BMW – The power of choice

Sponsored Content - Source: PSE April/May

You might think that the move to electric vehicles is a new phenomenon; a novel idea to support the recent commitments to net zero carbon or a response to council’s declaring a climate emergency.

You’d be wrong.

BMW unveiled its first battery electric vehicle at the summer Olympics in Munich in 1972, leading the pathway to electrification and remaining an important part of the company’s strategy ever since.

Not only did this move confirm BMW as an industry leader for electrification, but only a year later in 1973, they became the first car manufacturer in the world to appoint their own Environmental Officer.

National Corporate Sales Manager Brian Cox and his team manage the sales of BMW, BMWi and MINI vehicles in the UK and Northern Ireland.

By holding meetings, conferences and forums, the team are able to stay ahead of industry developments and provide a tailored service for large corporate accounts and the public sector.

BMW maintained their trailblazing position on e-mobility since the introduction of the BMW i3 in 2013, one of the first battery electric vehicles to go into mass production.

“We build them at Plant Leipzig in Germany, and this model was built from the ground up using various aspects of engineering such as the extensive use of carbon fibre - it truly has been revolutionary”.

Ever since then the company has expanded its range of plug-in hybrid vehicles, bringing electrification to a wider audience.

“We will continue to lead the way, and the company is consistently continuing to reduce its resource consumptions, lowering emissions and lowering waste wherever possible.”

As an early pioneer of plug-in hybrid vehicles, BMW offers a comprehensive range of efficient, driver-focused vehicles with emissions from as little as 27g per kilometre.

“We have no fewer than eight plug-in hybrid models in the range currently and BMW continues to offer a number of options for customers requiring vehicles of all sizes. Just looking at the pure electric BMW i3 in particular, we’ve seen demand grow for this model ever since it came on the market in 2013 and just a few years later we have almost 20,000 i3’s on UK roads. Whether it’s running costs, driving performance or environmental credentials, the BMW i3 makes sense from every angle”.

The government’s decision to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035 is one that has divided opinion. Whilst the environment is a huge concern, many people don’t yet feel ready to make the move to electric - a conundrum that is met with BMW’s solution of ‘the power of choice’.

For those reluctant to make the switch to electric, increasingly efficient diesel models can be a perfect compromise.

“For those drivers who are clocking up tens of thousands of miles a year, predominately across motorways, our diesel models are as clean as they ever have been and are certainly still a valid option as they become increasingly efficient. We have recently upgraded models such as the 320d and 520d Saloon and Touring to a mild-hybrid system, often referred to as 48 volt technology.  Where certain customers continue to select these models, they will find the cars increasingly efficient and even better to drive”. 

By 2021, BMW Group plans to have one million electrified vehicles on the road. The strategy includes 25 electrified vehicles on sale by 2023, with no fewer than 12 of these being fully electric models. With only three years to go that doesn’t represent a too distant future.

For BMW, the first part of 2020 has focused on plug-in hybrid models, as the brand offers one of the widest ranges, with more models left to launch during the remainder of the year.

“It’s clear from the high demand of plug-in hybrid models like the BMW 330e and the BMW X5 45e, we will continue to be one of the leading PHEV brands in the UK”.

The future of mobility hinges on the development of new technologies as Brian made clear when divulging BMW’s plans to invest more than €30bn into research and development by 2025.

“There has been significant investment in our upcoming fully electric models, and all of these will come with our fifth-generation battery cells – all developed in-house.  The fully-electric BMW iX3 will be revealed later this year with both BMW i4 and BMW iNEXT set to enter production in 2021.

At BMW Group we understand the challenges the government’s Road to Zero initiative offers, and we work closely with key decision makers whilst we make that transition together. A wide offering of ultra-low emission vehicles ensures that BMW is well positioned for these changes.

 Our commitment to our customers is that every electrified vehicle that we build will retain the same driver experiences they expect from BMW and the numerous awards we have already collected this year are testament to our work to achieve this objective”.