Posts Tagged ‘bmw news’
Bavarian automaker shifting resources to alternate events, like CES.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.24, 2018
The BMW i Vision Dynamics made its debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Already planning to skip the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next January, BMW is reportedly planning to sharply scale back its presence at European events like the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, according to a German news report, and it could abandon some of those entirely, as well.
The news comes as automakers large and small start to rethink their commitment to traditional auto shows which, the latest thinking goes, don’t generate the bang-for-the-buck they once did. At the same time, manufacturers are being offered a range of new alternatives, whether tech-focused events like CES or even one-brand shows that avoid the need for a carmaker to share the stage with competitors.
Beyond the Headlines!
BMW is planning to slash as much as 75% of its 2019 auto show budget, reports the German business publication Handelsblatt. At the Frankfurt Motor Show, where BMW had previously gone so far as constructing an indoor driving track, it will have just a 10,000 square foot display at the next event down from 36,000 in 2017.
(more…)
Tags: 2019 naias, Mercedes NAIAS, auto news, auto shows, automakers cutting car shows, bmw frankfurt, bmw frankfurt auto show, bmw naias, bmw news, car news, car show trouble, frankfurt auto show, mercedes news, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, BMW, Business, CES, Concept Cars, Detroit, Europe, Events, Financials, Frankfurt, Geneva, Markets, Mercedes, Nissan, Paris, Product Reveals, Sales, Technology, Trade, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Rising numbers from Japan, Mexico, Korea, China challenge Trump
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.20, 2018
Demand for the latest version of Nissan's Rogue has contributed to an increase in imports from Japan.
When Toyota and Mazda open a new assembly plant in Alabama in 2021, it will become the latest in a growing array of automotive plants Japanese manufacturers have set up in the U.S. since the mid-1980s – yet despite investing billions in their American operations, Japanese manufacturers have also been increasing exports to the U.S. from their home market factories.
The number of Japanese-made vehicles imported into the U.S. rose almost 10% during the first quarter of 2018. And Japan wasn’t alone. Auto imports, as a whole have actually been on the rise, whether from Korea, Europe or Mexico, the latter country shipping about 7.5% more vehicles to the U.S. in March than the year before – despite Pres. Donald Trump’s high-profile push to bring more auto production back to the States.
Trade News!
“Japan sends us million and millions of cars, and we tax them virtually not at all. And we don’t send so much product because we have trade barriers and lots of other things,” the president complained during a news conference this week while standing alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
(more…)
Tags: Trump NAFTA, auto imports, auto news, bmw news, car news, china auto import, china auto trade, ford news, gm news, japan auto export, japan auto import, nissan news, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, toyota news, trump abe, trump japan, trump mexican auto, trump mexico, trump trade
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Business, China, Europe, Ford, GM, Markets, Nissan, SUVs, Sales, Sales, Toyota, Trade, Trends, U.S./North America, Volvo | 1 Comment »
Automaker debuting mix of next-gen utes and concepts.
by Joseph Szczesny on Apr.10, 2018
BMW plans to unveil its third-gen X3 sport-activity vehicle at Auto China in Beijing later this month.
BMW is preparing use the Auto China 2018 show in Beijing later this month to show off an array of new models, including the debut of the third generation X3, concept vehicles and developments in automotive technology.
The selection of new products on display in Beijing underscores the company’s commitment to the next steps in its electrification strategy and heralds its upcoming model offensive in the luxury segment, BMW officials said this week.
Global News!
BMW also said the displays also underscores the huge significance of China as both the world’s largest car market and the production location for a growing number of BMW models. (more…)
Tags: Auto China Beijing, Auto China show, BMW X3 next generation, BMW at Auto China in Bejing, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, bmw concept cars, bmw news, bmw x4, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Business, China, Concept Cars, EVs, Events, Hybrids, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, SUVs, Sales, Trends | Comments Off
Brand becomes latest to offer subscription service.
by Michael Strong on Apr.04, 2018
Ian Smith, BMW's chief executive officer of BMW Group Financial Services, will oversee Access by BMW, which starts in Nashville.
