-offs at charging stations or petrol stations (Send my Routes to Car), sharing of the car’s current location via SMS and live link (Share Live Trip Status), personalised display of relevant in-car information (BMW Onboard), seamless transfer of route instructions to the customer’s smartphone or smartwatch once the car is parked (Navigate Door-to-Door) and direct syncing of contacts and addresses to the navigation system (My Destinations).

BMW Digital Charging Service enables intelligent charging.

The BMW Digital Charging Service brings customers the future of charging, today. BMW ConnectedDrive and the BMW ConnectedDrive Portal turn charging into a digital experience. As a result, the BMW i3 and BMW i3s are integrated perfectly into the customer’s smart ecosystem. This allows BMW customers to optimise charging costs, make best use of self-generated solar energy for charging and even earn money through integration into the smart grid. The service’s ease of use – from a smartphone via BMW Connected or from PCs and tablets via the BMW ConnectedDrive Portal – also facilitates fully transparent, sustainable use of renewable energy. With the introduction of its unique BMW Digital Charging Service, BMW becomes the world’s first carmaker to integrate electric mobility with its customers’ digital worlds.

360° ELECTRIC: new charging cable, BMW i Wallbox Connect.

360° ELECTRIC is a range of products and services that help make electric mobility a convenient, everyday experience. The functionality of the standard charging cable supplied with the new BMW i3s has been optimised and includes a temperature sensor. Charging at home is extremely user-friendly thanks to the BMW i Wallbox which, in its most recent incarnation, can supply 11 kW of power to charge the high-voltage battery. This allows enough energy for an electric range of around 180 kilometres (112 miles) to be transferred in under three hours – five times quicker than with the standard charging cable. The new BMW i Wallbox Connect also extends the functionality of the globally unique Digital Charging Service to provide intelligent charging for optimal cost efficiency, and allows customers to make best use of self-generated solar energy. In addition, it is also possible to control the charging process using a smartphone app and manage usage by means of an access card. Drivers with a registered ChargeNow card have unrestricted access to the world’s largest network of public charging stations.

BMW i pioneers electric driving pleasure with integrated sustainability concept and superior eDrive technology.

BMW i is blazing a trail when it comes to shaping the future of sustainable personal mobility. Its integrated concept focuses on responsible use of resources and incorporates material selection and innovative mobility services alongside locally emission-free driving. The BMW i3 is just as serious about the fun of driving, turning even a trip around town into an electrifying experience. The inspirational design of the BMW i3 expresses a new style, while the instantaneous power from the drive system provides an inspiring showcase for the dawn of a new era in mobility.

This car’s architecture was designed from the ground up with electric mobility in mind. And its BMW eDrive technology boasts power delivery and efficiency unrivalled by any other manufacturer. All of which makes the BMW i3 a proposition as forward-looking as it is attractive. Combining the latest technological innovations with an evolutionary development of the car’s design and the expansion of the model range has provided additional impetus for BMW’s now familiar take on premium electric mobility. The character profiles of the new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s are focused more keenly than ever on driving pleasure, which gives them all the ingredients required to strengthen their leading position and write the next chapter in the BMW i success story.

* Consumption and emissions figures as well as ranges according to NEDC test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified.

** Ranges according to WLTP test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified and the equipment level.

*** Figures according to BMW range measurements in everyday use in urban areas, exterior temperature: 20°C, heating/air conditioning, pre-conditioning, COMFORT driving mode. Range dependent on various factors. In particular: personal driving style, route characteristics, exterior temperature, pre-conditioning.

All figures relating to performance, consumption, emissions and range are provisional.

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 the Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-cons

In case of queries please contact:

Paloma Brunckhorst, BMW i Product Communication, BMW iPerformance Automobiles

Tel.: +49-89-382-22322

e-mail: paloma.brunckhorst@bmwgroup.com

Wieland Bruch, BMW i Communication, Electric Mobility

Tel.: +49-89-382-72652

e-mail: wieland.bruch@bmwgroup.com

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

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

Munich. BMW i will debut as the exclusive transportation partner at the Coachella Valley Music & Art Festival in 2017, providing VIP shuttle service and hospitality during the weekends of April 14-16 and 21-23. BMW’s sustainable, future-oriented brand will provide BMW i3 electric vehicles and BMW X5 40e iPerformance plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for transportation on and around the festival site.

A stand-out feature of the BMW i3 fleet at Coachella is a unique wrap that was created especially for the occasion, its design reflecting the creative and unconventional character of the event. BMW i8 plug-in hybrid electric sports cars with Coachella design will also take to the roads between Los Angeles and Palm Springs with a selected group of festival-bound celebrities and influencers on board.

Coachella is one of the world’s largest music festivals and provides an ideal stage for the BMW i brand: “The wealth of ideas the artists bring and the festival’s focus on sustainability create a unique atmosphere; Coachella is the birthplace for many trends, ideas and movements,” says Hildegard Wortmann, Senior Vice President Brand BMW. “BMW i is likewise a driver of pioneering innovations and the joy of sustainable mobility. We are positioning the sub-brand as open-minded, creative and inspiring – and Coachella provides an exceptional platform for this purpose, uniting creativity, passion and connectedness. We’re looking forward to an inspirational partnership.”

"Road to Coachella".

A social media campaign entitled “Road to Coachella” kicked-off the partnership on March 14. The campaign offers festival goers the chance to be entered into a drawing to win a festival pass by documenting their preparation for the festival and their own journey to Coachella Valley via social media using the hashtag #RoadToCoachella. 

Renowned composer and music producer Hans Zimmer (“Inception”, “Pearl Harbor”, “The Dark Knight” and “The Lion King”) has provided the soundtrack for a video promoting “Road to Coachella.

The three-minute piece, which debuted on April 9 on BMW’s YouTube Channel, is set to a Zimmer’s music and features the BMW i8 hybrid electric sports car, while providing a look at his preparations as he and his orchestra ready for their first-ever Coachella performance. Also featured in the video are fellow Coachella performers including Marshmello, Galantis, Ryan Rabin of Grouplove, Warpaint and Broods.

Furthermore, BMW i will invite visitors during the festival to visit the innovative BMW i Brand Lounge in the VIP Area, where they can experience up close the allure of BMW i and the unique Coachella design, co-developed with Garage Italia Customs.

About BMW i

BMW i is based around a wide-reaching concept designed to bring about sustainable and future-focused mobility. It is fuelled by visionary electric vehicles and mobility services, inspirational design and a new understanding of premium that is defined squarely in terms of sustainability and delights with innovative new vehicles. The design of the all-electric BMW i3 emission-free model for urban use is centred around sustainability, while the BMW i8 introduces us to the sports car of the future.

Munich. A collaboration between BMW Group Design and Garage Italia Customs has produced an innovative colour and material concept of two concept cars based on current BMW i models. The BMW i3 Garage Italia CrossFade and the BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade will be presented on 30 September 2016 at the start of the Mondial de l’Automobile 2016 in Paris. The premiere in the French capital will also serve as an outlook on edition models of the BMW i3 and the BMW i8. These models, which both feature an exterior design derived from the concept cars, will become available at the beginning of 2017.

The common feature of the two concept cars is a surface structure that emphasises the groundbreaking design and the innovative character of the models BMW i3 and BMW i8 in a fascinating way. The focus here is on a specific colour design that was developed on the basis of a common painting genre during the late 19th and early 20th century and which provides for a particularly expressive appearance. “Lapo Elkann is a pioneer in linking the disciplines of fashion, automobile and design. As a designer, I find this comprehensive approach particularly exciting,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design. “With BMW i, we have been successful in overcoming previous restrictions in automotive design through the use of entirely new materials. So the progressive expressiveness of the Garage Italia CrossFade Edition is perfectly in keeping with the BMW i3 and the BMW i8.”

In June 2016, Garage Italia Customs had already presented the BMW i8 Futurism Edition. This vehicle also featured a body surface concept that was inspired by the art of painting. The design of the BMW i8 Futurism Edition, which was created on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of BMW Italia, is based on the painting “Lampada ad Arco” by the futuristic artist Giacomo Balla. “Technological development and constant search for innovation are common key values to both Garage Italia Customs and BMW,” adds Lapo Elkann, Chairman and Founder of Garage Italia Customs. “BMW i automobiles provide our designers with ideal opportunities for an artistic exploration of the future of mobility. The CrossFade project was a great opportunity to create something beyond the traditional idea of car painting, generating amazing effects with a unique geometrical pattern.”

The design of the concept cars now being shown in Paris was inspired by optical colour mixing, a technique already used in Pointillism of the late 19th century. This painting technique involves the creation of motifs using small and evenly distributed dashes of colour. Because the neighbouring colours are not intermixed, but only blend together in the perception of the viewer, a particularly intensive radiance is created. The selective variation of size and spacing of the individual dashes permits the creation of both precise and harmonious colour gradients.

