BMW Group: launching premium-segment and electric models

Daimler AG and BMW Group sign an agreement to merge mobility services

2018/09/14

Summary

  The BMW Group reaffirmed its 2018 business outlook on August 2, 2018 when it reported its business results for the second quarter. The Group, which is transforming itself from a conventional automaker into a mobility technology company, stated that it will continue to grow with a successful and sustainably profitable core business despite the research and development expenditure for future mobility reaching record levels in 2018. Group unit sales and revenues for the automotive segment are forecast to grow slightly to new highs in 2018. The Group will continue to implement its Strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT through 2020, focusing on its work on the ACES (Autonomous, Connected, Electrified, and Service/Shared) fields.

  The BMW Group will launch 25 electrified vehicles globally including 12 electric vehicles (EVs) and 13 plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) by 2025. The Group plans to release the BMW i8 Roadster PHV sports car in 2018, the MINI battery EV in 2019, and the BMW iX3, the brand’s first all-electric SUV, in 2020.

  Regarding the fields of autonomous driving and connectivity, the BMW Group built an autonomous driving campus in the suburb of Munich, Germany to bring together experts from both areas in a single location to advance relevant research and development. In China, the Group is partnering with Baidu, a leading search engine provider, in the field of connectivity and autonomous driving technology.

  The Group is expanding its mobility services through acquiring Parkmobile, which offers mobile parking services, and 100% ownership of DriveNow, which provides car-sharing services. In March 2018, the BMW Group and Daimler AG signed an agreement to merge their mobility services business units in the areas of car sharing, ride hailing, and parking services. The two companies plan to form a joint venture subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.

  In its new model launch plans, the BMW Group intends to boost sales volume of premium-segment vehicles as a part of its Strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT. Under the BMW brand, the new 8 Series, new X7, i8, and new i8 Roadster will join the 7 Series in the premium-segment lineup. The Rolls-Royce brand plans to launch a new Phantom, its flagship sedan, and a new Cullinan, the brand’s first SUV.

  In China, the Group’s largest market, it will significantly expand the business of BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA), a joint venture between BMW and Brilliance Automotive Group. BBA will increase the production capacity of its plants in Shenyang and expand its battery factory affixed to the vehicle assembly plants. It will start manufacturing the 5 Series PHV, X3 and iX3 in China. In addition, the BMW Group will establish another joint venture with Great Wall Motor to produce MINI electric vehicles.

iX3 Concept BMW Z4
BMW iX3 Concept, the brand’s first all-electric SUV (Beijing Motor Show 2018) New BMW Z4 jointly developed by BMW and Toyota (Source: BMW)



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Teardown Reports:
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