The old adage states that there are no original ideas and proving that one more time is Access by BMW, the brand revealed it will become the latest automaker to introduce a new subscription-based leasing plan.
The maker is using the app-based program to allow consumer to drive its top performance cars for as much as $3,700 a month. The new service kicks off this week in Nashville, Tennessee, and allows users unlimited access to cars.
Subscribe for Free!
The most expensive plan, the $3,700 version, permits users access to the company’s M-class cars and is appropriately dubbed the “M” tier, giving them access to the BMW M4 convertible, the all-new M5, BMW M6 convertible, as well as the BMW X5M and BMW X6M Sports Activity Vehicles. (more…)
Tags: Access by BMW, BMW leasing subscription, BMW subscription program, BMW tiered subscription service, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, bmw news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Audi, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Cadillac, Leasing, Lexus, Lincoln, Luxury Vehicles, Mercedes, Porsche, Sales, Trends, Volvo | Comments Off
Goal is “seamless mobility from Point A to B” whether you’re driving, taking a train, even riding a bike.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.28, 2018
A mobility enterprises, like Daimler's alliance with the Car2Go car-sharing service, are going to partner with BMW.
In what is being described as a “historic” move, traditional arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have announced plans to merge their many and varied mobility services operations in a bid to make it easier to get “from Point A to B seamlessly,” no matter what form of transportation you use.
The two German automakers are already big players in the emerging field of mobility services, among other things partnering with taxi fleets and parking structures while operating both car- and ride-sharing services in a number of cities around the world. The new joint venture will also work with mass transit systems and even with the public bicycle services popping up in many urban areas.
Industry News!
“Our goal is to provide mobility services at levels so far unheard of,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, the BMW AG board member who helped negotiate the alliance. (more…)
Tags: BMW Mercedes NYIAS, BMW Mercedes attracting millennials, BMW Mercedes link mobility efforts, BMW Mercedes-Benz mobility partnership, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, bmw news, mercedes news, mobility partnerships, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Business, Earnings, Europe, Funding, Markets, Mercedes, New York, Ride-Sharing, Sales, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Forget the NYIAS concept; check out this show car from Frankfurt.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.28, 2018
Look beyond the retro Mini Electric Concept and you'll see what the British marque's first all-electric car really will look like come late 2019.
It took a little prodding and plenty of cajoling, but we’re now able to fill in some more of the blanks when it comes to the all-electric model that Mini will add to its line-up late in 2019.
As we reported Tuesday evening, the British automaker offered us a look at a retro-futuristic concept model specifically created for this year’s New York International Auto Show. But if you really want to see what the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle, or BEV, will look like you need to think back to the show car crafted for the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Electrifying!
Crafting a concept based on one of the very first, ’60s-era Minis actually makes some sense if, as Senior Vice President Sebastian Mackensen suggested, you believe that, “If Alex Issigonis, (the marques legendary founder) had invented Mini today, it would have been an electric brand.”
(more…)
Tags: Mini Electric Concept, Mini NYIAS, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, bmw i3, bmw news, electric vehicle news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Concept Cars, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Markets, Mini, New York, Technology, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Production version - based on a modern Mini - to debut in 2019.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.27, 2018
With one axle in the past and one in the present, this Mini concept is all about the company's electrified future products.
At this year’s New York International Auto Show, Mini has one axle in the past, the other in the future as it rolls out its retro-styled Electric Concept.
At first glance, you might think you were looking at a ’60s-era micro-car. But a closer look reveals the charging plug used to power up the concept’s all-electric drivetrain. The NYIAS show car is meant to “pave the way,” the British maker suggests, for Mini’s first all-electric production vehicle, which it plans to roll out next year.
Stay Plugged In!
The brand has been tinkering with electric propulsion for more than a decade, first plugging in with the 2008 Mini E. Based on the last-generation Mini 3-door, only 600 copies were produced for a field test of the drivetrain and to gauge consumer response. It served as the foundation for the development of parent BMW’s own all-electric i3 city car. (more…)
Tags: Mini Electric Concept, Mini NYIAS, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, bmw i3, bmw news, electric vehicle news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Mini, New York | Comments Off
Joins Mercedes in ending ties with 2019 NAIAS.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.26, 2018
Bernard Kuhnt, president and CEO of BMW North America, won't be making an appearance at the next NAIAS.