On the body surface of the BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade, the accurately defined colour changes between Protonic Blue metallic and Protonic Dark Silver metallic are used to intensively underscore the lines and surface contours. Moreover, the applied dashes of paint are triangular. Resulting from this geometrical shape, both the overall impression as well as the plug-in hybrid sports car’s dynamics already symbolised in the design are accentuated even further. The colour design was realised using a complex painting process in which the car finished in Protonic Blue metallic was initially covered with a stencil film. In this way, it was possible to create the desired geometrical pattern with exceptionally high precision when the second layer of paint in Protonic Dark Silver metallic was finally applied. Moreover, the interior follows the BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade’s exterior design with the smooth transition from the dark silver of the front end of the car to the pure blue of the rear end printed on Alcantara textile that now covers the central tunnel, the side panels and the headliner. The surface structure of the interior and the seats in Foglizzo leather, and Protonic Blue and perforated Alcantara is effectively accentuated by the contrasting colours.

In the case of the BMW i3 Garage Italia CrossFade, the colour transition on the front end and the side panels flows in a vertical direction. The amount of blue decreases as it rises upwards to merge with the black roof and bonnet. The smooth transition is created by a transparent foiling with imprinted circular dashes of colour that symbolise the driving pleasure offered by the electrically powered five door car and become larger with increasing height. The distinctive colour design is also to be found in the interior, where high-quality textile and Alcantara surfaces additionally emphasise the premium character of the car. Base colour in each case is Protonic Blue, which is now also optionally available for the BMW i3 and exclusively in conjunction with the 94 Ah high-voltage battery.

Contents.

1. BMW Connected – the personalised digital mobility companion from BMW – celebrates its premiere. European launch in August 2016
2. A commitment to development delivers ongoing reductions in emissions: The new-generation Efficient Dynamics engine family.
3. Battery technology – a core capability of the BMW Group.
4. Competence centre for eDrive technology : The BMW Group’s Dingolfing plant is the main production centre for electric motors and high-voltage batteries.
5. Paving the way for the mobility of the future: The list of achievements keeps on growing. The BMW i3 (94 Ah).
6. The best of two worlds: The BMW iPerformance models. The BMW 740e iPerformance, BMW 740Le iPerformance and BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance.
7. The new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo.

Munich. BMW i is expanding the model range of its compact electric car, the BMW i3 and from summer will be offering a version with significantly increased battery capacity. The BMW i3 (94 Ah) has a capacity of 33 kilowatt hours (kWh) thanks to the higher storage density of the lithium ion cells. The battery dimensions remain unchanged with over 50 per cent range increase in the standard NEDC cycle which equals 300 kilometres instead of 190 kilometres. Even in everyday use, in bad weather conditions and with the air conditioning or heating turned on, 200 kilometres of range can be achieved on one full battery charge. The driving performance figures of the 125 kW/170 hp hybrid synchronous electric motor remain virtually unchanged. The motor propels the BMW i3 from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. This makes the BMW i3 both the sportiest and most efficient electric vehicle in its segment with an electricity consumption of 12.6 kWh/100 km (NEDC). The BMW i3 with 60 Ah battery, which has been on the market for two years, remains part of the model range. In addition, the model variant with Range Extender will still be available for both battery versions. The 2-cylinder petrol engine keeps the charge level of the battery constant while driving provides an additional range of 150 kilometres (BMW i3 (94 Ah)/BMW i3 (60 Ah): combined fuel consumption 0.6./0.6l/100 km; combined electricity consumption: 11.3/13.5 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 12/13 g/km)*. This broadens the model range of the best-selling premium electric vehicle in its segment worldwide to four versions. With the introduction of the BMW i3 (94 Ah), BMW i also offers new and more powerful charging stations for home garage use as well as new equipment options. Additionally, customers can have their first-generation battery retrofitted as part of a special retrofit programme and have the new battery type installed – this is made possible thanks to the modular and flexible design of the BMW i3.

About BMW i.
BMW i is a BMW Group brand and stands for visionary vehicle concepts and technologies, connected mobility services as well as a new understanding of premium strongly defined by sustainability.

BMW i is represented in 50 countries with the vehicles BMW i3 (electric car for metropolitan regions) and the BMW i8 (Plug-in-Hybrid sports car).

BMW i also incorporates BMW iPerformance automobiles (all BMW Plug-in-Hybrid vehicles) and the associated mobility services DriveNow (CarSharing), ReachNow (CarSharing 2.0), ChargeNow (easy access to the biggest charging point network worldwide), ParkNow (easy search, reservation and payment of parking spaces), BMW i Ventures (investment in young companies with the focus on urban mobility) and the BMW i Urban Mobility Competence Centre (for consulting cities, towns and municipalities).

For further details on official fuel consumption figures, official specific CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars, please refer to the "Manual on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars", available at all sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/angebote/verlagsprodukte/leitfaden-kraftstoffverbrauch.html. ManualCO2 (PDF 2 MB)

Attached please find the technical specifications for the BMW i3 (94Ah), valid from 07/2016.

Munich. Two years after it went on sale, the BMW i3 has established itself at the pinnacle of its segment worldwide. In Germany, one in every four electrically-powered vehicles sold since then has been a BMW i3, globally it is one in 10. In the listings of the most popular EV models, the BMW i3 occupies third place on a world-wide basis since its market launch in November 2013. The most important single market for the all-electric five-door is the USA, where it ranks third as well. In Norway the BMW i3 has been the best-selling model across the entire BMW range in the current year.
(Source for all market data: POLK / IHS per 3Q/2015)

Its ability to respond to the individual requirements of customers and national legislation in the various countries also explains how the BMW i3 is the only imported electric vehicle in China which can be purchased tax-free and avoids the hurdles presented by the local licence plate lottery. For Japan a special version of the BMW i3, tailor made to accommodate the low height of the car parking spaces there, had been developed.

The BMW i3 is available now in 49 countries, meaning the core phase of the market introduction is finished now. Only some smaller markets are still to follow.

Crucial element within the success story of the BMW i3 has been that it is the only EV worldwide with an optional Range Extender. In many cases – especially among customers who still had their reservations about buying an electric car – the choice of the additional small combustion engine tipped the balance in favour of the BMW i3.

With the creation of the BMW i brand and the decision to develop a purpose-built vehicle architecture, as well as passenger cells made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and BMW eDrive technology for electric drive systems, the BMW Group has taken on a pioneering role in the field of personal mobility. Both the BMW i3 – designed to provide locally emission-free mobility in urban areas – and the trailblazing BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car blend the joy of driving with a premium character that is focused squarely on sustainability and also involves a resource-friendly approach to materials selection and manufacturing.
This all-encompassing strategy and the compelling product attributes have helped BMW i to become the most awarded brand in automotive history during launch phase.

The BMW i3 meets the needs of demanding target groups who combine an appreciation for sustainable mobility with a desire for a driving experience that is both sophisticated and rich in emotional appeal. Its progressive design, intelligent lightweight construction, groundbreaking drive system technology and innovative connectivity turn locally emission-free mobility into a fascinating experience, opening up whole new groups of buyers to the BMW Group.

More than 80 percent of the BMW i3 buyers worldwide are new customers to the BMW Group.

Aided by its flexible production capacity, BMW Plant Leipzig is currently assembling over 100 units of the BMW i3 – as well as more than 20 of the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car – every day in order to meet the rising demand for the car.

The success of the BMW i models offers clear evidence of the growing interest in sustainable personal mobility while also providing a valuable shot in the arm for the infrastructure development still required. Achieving even greater market penetration of all-electric and plug-in hybrid drive systems depends not only on attractive cars but also on an expansion of the network of public charging stations and the creation of other infrastructure-related elements. Positive examples of how the impact of electric mobility can be increased to good effect through infrastructure measures and public incentives can be found in countries such as Norway and the Netherlands.

BMW i has introduced a range of innovative mobility services to further the cause of sustainability on urban roads. One example here is the integration of the BMW i3 into the fleet of the DriveNow car-sharing service. 100 units of the BMW i3 are already in use at DriveNow locations in Germany alone and another 300 are due to join them by the end of the year. These cars provide large numbers of customers with a convenient opportunity to get their first taste of premium-level pure-electric mobility and, in so doing, contribute to the increasing acceptance of this drive system technology. In September 2015 DriveNow sent the largest BMW i3 fleet yet – numbering 400 cars – into service in the Danish capital Copenhagen. By the end of 2015, electric vehicles will account for 20 % of the vehicles in the BMW Group owned car-sharing fleet.

The impact of BMW i as an innovation driver across the other BMW Group brands is more significant and visible than ever. The extensive transfer of technology to the core BMW brand also helps further increase the efficiency of current and future models. Following its introduction into the BMW X5 xDrive40e, the BMW eDrive technology originally developed for BMW i cars will also find its way into BMW 3 Series, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and BMW 7 Series model variants over the course of 2016. All variants of the luxury sedan also feature a Carbon Core body structure, whose development is likewise largely based on expertise in the industrial use of CFRP developed by BMW i and in which BMW is a global leader in the automotive industry.

Munich. Powerful, agile, interconnected and, above all, locally emission-free: Thanks to these qualities, the all-electric BMW i3 is now also increasingly proving its worth as an emergency vehicle for police forces, rescue services and fire departments. BMW is offering the world’s first premium vehicle designed from the start for solely electric mobility, featuring a range of optional extras specifically aligned to the requirements of emergency forces, thereby opening up new fields of action for electric mobility within the urban environment.  Authorities Bavaria, Milan, Los Angeles and London have meanwhile added the first BMW i3s to their emergency vehicle fleets. And another special version is in use for locally emission-free cash transport in the Polish capital of Warsaw.

The BMW i3 features a vehicle architecture that was specifically developed for electric and plug-in models. The key elements are the carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cabin and an aluminium chassis comprising all drive and suspension components. This construction method helps to provide the four-metre-long, five-door car not only with a remarkably spacious and variable interior, but also a small turning circle as well as agile and safe handling characteristics. A high seating position and excellent all-round visibility offer the ideal prerequisites for use in urban traffic conditions. The 125 kW/170 hp electric motor accelerates the standard BMW i3 (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 12.9 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) from 0-100 km/h in just 7.2 seconds. The car’s lithium-ion high voltage battery permits a vehicle range of up to 160 kilometres in day-to-day operation.

The specific equipment featured in the BMW i3 is the result of more than 50 years of experience in the field of emergency vehicle development. Thus BMW is the only car manufacturer that is able to offer police, rescue and fire service task forces a range of equipment ex works that is exclusively aligned to each individual requirement. Depending on the area of use, the vehicles are provided with the corresponding design foils and roof bars. A special signalling system, front and rear flashers as well as pressure-chamber loudspeakers ensure that other road users are warned in good time when the BMW i3 is on an emergency assignment. The range of equipment also includes a preliminary setup for digital radio.

Moreover, thanks to a permanently installed SIM card, it is possible to make use of intelligent networking technology inside the BMW i3 to make work easier for emergency personnel. The ConnectedRescue system, which is based on BMW Connected Drive, offers the optional possibility of transmitting from the control centre to the vehicle all important information – including address, reason for assignment and contact person – clearly and intuitively operable and readable. The transmitted target coordinates or addresses can directly serve the navigation system’s route guidance, meaning that manual input of the navigation destination is no longer required. In this way, transmission errors are eliminated. The driver can concentrate fully on the traffic whilst the team prepares directly for the assignment. This enhances both safety and efficiency of rescue forces.

The BMW i3 is also conquering unusual business areas. The latest example is the Polish Idea Bank, which uses the BMW i3 in Warsaw for a pick-up service that is uncommon in the banking business. Shop owners are able to request via an app the BMW i3 in use as a security car to pay in their daily takings conveniently, directly and in front of their own shop door.

Further information on BMW emergency vehicles can be found on the Internet at www.bmw-behoerden.de

About BMW security vehicles:
For over 50 years now, BMW has been developing state-of-the-art security vehicles in collaboration with national and international authorities. Aligned to the respective local regulations and directives, all models offer maximum security, economy and innovative technology. Preparations for specific optional equipment features are already taken into account during product development and production is implemented parallel to the respective series vehicles. ConnectedRescue is offered initially in Germany. www.connectedrescue.de

About BMW i:

BMW i is a brand of the BMW Group and stands for visionary mobility and vehicle concepts, progressive design and a new understanding of premium that is strongly defined by sustainability. BMW i is represented worldwide with the vehicles BMW i3 (electric vehicle for metropolitan areas) and BMW i8 (sports car of the future with the fuel economy of a small car), as well as with a large number of mobility services within the field of electric and interconnected mobility.

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 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.

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Berlin. Electric car sharing represents an important pillar of the BMW Group’s efforts to help create a sustainable model for urban mobility, reduce traffic volumes and improve the quality of life in cities. In order to bring this goal within reach through partnership with cities, the BMW Group set up a Centre of Urban Mobility Competence in early 2015. The team of experts brought together under its roof are working with cities and the relevant stakeholders to develop sustainable concepts for future mobility in urban areas. Today’s press conference signals the official start of operations at the BMW Competence Centre.

At the same time, 100 all-electric BMW i3 cars are now available for DriveNow car sharing customers in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. In London the BMW i3 was already added to the DriveNow fleet in May, and other cities in Germany and Europe will soon follow suit.

DriveNow has added more than 470,000 customers around the world over the last four years, including 430,000 in Germany (120,000 in Berlin). Since 2013, DriveNow has been running 60 all-electric BMW ActiveE cars in Munich and Berlin as part of the WiMobil and ePlan research projects. They have performed outstandingly well in day-to-day use and will now be replaced by 40 BMW i3 cars in Berlin, 30 in Hamburg and 30 in Munich. “Our customers have enjoyed using the BMW ActiveE cars as much as the conventional vehicles in our fleet,” says Nico Gabriel, managing director of DriveNow. “This initiative has enabled us to put around 3,000 people per month behind the wheel of an all-electric vehicle for the first time – and, in so doing, spark their enthusiasm for electric mobility. The introduction of the BMW i3 into our fleet is the logical next step, and will soon be followed by a range of others in Germany, Europe and around the world,” adds Gabriel.

Electric car sharing acts as a catalyst for electric mobility.

Another key element for the BMW Group is the important role electric car sharing has to play in driving forward electric mobility as a whole in Germany. Vehicles involved in electric car sharing schemes boost the use of charging points in cities – and on a more predictable basis. This rapidly makes electric mobility visible and more easily accessible to local people, turning it from a niche activity into an everyday reality. It breaks down barriers and eases the pathway into electric mobility.

eCarsharing is an important component of sustainable urban mobility concepts.

Electric mobility and car sharing represent two important building blocks for the BMW Group when it comes to working with cities to develop revolutionary mobility concepts. As Dr Bernhard Blättel, Vice President Mobility Services at BMW AG, explains: “A significant change has taken place within the BMW Group. In line with our strategic goals, we are setting out to establish ourselves as the leading supplier of premium products and premium services for personal mobility worldwide. We are witnessing the changes our customers and society as a whole are making and we are taking them on board. Our aim is to work towards developing a higher quality of life in cities with ample space for urban living. Set up at the start of this year, the Urban Mobility Competence Centre has since provided us with a team of experts who are working with cities and the associated stakeholders to develop and implement new concepts for future urban mobility. In the BMW Group’s view, it is possible to further improve mobility for people living in urban areas. It is not a contradiction in terms to improve mobility and at the same time ensure cities offer a high quality of life for the people who live there.”

The quality of life in our increasingly densely populated cities can be improved significantly by putting public spaces to different use. One way we can achieve this is by freeing up a large portion of the parking areas currently required. To make this possible, mobility concepts and frameworks need to be in place which can spark people’s enthusiasm for urban mobility beyond their own car. Local public transport continues to provide the backbone of mobility services in urban areas. Complementing local public transport with car sharing schemes and other modes of transport, and creating seamless intermodal connections, allows people to use all the routes through a city. This results in a significant reduction in the volume of cars looking for parking spaces and in the number of parking spaces required, not to mention improvements in air quality and noise emissions.

The recently published main points of the German federal government’s car sharing legislation fundamentally address this approach. The legislation enables cities to offer parking privileges for car sharers over private car users in the public interest. On the assumption that these kinds of incentives apply in equal measure for users of station-based and non-station-based car sharing, cities would be able to make substantial progress when it comes to extending the reach of sustainable mobility.

The same applies to Germany’s electric mobility legislation, which, among other things, gives cities the option of designating parking areas exclusively for electric vehicles. This can also help local authorities meet their aims when it comes to limiting vehicle emissions. Indeed, authorities can combine such an approach with a well-thought-through strategy for sustainable urban development to set the tone and embark on a course towards creating an environment that provides a higher quality of life.

BMW Group is a leading provider of mobility solutions; Urban Mobility Competence Centre paves the way.

The BMW Group has recognised the changing nature of the challenges it faces when it comes to mobility and broadened its corporate strategy accordingly. The company’s strategic roadmap runs up to 2020 and is clearly defined: the BMW Group aims to be the leading supplier of premium products and premium services for personal mobility worldwide. Alongside DriveNow, this involves other services such as ParkNow and ChargeNow. The substantial pressure on parking in central areas of cities around the world gives rise to considerable traffic caused by people looking for parking spaces – and with it unnecessary emissions. For drivers, this is often the most unpleasant part of a journey. ParkNow serves as an integrated platform on which to manage parking using both public areas and private spaces.

The benefits for users are clear. But there are also advantages when it comes to parking space monitoring in cities if parking tickets can be paid for online and the number of ticket machines reduced. Depending on parking demand, it is also possible to use real-time information in cars to manage traffic by showing drivers the likelihood, based on a learning algorithm, of a space being available on a given street. If there are no parking spaces available in a particular area, this allows traffic caused by people looking for spaces there to be avoided from the outset. This idea can be extrapolated to provide another parking management option – i.e. pegging parking prices to current demand.

The intermodal route guidance function integrated into the navigation system of the BMW i3 moves things forward another step. When route guidance is activated, this function shows not only the most efficient route to the desired destination by car, but also an intermodal connection, should this provide the most efficient solution. For example, a switch onto local public transport – using precise timetable data – or a rental bike can be integrated into the route guidance process. The intermodal route guidance function, which will be introduced gradually across all the BMW Group’s vehicles, allows additional traffic to be avoided and the driver to be pointed actively in the direction of alternative local public transport options.

The technical and conceptual solutions we have detailed here are all part of the BMW Group’s constantly expanding portfolio. Working together intelligently, they open the door to new forms of urban traffic management in the years ahead. Our long-term vision is for cities to offer an enhanced quality of life, in which more efficient organisation of mobility solutions helps to create a new environment in which to live. The top priority of the Competence Centre is to safeguard mobility for all users at its current level at the very least. Deprivation or coercion are not an option. Instead, the types of mobility available will be improved and coordinated so effectively that people will adopt them as a logical consequence.