BMW has become the latest automaker to announce it won’t have a presence during the next North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The announcement comes barely a month after German rival Mercedes-Benz announced it was pulling out of what had long been considered the industry’s most important U.S. auto show, at least from a media preview perspective. A number of other brands had already been no-shows during the January 2018 NAIAS, including Jaguar/Land Rover, Volvo and Mazda, leading organizers of the annual event to start looking at their options.
Auto Show News!
“This decision (to pull out) was made as BMW Group is constantly examining our presence at trade-shows and other engagements, while, at the same time, also exploring alternative platforms and formats,” the automaker said in a statement. “The overall goal is to communicate our ideas and plans regarding future mobility in the best way and achieve the greatest possible visibility for our products, technologies and innovations.” (more…)
Tags: BMW changing auto shows, BMW cuts Detroit Auto Show, BMW drops out of NAIAS, BMW out of next NAIAS, Detroit Auto Show BMW, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, bmw news, north american international auto show, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advertising, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Business, Concept Cars, Detroit, Events, Markets, Product Reveals, Sales, U.S./North America | 4 Comments »
Automaker abandoning unique platforms to offer electric options on all models.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.22, 2018
The BMW i4, due to market around 2020, will offer a battery range of more than 400 miles.
BMW made headlines when it launched the industry’s first unique electrified vehicle sub-brand with the debut of its i3 and 15 models five years ago and its getting ready to expand the line-up with several new offerings, including a production version of the coupe-like i4 sedan that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last autumn.
Set to reach showrooms by 2020, BMW CEO Harald Kruger said the i4 will offer a range of up to 435 miles per charge, nearly a third better than the industry’s current long-range champ, the Tesla Model S P100D – and more than triple what the all-electric i3 model today delivers. But the debut of the i4 will also mark another critical milestone for BMW’s push into electrification.
Technology News!
On Wednesday, as TheDetroitBureau.com reports in a separate story, BMW announced a major increase in spending on both electrified and autonomous vehicle programs. The i4 will be one of 25 electrified models by 2025, 12 of them pure battery-electric vehicles, or BEVs. According to an earlier statement by Kruger, “all fully-electric BMWs will belong to BMW i,” but, that said, there will be some major changes to that electric brand going forward. Most importantly, future products, like the i4, will no longer be based on unique, standalone platforms like those use for the i3 and 15 models.
(more…)
Tags: BMW EV, auto news, battery cars, bmw electric, bmw hybrid, bmw i, bmw i4, bmw i4 bmw vision, bmw news, bmw plug-in, bmw vision next, car news, ev, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | Comments Off
Company sets sales record for ninth consecutive year.
by Joseph Szczesny on Mar.22, 2018
BMW Chief Harald Krueger noted the company's commitment to EVs and AVs at this year's annual meeting.
The BMW Group intends to increase upfront spending on research and development on electric and autonomous vehicles to an all-time high in 2018, while at the same time remaining steadily on course for a ninth record-breaking sales year in a row with profitable, sustainable growth.
“Our industry is currently experiencing a phase of unprecedented technological change. At the same time, however, it needs to cope with the challenge of present-day volatilities,” said Harald Krueger, chairman of BMW’s Board of Management of BMW AG in Munich during the company’s annual shareholders meeting.
News You Can Trust!
“At the BMW Group, we think in terms of opportunities and follow a clear strategy. Because the future of mobility is created today. We are stepping up the pace in 2018 and targeting our ninth successive record year.” (more…)
Tags: BMW AV progress, BMW electric vehicle plans, BMW ninth-consecutive record sales year, BMW sales record, BMW spending more on EVs, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, bmw news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, BMW, Business, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Financials, Markets, Sales, Sales, Technology, U.S./North America | Comments Off