Munich/ London. The carsharing service DriveNow is commencing with the extension of its vehicle fleet with the addition of the BMW i3. As from today, DriveNow customers in London are able for the first time to use the all-electric premium model by BMW i. This will be followed by the global roll-out of the BMW i3 in DriveNow vehicle pools in the summer of 2015 at several German locations and somewhat later in further European cities. With the addition of the BMW i3 to the DriveNow fleet, BMW i is now implementing a strategic initiative for the promotion of electric mobility, the preparation of which has been in process with the deployment of the BMW ActiveE electric vehicle.

Starting today, DriveNow customers in the British capital will have access to 30 BMW i3s. “eCarsharing reduces traffic congestion and emissions in cities,” explains Peter Schwarzenbauer, Executive Board member of the BMW AG, on the occasion of the premiere in London. “I am pleased that with the BMW i3, we are now able to offer our DriveNow customers unique driving pleasure combined with easy access to electric mobility.”

Carsharing relieves inner cities.

Based on user surveys and traffic analyses it is now already possible to perceive the positive effect of flexible, station-independent carsharing services on mobility behaviour in congested areas. Therefore, services such as DriveNow are seen to a large extent as an ideal supplement to local public transport, which together make the changeover to multimodal mobility without a private vehicle an attractive alternative to owning a car. At the same time, the possibility of renting a vehicle spontaneously and fuss-free and being able to return it anywhere within the urban area offers a great potential in acquiring additional target groups for carsharing.

The rapidly growing acceptance of carsharing is decisive in alleviating traffic congestion. According to the Federal Carsharing Association, more than a million citizens in Germany already belong to the movement. According to company surveys, 38 percent of DriveNow customers have sold a personal vehicle as a result of using the carsharing scheme. In many cases, this applied to older and less efficient vehicles. Customers state that the most important reason for this is that thanks to free floating carsharing, they are able to use a car spontaneously if needed and also feel they are being adequately provided for by local public transport services.  

Advantages for DriveNow customers in inner cities: Londoners avoid the city congestion toll with the BMW i3.

Moreover, thanks to DriveNow and similar services, entirely new perspectives arise in the promotion of locally emission-free mobility in urban areas. For example, the use of the electrically powered BMW ActiveE in DriveNow fleets in Munich, Berlin and San Francisco has boosted interest in the experience of driving an all-electric vehicle enormously. As a result, since March 2013, it has been possible to introduce the option of electric mobility to around 3,000 DriveNow customers in Germany each month, making an overall total of 100,000 customers. With the inclusion of the BMW i3, eCarsharing at premium level becomes even more attractive, whilst at the same time conquering further markets.

Therefore, the BMW i3 proves to be an ideal innovator of eCarsharing, with which it will be possible to achieve a reduction not only in traffic congestion, but also in emissions within the urban area. In London, it is exempt from the inner city congestion toll charged for conventionally powered automobiles. So DriveNow customers also benefit financially when they drive a BMW i3 through the city centre. In other major cities in which similar access restrictions apply or are planned, eCarsharing is an ecologically and economically sensible alternative.

The prerequisite for the success of eCarsharing programmes is the cooperation between providers and local authorities. The most crucial issue in this respect is the availability of public charging stations as well as privileged parking spaces for electric vehicles and carsharing fleets. This is of vital importance for flexible carsharing in particular. DriveNow maintains a permanent dialogue with municipal governments. User data on the electric BMW ActiveE, which has been deployed in Munich and Berlin since 2013, provide important information for the development of a requirement-oriented charging infrastructure.

With the introduction of the BMW i3 in London, DriveNow users will initially have access to approximately a dozen charging stations within the entire operative area. In Berlin, DriveNow customers now already have more than 150 charging stations at their disposal for the BMW ActiveE. By the middle of 2016, a further 420 charging points will have been added, 20 of which are designed for DC quick-charging. A further 700 charging stations can be installed in succession if required. Currently, the Munich city council is adopting an initial decision in favour of supporting electric mobility, which also comprises the development of a public charging infrastructure. Moreover, the electrification of several streets in the city centre with the Light and Charge streetlamp produced by BMW i is planned for 2015.

In order to secure the success of electric mobility, BMW is pushing ahead, together with partners from politics, the energy sector and the automotive industry, with charging infrastructure projects throughout Europe and the USA. These include a joint initiative with Volkswagen and ChargePoint for around
100 DC quick-charging stations in the USA, the project SLAM (quick-charging network for axes and large cities) for a total of 600 AC and DC quick-charging stations in Germany and the EU-funded initiative TEN-T for an infrastructure throughout Europe.

About DriveNow

DriveNow, the joint carsharing venture between the BMW Group and Sixt SE, offers high-class premium vehicles of the brands BMW and MINI for rent in major European cities according to the free floating principle. DriveNow currently has more than 450.000 members worldwide. The vehicles can be rented and returned anywhere within a predefined operative area. Registered customers reserve and book the vehicles using either the DriveNow app or the website. DriveNow currently exists in Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Vienna and London as well as in San Francisco/USA. Around ten further DriveNow locations in Europe and a further ten in North America are in preparation.

About BMW i

The BMW i brand stands for visionary vehicles and mobility services, inspiring design and a new understanding of premium that is more strongly defined on the basis of sustainability. With BMW i, the BMW Group assumes a holistic approach: BMW i redefines the understanding of individual mobility with tailor-made vehicle concepts, a strong focus on sustainability along the entire value chain and a number of mobility services.

Munich. With the Green Car of the Year Award 2015, the BMW i3 has added a further trophy to an impressive raft of honours in its first year on the market. It was chosen for this award, presented by Green Car Journal at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2014, as the first dedicated all-electric vehicle in the premium segment. This latest honour, which adds to a long tally of awards the BMW i3 has picked up over the past months, is a further endorsement of this model’s unique sustainable mobility concept. More than 12,000 BMW i3s have already been sold since November 2013. The presence of more and more of these vehicles on the roads of cities all over the world is clear proof that it is now possible to successfully mate zero tailpipe emissions with premium-class driving pleasure, and that this groundbreaking combination is here to stay. One year after its launch, the BMW i3 is already the third best-selling all-electric automobile on the market.

Early adopters of the BMW i3 in Germany praise its sporty performance in particular. This is based on a 125 kW/170 hp electric motor, which offers highly responsive acceleration, and advanced chassis engineering. These drivers mainly use their BMW i3 for everyday urban driving and for commuting to work. For the most part they charge the lithium-ion battery overnight, at home. These first customers’ main reasons for buying the first electric vehicle from the BMW Group are its integrated sustainable mobility concept and BMW’s acknowledged technological expertise. Stand-out features of the BMW i3 in the eyes of its first German customers are its carbon-fibre (CFRP) passenger cell, renewable interior materials, mature powertrain engineering, state-of-the-art connectivity, and styling which these customers perceive as “futuristic”. 

Demand for this electric vehicle, which can optionally be supplied with a range extender, is outstripping expectations. Both in number and diversity, the string of awards the BMW i3 has picked up – starting before the market launch and continuing on an upward trend ever since – is quite exceptional. In Germany, no sooner had pre-launch sales begun than the BMW i3 won the Green Steering Wheel 2013 award – one of the categories in the Golden Steering Wheel competition hosted by Auto Bild and Bild am Sonntag – and was voted best car in its class in auto, motor und sport’s Best Cars 2014 awards.

It also won two readers’ awards from Auto Zeitung magazine, plus the Auto Trophy 2013 and the Green Mobility Trophy 2014.

On the international stage, too, the successful market launch of the BMW i3 was accompanied by very positive ratings in opinion polls and independent expert reviews. Highlights to date include the UK Car of the Year Award, the Next Green Car Award, the Green Car of the Year Award, the Fleet Hero Award and a class win in the Sunday Times Top 100 Cars list (all of these in the UK), the Special Jury Award in the Swiss Car of the Year Award and a win in the French Trophées de l’Argus awards. In April 2014, a jury of motoring journalists from across the world named the BMW i3 World Green Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year.

The BMW i3’s groundbreaking and individualistic exterior and interior design also earned it many other accolades, including the German Design Award, the iF gold product design award and the Automotive Interiors Expo Award, while the French edition of GQ magazine named BMW i Head of Design Benoit Jacob “Designer of the Year”. In further tributes, Auto Bild voted the BMW i3 Design Innovation of the Year, and readers of Auto Bild Klassik named it Classic of the Future.

The latest honour, the Green Car of the Year Award 2015, presented at the LA Auto Show, is a further tribute to the BMW i3’s all-round sustainable mobility concept. The evaluation by Green Car Journal was based on the BMW i3’s zero emissions at the point of use, its innovative lightweight design and the high percentage of sustainably produced materials used in its manufacture. Green Car Journal specialises in reporting on sustainable, efficiency-enhancing technologies and pioneering trends in the automotive industry and has been hosting the Green Car of the Year Award annually at the LA Auto Show since 2005. This year’s show is open to the public from 21 to 30 November.

Munich. The BMW i Remote App for the Samsung Gear S smartwatch has garnered international success: the innovative app by BMW earns a prize in the “Software and Mobile Apps” category at the renowned CES Innovation Awards in New York.

The international Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is held each January in Las Vegas, with the forthcoming event taking place from 6 to 9 January 2015. With 3,500 exhibitors, the CES is among the world’s biggest consumer electronics trade fairs. The lead-up to the show sees the presentation of the coveted CES Innovation Awards in 20 product categories on 11 November 2014.

Selecting the winning submissions are teams of judges made up of independent industrial designers, engineers and media representatives. The “Software and Mobile Apps” category is guided by criteria such as functionality, aesthetic appeal, user-friendliness and innovative edge. It places the BMW i Remote App for the Samsung Gear S among the global front-runners in mobile apps.

Innovative, simple to operate and highly functional.
The BMW i Remote App for the Samsung Gear S smartwatch is an application which seamlessly connects BMW i drivers to their vehicle via their wristwatch. The app was developed to allow direct access to important information in real time. The app displays all key information at a glance on the smartwatch’s home screen: in the case of the BMW i3, for example, it shows not only the time but also the electric range available, the battery charge level and – during the charge process – the estimated charge time remaining. Using the touch display to click on the data sent to the Gear S by the BMW i Remote App opens a submenu with more detailed information presented in the typically classy colours and style of BMW i. A further submenu informs the user of the vehicle’s current status, i.e. whether any of the doors, windows or the boot are open.

Advance regulation of the onboard climate, which can likewise be controlled by the Samsung Gear S, is an important factor in extending the car’s range. In this way, the interior can be conveniently preheated while the vehicle is still connected to the power supply. This does not affect the charging process.

The BMW i Remote App for the Samsung Gear S is further evidence of how rapidly BMW can respond to the fast pace of innovation on the connected car front by drawing on BMW ConnectedDrive services and apps to deliver smart solutions.

Munich. Six wins thanks to Efficient Dynamics: with its current range of models and engines, BMW has achieved outstanding success in the 2014 "Green Mobility Trophy" awards presented by the automobile magazine "Auto Zeitung". Based on a reader survey, the awards were won by the Munich premium automobile manufacturer in six out of a total of seven categories. Three of these class victories were achieved by automobiles of the new BMW i brand, while two others went to the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition and the 4-cylinder petrol engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology. The triumph was rounded off with BMW being voted the "Most environment-friendly brand" of the year. The vote recognises both consistent development work and the courage to pursue innovative concepts aimed at reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels on an ongoing basis by means of Efficient Dynamics.

13 733 "Auto Zeitung" readers took part in this year's vote. The BMW i3 achieved an especially impressive result. The purely electrically powered 5-seater won in two categories and attracted the highest share of the vote in the entire competition. It was named "Best electric car" with a clear 30 per cent share of the vote. And it won the "Best lightweight construction car" with a remarkable 31.1 per cent. These two results show that both BMW eDrive technology and the lightweight construction concept featuring a passenger cell made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and an aluminium chassis are regarded as sound solutions for sustainable mobility.

The plug-in hybrid sports car BMW i8 - developed according to the same engineering principle - likewise finished first. Having achieved third place in its class last year, this time round the BMW i8 was named "Best hybrid car" with 20.9 per cent of the vote - just a few weeks after its market launch.

BMW achieved two more class victories with conventional drive technology. The BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition prevailed against 20 competitors to win the title of "Best economical diesel". The mid-range sedan is powered by a 120 kW/163 hp 4-cylinder diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology, accelerates in 8.0 seconds from zero to 100 km/h and has an average fuel consumption of 4.1 litres per 100 kilometres and a CO2 figure of 109 grams per kilometre on the EU test cycle. The BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition impressed survey participants with this combination of driving pleasure and efficiency to gain 19.3 per cent of the vote, defending its title from last year. The current 4-cylinder petrol engines in the BMW engine portfolio secured an award with similarly unambiguous results. In the vote for the "Best downsizing engines", 18.7 per cent of readers chose the 2.0-litre engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and an output of up to 180 kW/245 hp.

Finally the diverse range of successful concepts and technologies for sustainable mobility is reflected in the result of the vote for the "Most environment-friendly brand". BMW clearly led the way in this category, too, with a share of 22.6 per cent of the vote. The combination of sporty flair and efficiency that is characteristic of the entire model program produced by the Munich-based premium automobile manufacturer thus gained BMW its sixth title of the 2014 "Green Mobility Trophy".

For further details on official fuel consumption figures, official specific CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars, please refer to the "Manual on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars", available at all sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/angebote/verlagsprodukte/leitfaden-kraftstoffverbrauch.html. ManualCO2 (PDF - 2.7 MB)

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

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

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

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

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

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

O BMW Group Portugal fez hoje a entrega do primeiro BMW i3 comercializado em Portugal. Este foi um evento de estreia dupla, dado que a Embaixada da Alemanha em Portugal foi a primeira Embaixada Alemã, no mundo, a investir num BMW i3.

Dr. Nicholas Peter, Senior Vice-President BMW Group – Region Europe, formalizou esta primeira entrega em Portugal, entregando a chave do BMW i3, a Dr. Robert Weber, representante da Embaixada Alemã, em Portugal.

Para Dr. Nicholas Peter: “A sustentabilidade e o ambiente são preocupações que fazem parte do ADN da BMW. (…) Sob o slogan “Born Electric”, o novo BMW i3 é o primeiro modelo 100 % elétrico do BMW Group que oferece o típico prazer de condução do BMW, com zero emissões de CO2”.

Por sua vez, Dr. Robert Weber, frisou: “Esta iniciativa pretende mostrar no estrangeiro o empenho do Governo Federal Alemão na mobilidade sustentável e amiga do ambiente, assim como o progresso técnico da indústria automóvel alemã no âmbito dos veículos movidos a energias alternativas.”

A sub-marca BMW i representa o desenvolvimento de veículos visionários e serviços de mobilidade, um design inspirador e um novo entendimento do conceito Premium, fortemente definido pela sustentabilidade. Com a BMW i, o BMW Group redefine o conceito de mobilidade individual. O BMW i3 é o primeiro veículo Premium do mundo projetado desde o início para ser alimentado por um sistema elétrico com construção leve revolucionária. O resultado é uma nova forma de mobilidade urbana, com emissões zero e uma agradável experiência de condução.

As imagens da entrega oficial estarão disponíveis hoje, a partir das 19h00, em:

www.mediadigital.pt (User: bmw; Password: press)

Para informações sobre o BMW i3, por favor consulte: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

Sobre o BMW Group

O BMW Group é um dos construtores de automóveis e motociclos mais bem sucedido mundialmente, com as suas marcas BMW, MINI, Motorrad e Rolls-Royce. Como empresa global, o BMW Group detém 29 fábricas, em 14 países, e uma rede de vendas global em mais de 140 países.
Em 2012, o BMW Group atingiu um volume global de vendas de aproximadamente 1.85 milhões de automóveis e mais de 117.000 motociclos. O resultado, antes de impostos, foi de 7.38 mil milhões de euros, num total de 68.82 mil milhões de euros de volume de negócios. Em 31 de Dezembro de 2011, a empresa empregava um total de, aproximadamente, 100,000 colaboradores.
O sucesso do BMW Group sempre foi construído com base numa estratégia de longo prazo assente numa conduta responsável. A sustentabilidade ecológica e social fazem parte da cadeia de valor, bem como a responsabilidade claramente evidente nos seus produtos e um claro empenho na conservação de recursos como parte integral da sua estratégia. Como resultado destes esforços, nos últimos oito anos, o BMW Group tem sido classificado como empresa líder na indústria automóvel, pelo Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

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Munich. The BMW i3 is ushering in a new era of electric mobility. And since the market launch of the world’s first premium car conceived from the outset to run purely on electric power, all products and services included in the 360° ELECTRIC programme have also been available to customers. The all-inclusive concept is unique worldwide and covers all requirements in every area of electric driving. It includes home charging, mid-journey charging, keeping drivers on the move through flexible mobility options, assistance services in the form of special ConnectedDrive services, maintenance and repair services, as well as breakdown assistance.

Mid-journey charging with the ChargeNow card

 Since the launch of the BMW i3, the power flowing through the full ChargeNow network has allowed customers to charge their cars at public stations. BMW i has incorporated a large number of suppliers into the ChargeNow network to allow optimum usage of various offers and technologies within the public charging infrastructure. The BMW i partner charging stations are displayed directly on the car’s navigation system, on the customer’s smartphone or on the website. In some cases customers can also see whether the charging station is currently free or in use. The ChargeNow card gives customers access to the BMW i partner charging station and allows them to start the charging process. At the end of the month, they are sent an overall bill and summary of all charging sessions – similar to a mobile phone contract.

 ChargeNow already covers a large proportion of Germany’s charging network, with new charging stations being incorporated step by step. Across the country, around 1,000 charging points already will belong to the ChargeNow network by the end of 2013, rising to almost 8,000 stations Europe-wide. ChargeNow therefore covers around 75 per cent of the overall public charging infrastructure in Europe.

The expanding network of direct current (DC) fast-charging stations is going to be integrated into the ChargeNow network, and customers can use these stations to charge the car’s battery to 80 per cent of its overall capacity in under 30 minutes. A fast-charging station at BMW Welt in Munich and another 25 at BMW Group plants across Germany are already up and running and can currently be used by the public free of charge. Further charging stations at BMW i agents and other BMW locations are under development. A fast-charging axis along the A9 between Munich and Berlin will be opened in spring 2014 and integrated into the ChargeNow network in the summer.

ChargeNow offers a straightforward pricing model. In Germany, BMW i drivers pay a basic charge of €9.50 per month for the ChargeNow service. This charge was waived for the first three months after the BMW i3 was launched. Charging costs €2.49 per hour for the first three hours, dropping to just €1 for every extra hour after that. Charging the BMW i3 therefore cots just under €7 for 100 km (62 miles) of range – depending on the charging output available – and is an average of 50 per cent cheaper than the petrol required to cover the same range (at an average fuel consumption of eight litres per 100 km / 35 mpg).

In addition, BMW i offers ParkNow LongTerm, a product which allows customers to rent a long-term parking space with charging option close to their home or workplace. The expansion of this network is currently being driven via cooperation agreements with car park operators across Europe. In Germany it already covers more than 120 car parks.

Home charging using green energy

The high-voltage battery of the BMW i3 can be charged from any domestic power socket using the standard charging cable supplied with the car. Charging is even quicker and easier from a BMW i Wallbox, which takes under five hours to charge the battery to 80 per cent. In cooperation with its partner The Mobility House – and as part of a worldwide network of cooperation partners recently initiated by BMW i – the brand offers all customers a qualified installation service. This involves an engineer checking that the necessary technical requirements have been met and connecting the BMW i Wallbox.

360° ELECTRIC also includes BMW Green Energy, which gives BMW i customers the option of running their electric car CO2-free on 100 per cent renewable energy. With this is mind, BMW i works with meticulously selected premium partners, such as NATURSTROM AG in Germany. Another way of making sure that driving with the BMW i3 is fully emission-free is by charging the car with self-generated solar energy. To this end, BMW i has created a globally expanding cooperation network designed to offer customers turnkey solar carports, roof and garage systems. In many European countries this happens in conjunction with SOLARWATT GmbH, for example. An optional home storage solution can allow customers to charge an electric car with solar energy on a time delay – e.g. during the evening or at night – in order to maximise self-sufficiency.

Flexible mobility

 With an electric range of 130 to 160 kilometres (approx. 80 to 100 miles), the BMW i3 is able to fully meet most everyday driving requirements. Activating ECO PRO or ECO PRO+ mode, moreover, extends the non-stop distance it can cover by 20 kilometres (over 12 miles). For longer stretches, or if greater carrying capacity is required, the BMW i3 driver can simply switch vehicles and, for example, use a BMW 3 Series Touring for a weekend trip with the family or a BMW X model for a winter break in the snow. To ensure that this option is comprehensive, convenient and covers all locations, the BMW Group joined forces with Sixt to devise a tailored solution based on the services of Sixt Car Hire.

The BMW i3 comes with a BMW i Gold Sixt Card, which gives customers a discount of up to 20 per cent when hiring a BMW Group car through Sixt. Customers can make reservations online, by telephone via the newly set-up service hotline, or hire a car directly from any Sixt outlet. This offer covers all BMW Group models and is unlimited. Customers can also download the Sixt Mobility for BMW app from the App Store, which enables them to book premium offers from the Sixt Group on exclusive terms and at any location.

Beyond this, the BMW Financial Services Electrify Program offers attractive packages that cover financing, leasing, insurance, vehicle-related services and innovative mobility services.

BMW i Assistance Services

With its ConnectedDrive services for BMW i, the standard-fitted Navigation system Professional in the BMW i3 shows the fastest or most efficient route to the chosen destination and, if desired, an intermodal route involving public transport. With this option, the route is simply forwarded from the navigation system to a smartphone; thanks to the Remote app for BMW i, the navigation function continues seamlessly. At the press of a button the app can also remotely call up and display the battery’s charge level, adjust the vehicle’s climate control and guide the driver back to the parked BMW i3.

The 360° ELECTRIC programme also features tailor-made solutions for maintenance and repairs. BMW i-specific mobility services not only guarantee an alternative means of transport for the duration of a workshop visit, but also rapid assistance in the event of a breakdown. The BMW i Mobile Care package that comes with the car includes a mobility guarantee for the vehicle or the charging infrastructure which covers everything required to safeguard the unrestricted mobility of a BMW i customer in any situation – from on-site recharging and vehicle recovery to providing a hire car or paying any hotel costs incurred.

Munich. The BMW i3 achieved the highest rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests governing occupant protection and child protection that coincided with its market launch. As expected, the electric car matches the performance of the best conventionally powered vehicles in its segment in the area of passive safety. The Integral safety concept covers everything from collision avoidance to Intelligent Emergency Call and also meets requirements above and beyond Euro NCAP.
Its revolutionary new vehicle concept allows the BMW i3 to offer customers not only smile-inducing driving pleasure and outstanding environmental performance, but also top marks in terms of safety. An integral safety concept put together for the BMW Group’s first all-electric model includes everything from driver assistance systems focusing on collision avoidance, via passive safety to the Intelligent Emergency Call function – and complies with all global accident protection standards.

The aim of BMW’s integral safety concept is to achieve an optimum combination of active and passive systems that is geared to real-life traffic and accident situations. Among the active measures included as part of this concept are preventive systems which help the driver to avoid accidents. The Driving Assistant Plus system available for the BMW i3 includes both Collision Warning and Pedestrian Warning with braking function. Unique in the segment, this system helps – in urban traffic, in particular – to either prevent collisions or significantly reduce the intensity of the impact. Meanwhile, precisely defined load paths, generously sized deformation zones, a passenger cell whose strength allows it to serve as a survival space, and electronically controlled restraint systems with precisely interlinked functionality team up to optimise occupant protection if a crash is unavoidable. Likewise unique in this segment is the Intelligent Emergency Call function with automatic vehicle location and accident severity detection – a standard feature in the BMW i3. This system, which automatically establishes a telephone link with a call centre, thus cutting down the time it takes for the rescue services to be alerted, earned the BMW Group the special Euro NCAP Advanced Award from the European crash testing institute in 2010. As things stand, the standard testing process still does not include the Intelligent Emergency Call function in its assessments. Legal requirements stipulating the inclusion of a system of this kind in all newly registered vehicles across the EU will not come into force until 2015.

The effectiveness of all the passive safety systems in the BMW i3 was analysed during the car’s development process in numerous crash tests conducted by the BMW Group’s accident research specialists and in cooperation with independent experts. As part of this process, all the accident scenarios referred to for vehicle registration processes and consumer protection tests around the world – above and beyond Euro NCAP testing – were taken into account, including an impact by another vehicle against the rear of the BMW i3 and a roll-over situation.

An extremely rigid passenger cell made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and the precise interplay of its restraint systems allowed the BMW i3 to record outstanding results for adult occupant and child occupant protection in the Euro NCAP crash test. The testers noted an exceptionally low risk of injury in both front and side impacts, as well as in the Pole Side Impact test. Particularly striking here was the low degree of deformation in the CFRP passenger cell, which also enhances the effectiveness of the restraint systems.

Munich. All good things come in threes: BMW picked up three titles at the "Auto Trophy 2013" - and did so for the third time in succession. This year's winning trio that impressed readers of the automobile magazine "Auto Zeitung" were the BMW 3 Series, the BMW i3 and the third generation of the BMW X5, all of which attracted the most votes in their respective category. The winners were announced yesterday at a festive award ceremony held at the "Classic Remise" in Düsseldorf. TV presenter Judith Rakers and "Auto Zeitung" editor-in-chief Volker Koerdt presented the three trophies to Dr. Ian Robertson, BMW AG Director of Sales and Marketing, and Dr. Herbert Diess, BMW AG Director of Development.

The BMW 3 Series was able to defend its title from last year, being voted once again by "Auto Zeitung" readers as the most popular mid-range automobile. Now available as a sedan, a Touring and a BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, this latest prize means the model continues its impressive series of prestigious distinctions and comparative test achievements. More than ever before, the BMW 3 Series has come to embody the very essence of driving pleasure, elegant design, comfort and innovative technology in the premium segment of its vehicle category.

The list of winners also featured two new models made by the premium Munich-based automobile manufacturer which were launched on the market just a few days ago. The BMW i3 was quick to assert itself in the "Electric cars" category, while the new BMW X5 won in the category "SUV over 30,000 euros" . Both models had already received distinctions just a few weeks beforehand at the "Golden Steering Wheel 2013" awards presented by "Bild am Sonntag" and "Auto Bild"

The BMW i3 has now also impressed "Auto Zeitung" readers with its revolutionary vehicle concept and visionary design. It is the first ever premium automobile in the world designed entirely to be run on electricity only. BMW eDrive technology, a passenger cell made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic and numerous innovative driver assistance systems and mobility services ensure that the BMW i3 makes sustainable, locally emissions-free mobility an experience defined by characteristic BMW driving pleasure that is perfectly suited to everyday travel.

The new BMW X5 also holds a powerful fascination with its distinctive interpretation of Sheer Driving Pleasure. In its latest model generation, the Sports Activity Vehicle once again sets standards in driving dynamics within its competitive environment. The new BMW X5 also offers a range of other strong points including optimised weight, further enhanced efficiency, extended space, unique versatility and the luxurious ambience of its interior. And by winning an "Auto Trophy 2013" award, the new BMW X5 perpetuates the tradition of its predecessors: the latter also gained instant success in the "Auto Zeitung" reader's vote.

Now in its 26th season, over 103,000 "Auto Zeitung" readers took part in this year's vote.  Favourites were selected in a total of 15 vehicle categories, with a total of 400 models to choose from. The excellent showing of current BMW models was likewise reflected in numerous top-3 rankings - these included the BMW 5 Series, the BMW X1 and the BMW 1 Series Convertible. The success of the BMW i8 in the "Sports car" category was especially impressive. The plug-in hybrid sports car does not go on sale until spring 2014, but the public at large are clearly already fascinated by the 2+2-seater's pioneering drive concept and its expressive, aerodynamically refined design. The BMW i8 was up against 29 conventionally powered competitors in its rating category and secured second place.

Munich. The BMW i3 hits the road – with the sheer driving pleasure typical of the brand and an officially confirmed environmental footprint. A few days prior to the market launch on 16 November 2013, the first thoroughbred electric model from the BMW Group with an ISO certificate 14040/14044 for the environmental footprint provided by independent inspectors is now being launched. This certifies that the BMW i3 complies entirely with the demanding targets defined during development for the environmental impacts generated during sourcing, production, usage and subsequent recycling. The Declaration of Validation for the product-related environmental footprint of the BMW i3 issued by the Technical Inspectorate TÜV SÜD confirmed the methods and the results of the relevant analyses. By comparison with conventional automobiles of its size and performance, the BMW i3 has greenhouse potential reduced by values between 30 and over 50 percent.

The certificate in conformity with the ISO standard is not simply a quality seal for the BMW i3 but also provides a confirmation of the holistic approach of the new BMW i brand for sustainable, individual mobility. “For the first time in the history of the BMW Group, we already defined sustainable targets for a newly designed vehicle over the entire value chain during the early strategic phase,” explained Ulrich Kranz, Senior Vice President BMW i. “The inspection looked at the entire life cycle from extraction of raw materials and manufacture, through usage to recycling, in order to take account of all environmental aspects. The fact that this approach and its results are now being verified by a neutral agency demonstrates that we have adopted a pioneering roadmap,” commented Kranz.

The certification procedure carried out by TÜV SÜD Management Service GmbH included a detailed review of the data used for the environmental footprint study implemented on the BMW i3, the production process and the results obtained from analysis based on clearly defined criteria. 

The experts stated in their conclusion that all the requirements of the ISO standard 14040/44 were complied with when the environmental footprint study was carried out and that the methods applied were compliant with the most advanced engineering standards. The accuracy of all the input data and the environmental information was also confirmed. This result confirms that the environmental footprint of the BMW i3 also meets the most stringent international standards.

The electric drive naturally provides the most important feature in the environmental footprint of the BMW i3. The engine’s efficiency is significantly higher than in petrol or diesel engines. If generation of the electricity supplied to the high-voltage battery is also taken into account, there is further scope for optimising the environmental friendliness. The high share of recycled materials and the energy efficient production process are reducing the environmental impact of the BMW i3 even further. A greenhouse potential reduced by around 30 percent is already achieved by using energy from the EU 25 electricity mix, which takes account of all electricity generation in the European Union. A value improved by more than 50 percent compared with conventional automobiles results as soon as the BMW i3 is powered exclusively by energy generated from renewables, for example, wind or solar power.

The reduction of the greenhouse or CO2 footprint documented in the environmental footprint of the BMW i3 also resulted from a large number of individual measures which had never been implemented with comparable consistency, as was explained by Ulrich Kranz: “The sustainability targets defined for BMW i automobiles have attained the same status as cost or weight criteria in the course of the development process. Every single component and each individual process stage has been accurately reviewed and analysed by us from the perspective of sustainability. This road route took us to a lot of innovative and pioneering solutions.” This approach will be transferred also to other model lines in order to further intensify the BMW Group long term strategic commitment towards ecological, economical and social sustainability.  

The innovations realised in the BMW i3 range from the unique LifeDrive architecture with a passenger cell manufactured from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and an aluminium chassis for mounting the engine, chassis, high-voltage battery and crash structures, and an exceptional array of materials used in the interior.

Leather tanned with olive-leaf extract, environmentally refined wood from certified cultivation in Europe and the tangible use of natural fibres in the instrument panel and the door panels mean that users are actually able to experience the premium character defined by sustainability. 25 percent by weight of each of the plastics used in the interior and the thermoplastics in the exterior have been derived from recycled material or renewable raw materials.

A maximally high proportion of raw materials capable of recycling and energy-efficient manufacturing procedures also plays a role in the application of aluminium and CFRP to optimise the environmental footprint. Most of the lightweight alloy components of the BMW i3 are made up of so-called secondary aluminium. This is not obtained from aluminium ore but from melted production scrap and can be produced using up to 95 percent less energy. Furthermore, primary aluminium also makes a contribution to the sustainability of the BMW i3 since it is produced using energy generated from renewable resources.

The BMW Group makes use of its unique expertise in the area of industrial CFRP production to manufacture the Life Module. The aim is to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to creating maximally sustainable manufacturing processes. Around ten percent of the CFRP used in the passenger cell is made of recycled materials. For example, offcuts from the manufacture of CFRP components can be returned to the production stages in a process specially developed for BMW i automobiles. This reduces the need for raw materials from the carbon-fibre plant located at Moses Lake (USA). The facility produces the raw material for all the components manufactured from CFRP in the BMW i3. 100 percent of the energy required to manufacture the carbon fibres is produced from locally generated hydropower. The electricity for production of BMW i automobiles at the Leipzig plant also comes exclusively from renewable energy sources.

This is the first time that wind turbines have been used at the plant of an automobile manufacturer in Germany to supply electricity directly for production purposes on site.

•  Market launch of the BMW i3 heralds the dawn of a new era in electric mobility; the new BMW i brand presents the BMW Group’s first volume-produced model driven purely by electric power; visionary design; revolutionary vehicle architecture; familiar BMW driving pleasure; innovative connectivity; future-focused premium character strongly defined by sustainability; product substance unmatched by any rival is rooted in the well-founded research and development work carried out as part of project i and the superior technological expertise of the BMW Group.

•   The BMW i3 is an uncompromising and attractive solution to personal mobility requirements of the present and the future in urban areas; first premium car worldwide purpose-designed to run purely on electric power – and therefore emission-free; specially developed LifeDrive architecture, BMW eDrive drive technology, customary BMW rear-wheel drive and revolutionary lightweight design underpin the perfect balance of driving pleasure, range and weight; the BMW i3’s carbon footprint is around a third smaller than that of the BMW 118d – the World Green Car of the Year 2008 – or around 50 per cent smaller if the car is running on power generated from renewable sources.

•   Passenger cell (Life module) made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP); drivetrain technology, high-voltage battery, chassis, crash and structural functions integrated into the aluminium Drive module; DIN kerb weight: 1,195 kilograms; low centre of gravity; even weight distribution; spacious interior with four seats; slightly raised seating position; opposing “coach” doors; torsional stiffness of CFRP passenger cell structure allows the omission of B-pillars; centre tunnel has also been omitted, thanks to the positioning of the electric motor directly on the driven rear axle; boot capacity: 260 – 1,100 litres.

•   Groundbreaking design based around signature BMW i design language; faithful visualisation of sporting capability and efficiency; distinctive proportions; hallmark BMW i colour scheme, including exterior “black belt”; distinctive side view exuding lightness – with stream flow lines and large window surfaces; short overhangs; enclosed BMW kidney grille; bespoke design for the headlights and rear light clusters with U-shaped LED arrangement; rear lights integrated into the fully glazed tailgate.

•   Innovatively designed interior with a clear emphasis on spaciousness, cutting-edge functionality and a future-focused premium character; clear structuring provided by a surface design based on the layering principle; lightweight seats; exceptionally high proportion of naturally treated materials, recycled materials and renewable raw materials; start/stop button and bespoke gear selector lever on the steering column; instrument cluster and Control Display in freestanding monitor form; iDrive operating system and Driving Experience Control switch fitted as standard; four equipment lines available: Atelier, Loft, Lodge and Suite.

•   BMW eDrive technology including electric motor and high-performance lithium-ion battery developed and manufactured independently by the BMW Group; hybrid synchronous electric motor developed specifically for the i3, maximum output: 125 kW/170 hp, peak torque: 250 Nm (184 lb-ft); power sent to the rear wheels via an integrated differential gear; lithium-ion high-voltage battery with usable energy capacity of 18.8 kWh; intelligent drivetrain and charge management using power electronics developed by the BMW Group; battery can be recharged from a domestic power socket, BMW i Wallbox or public charging station.

•   Sporting driving characteristics and excellent agility; acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds, 0 to 60 km/h (37 mph) in 3.7 seconds and from 80 to 120 km/h (50 to 75 mph) in 4.9 seconds; top speed, electronically limited: 150 km/h (93 mph); turning circle: 9.86 metres.

•   Energy consumption: 12.9 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometres (62 miles) in the EU test cycle; more efficient than any competitor, efficiency further optimised through specific BMW EfficientDynamics technology, such as Brake Energy Regeneration, ECO PRO and ECO PRO+ mode including coasting function; range under everyday conditions: 130 – 160 kilometres (approx. 80 – 100 miles) when COMFORT mode is engaged using the Driving Experience Control switch; range can be increased by 20 kilometres (12 miles) when ECO PRO or ECO PRO+ mode are activated; additional option: two-cylinder range extender petrol engine developing 25 kW/34 hp maintains a minimum charge level and boosts range to around 300 kilometres (185 miles).

•   Sophisticated chassis technology enables a well-balanced combination of agile handling and impressive ride comfort; MacPherson single-joint spring strut front suspension; five-link rear axle mounted directly to the Drive module; Electric Power Steering; DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) including DTC (Dynamic Traction Control); 19-inch forged light-alloy wheels as standard.

•   Intelligent lightweight design, e.g. a CFRP passenger cell, aluminium chassis, instrument panel with magnesium supporting structure and weight optimisation of all components specially developed for the i3; comprehensive safety concept with precisely defined crash zones in the Drive module, extremely torsionally stiff passenger cell and electronically controlled restraint systems.

•   Varied range of BMW ConnectedDrive features, including standard BMW i functions; connectivity via a SIM card fitted in the vehicle; BMW TeleServices and Intelligent Emergency Call as standard; optional Driving Assistant Plus with camera-based Cruise Control including Stop & Go function, Traffic Jam Assistant, Speed Limit Info and No Passing Info display, pedestrian recognition and Collision Warning with light city braking function, Proactive Driving Assistant; optional parking assistance package with PDC at the front, rear view camera and fully automatic Parking Assistant; optional Comfort Package with features including a rain sensor, Cruise Control with braking function, automatically dimming rear-view and exterior mirrors; also available are BMW Online Entertainment, Concierge Services, Real Time Traffic Information, use of the flinc car sharing network (only in Germany for the time being) and other mobility services specific to BMW i.

•   Services specific to BMW i available as part of 360° ELECTRIC: BMW i Wallbox enabling convenient battery charging at home, ChargeNow card allowing customers to use public charging stations without the need for cash, innovative mobility services, intermodal route guidance via smartphone app, MyCityWay and ParkatmyHouse.

•   Extensive standard equipment, including Navigation system Professional with dynamic range display, USB and AUX-in sockets, hands-free facility for telephone, air conditioning, leather steering wheel, LED daytime driving lights, Park Distance Control (PDC) with rear-mounted sensors, charging cable for use with a domestic power socket.

•   All-embracing sustainability concept across the entire value chain; carbon fibre production at Moses Lake, USA, and vehicle assembly at BMW Plant Leipzig using 100 per cent renewable energy; BMW i packages for using eco power to charge the high-voltage battery; innovative sales concepts for flexible access to personal mobility.

Please find attached the press kit "The BMW i3".

•  Market launch of the BMW i3 heralds the dawn of a new era in electric mobility; the new BMW i brand presents the BMW Group’s first volume-produced model driven purely by electric power; visionary design; revolutionary vehicle architecture; familiar BMW driving pleasure; innovative connectivity; future-focused premium character strongly defined by sustainability; product substance unmatched by any rival is rooted in the well-founded research and development work carried out as part of project i and the superior technological expertise of the BMW Group.

•   The BMW i3 is an uncompromising and attractive solution to personal mobility requirements of the present and the future in urban areas; first premium car worldwide purpose-designed to run purely on electric power – and therefore emission-free; specially developed LifeDrive architecture, BMW eDrive drive technology, customary BMW rear-wheel drive and revolutionary lightweight design underpin the perfect balance of driving pleasure, range and weight; the BMW i3’s carbon footprint is around a third smaller than that of the BMW 118d – the World Green Car of the Year 2008 – or around 50 per cent smaller if the car is running on power generated from renewable sources.

•   Passenger cell (Life module) made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP); drivetrain technology, high-voltage battery, chassis, crash and structural functions integrated into the aluminium Drive module; DIN kerb weight: 1,195 kilograms; low centre of gravity; even weight distribution; spacious interior with four seats; slightly raised seating position; opposing “coach” doors; torsional stiffness of CFRP passenger cell structure allows the omission of B-pillars; centre tunnel has also been omitted, thanks to the positioning of the electric motor directly on the driven rear axle; boot capacity: 260 – 1,100 litres.

•   Groundbreaking design based around signature BMW i design language; faithful visualisation of sporting capability and efficiency; distinctive proportions; hallmark BMW i colour scheme, including exterior “black belt”; distinctive side view exuding lightness – with stream flow lines and large window surfaces; short overhangs; enclosed BMW kidney grille; bespoke design for the headlights and rear light clusters with U-shaped LED arrangement; rear lights integrated into the fully glazed tailgate.

•   Innovatively designed interior with a clear emphasis on spaciousness, cutting-edge functionality and a future-focused premium character; clear structuring provided by a surface design based on the layering principle; lightweight seats; exceptionally high proportion of naturally treated materials, recycled materials and renewable raw materials; start/stop button and bespoke gear selector lever on the steering column; instrument cluster and Control Display in freestanding monitor form; iDrive operating system and Driving Experience Control switch fitted as standard; four equipment lines available: Atelier, Loft, Lodge and Suite.

•   BMW eDrive technology including electric motor and high-performance lithium-ion battery developed and manufactured independently by the BMW Group; hybrid synchronous electric motor developed specifically for the i3, maximum output: 125 kW/170 hp, peak torque: 250 Nm (184 lb-ft); power sent to the rear wheels via an integrated differential gear; lithium-ion high-voltage battery with usable energy capacity of 18.8 kWh; intelligent drivetrain and charge management using power electronics developed by the BMW Group; battery can be recharged from a domestic power socket, BMW i Wallbox or public charging station.

•   Sporting driving characteristics and excellent agility; acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds, 0 to 60 km/h (37 mph) in 3.7 seconds and from 80 to 120 km/h (50 to 75 mph) in 4.9 seconds; top speed, electronically limited: 150 km/h (93 mph); turning circle: 9.86 metres.

•   Energy consumption: 12.9 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometres (62 miles) in the EU test cycle; more efficient than any competitor, efficiency further optimised through specific BMW EfficientDynamics technology, such as Brake Energy Regeneration, ECO PRO and ECO PRO+ mode including coasting function; range under everyday conditions: 130 – 160 kilometres (approx. 80 – 100 miles) when COMFORT mode is engaged using the Driving Experience Control switch; range can be increased by 20 kilometres (12 miles) when ECO PRO or ECO PRO+ mode are activated; additional option: two-cylinder range extender petrol engine developing 25 kW/34 hp maintains a minimum charge level and boosts range to around 300 kilometres (185 miles).

•   Sophisticated chassis technology enables a well-balanced combination of agile handling and impressive ride comfort; MacPherson single-joint spring strut front suspension; five-link rear axle mounted directly to the Drive module; Electric Power Steering; DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) including DTC (Dynamic Traction Control); 19-inch forged light-alloy wheels as standard.

•   Intelligent lightweight design, e.g. a CFRP passenger cell, aluminium chassis, instrument panel with magnesium supporting structure and weight optimisation of all components specially developed for the i3; comprehensive safety concept with precisely defined crash zones in the Drive module, extremely torsionally stiff passenger cell and electronically controlled restraint systems.

•   Varied range of BMW ConnectedDrive features, including standard BMW i functions; connectivity via a SIM card fitted in the vehicle; BMW TeleServices and Intelligent Emergency Call as standard; optional Driving Assistant Plus with camera-based Cruise Control including Stop & Go function, Traffic Jam Assistant, Speed Limit Info and No Passing Info display, pedestrian recognition and Collision Warning with light city braking function, Proactive Driving Assistant; optional parking assistance package with PDC at the front, rear view camera and fully automatic Parking Assistant; optional Comfort Package with features including a rain sensor, Cruise Control with braking function, automatically dimming rear-view and exterior mirrors; also available are BMW Online Entertainment, Concierge Services, Real Time Traffic Information, use of the flinc car sharing network (only in Germany for the time being) and other mobility services specific to BMW i.

•   Services specific to BMW i available as part of 360° ELECTRIC: BMW i Wallbox enabling convenient battery charging at home, ChargeNow card allowing customers to use public charging stations without the need for cash, innovative mobility services, intermodal route guidance via smartphone app, MyCityWay and ParkatmyHouse.

•   Extensive standard equipment, including Navigation system Professional with dynamic range display, USB and AUX-in sockets, hands-free facility for telephone, air conditioning, leather steering wheel, LED daytime driving lights, Park Distance Control (PDC) with rear-mounted sensors, charging cable for use with a domestic power socket.

•   All-embracing sustainability concept across the entire value chain; carbon fibre production at Moses Lake, USA, and vehicle assembly at BMW Plant Leipzig using 100 per cent renewable energy; BMW i packages for using eco power to charge the high-voltage battery; innovative sales concepts for flexible access to personal mobility.

Please find attached the press kit "The BMW i3".

Presskit available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Chinese.