Official: BMW launches 'i' sub-brand
Feb 21, 2011 | 11:14 AM
#1
Thread Starter
| Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 31,554
From: Zoo York
Official: BMW launches 'i' sub-brand 
New BMW sub-brand: BMW i
2-21-2011
Press Release
Munich. The new BMW sub-brand focused on developing sustainable mobility solutions has been launched. “BMW i represents a new movement in premium mobility. With the introduction of this new sub-brand, the BMW Group reaffirms its leadership as the most innovative and sustainable premium car company. The products and services have been conceived around a revolutionary approach: purpose designed and purpose built for sustainable, premium mobility. It’s a new day in our industry; a new era for individual mobility. This is BMW i – Born Electric.” said Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing, in Munich on Monday.
In a first move, two models will be launched under the new sub-brand from 2013 – the BMW i3 and BMW i8. The BMW Group will also significantly expand its range of mobility services over the years ahead. To achieve this, a Venture Capital company was founded in New York City, BMW i Ventures, with an investment totalling 100 million US dollars.
YouTube - BMW i Electric Vehicle Sub-brand, BMW i3 and i8 Intro Video
“BMW i offers visionary cars and services, inspiring design, and an entirely new concept of premium mobility – all with a focus on sustainability”, explained Robertson. The BMW i brand comprises vehicles and services developed since 2007 as part of project i, a BMW Group think tank exploring sustainable mobility solutions. It is the BMW Group’s response to changing customer needs, including increasing demand for alternative drive trains, such as electric drive systems and hybrids. There is a widespread desire in megacities for solutions which intelligently combine the benefits of various mobility concepts in a single package.
Revolutionary vehicle concepts
“With BMW i, we are building on the success and strength of our core brand,” emphasised Robertson. The BMW i3– previously known as the Megacity Vehicle – will be the BMW Group’s first series-produced car for urban areas to be driven by electric power alone. The BMW i8, meanwhile, is based on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept study. Its plug-in hybrid drive blends the sporting ability of a high-performance machine with the fuel consumption and emissions of a small car.
Both models are based on a revolutionary construction concept known as LifeDrive architecture. An aluminium chassis houses the powertrain, and the passenger cell consists of high-strength but extremely lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). “Both cars have been designed specifically for their respective alternative drive systems. We used the innovative architecture and CFRP to cancel out practically all of the extra weight added by the batteries. For our customers this means superior driving dynamics combined with significantly increased range using electric power,” explains Klaus Draeger, BMW Board member responsible for development.
BMW i8 to be built in Leipzig
Like the BMW i3, the BMW i8 will also be manufactured at BMW’s Leipzig plant. Around 400 million euros will be invested in new plant facilities and some 800 jobs will be created up to 2013. Development and production synergies will be achieved through both vehicles using the same component sets for the electric motors, power electronics, and high-voltage lithium-ion batteries.
A range of vehicle-independent services
An additional range of mobility services – which can also be used independently of the cars – will be an integral component of BMW i. This will allow the creation of a new, profitable area of business over the long term and attract new customers to the company’s brands.
“Mobility requirements are changing in rapidly expanding megacities” adds Ian Robertson. “Our commitment to car-enabled mobility services, like BMW ConnectedDrive, will be significantly expanded under BMW i. We’ll also grow our car-related premium mobility services. What’s truly groundbreaking is that we’ll begin offering car-independent premium mobility services. BMW i aims to provide customized mobility solutions across a seamless network of premium products and premium services.” The focus is on solutions which will improve usage of existing parking spaces, as well as intelligent navigation systems with local information, intermodal route planning, and premium car-sharing.
In addition to services developed in-house, the BMW Group is pursuing collaborations with partner companies and exploring strategic capital investments in providers of mobility services. To this end, the venture capital company BMW i Ventures has the goal to expand the range of products and services offered by BMW i in the long term by taking stakes in highly innovative service providers.
New York-based My City Way is the first company in which BMW i Ventures has taken a stake. Of the partnership, Ian Robertson said, “I am thrilled to announce that we have just signed our first strategic partnership with My City Way. As a mobile app, My City Way provides users with information on public transportation, parking availability, and local entertainment for over 40 cities in the US. Another 40 cities will be part of the global rollout, including Munich, of course.”
Source [Bimmerpost via BMW]
Thanks for sharing!
Feb 22, 2011 | 06:17 AM
#5
TS BMW Forums
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,144
From: Rochester Hills, MI
They're not just thinking about today, but mobility into the future. BMW is going to push the envelope in technology and design. I'm very interested to see how this all works out for BMW. You can learn a lot in the 45 min press conference below.
You can watch the entire 45 min press conference here.
YouTube - BMW i. The new BMW sub-brand.
You can watch the entire 45 min press conference here.
YouTube - BMW i. The new BMW sub-brand.
BMW unveils ‘i’ sub-brand
By John Reed in Munich
Published: February 21 2011 15:03 | Last updated: February 21 2011 18:18
BMW has announced the creation of a sub-brand devoted to “sustainability” and said it had established a unit for mobility services.
The industry’s largest luxury car producer said on Monday that its “BMW i” marque would launch its first two vehicles – an electric city car and a rechargeable hybrid car – in 2013.
BMW will invest about €400m ($547m) to make them at its plant in Leipzig.
BMW said it was establishing a New York-based venture capital company called iVentures to invest in providers of location-based and other “premium mobility” services.
The fund will be capitalised at up to $100m.
The company said it was launching the sub-brand in response to changing customer needs, including demand in congested megacities for the ability to mix and match different kinds of transport.
“Mobility” has become a buzzword among carmakers as they seek to capitalise on the opportunities from electric cars, car-sharing schemes, and the growing convergence of cars and mobile communications.
BMW i’s services will include parking solutions, navigation systems with local information, and route planning.
It intends to make a profit from these “premium services”, which could draw new customers.
“Some people are interested in having more flexibility when it comes to driving cars,” Ian Robertson, BMW’s head of marketing, said.
“The logic is simple: I’ll pay for it when I want to use it. ”
BMW had until now focused on reducing carbon dioxide emissions in its conventional petrol and diesel cars under its Efficient Dynamics programme.
The German producer and its rivals are launching electric and rechargeable hybrid cars powered by lithium-ion batteries, in spite of doubts voiced about how many people will buy them because of their higher price and limited driving range.
Toyota in January said it was building a family of cars around its Prius hybrid model.
BMW’s forthcoming electric car, the i3, and the hybrid i8 will have lightweight bodies composed of an aluminium chassis and a passenger cell made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic.
The company said use of the material would offset almost entirely the weight of the batteries.
Mr Robertson told the Financial Times the electric car would be sold at a “premium” price higher than the €30,000 to €40,000 which early plug-in cars such as Nissan’s leaf and General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt sell, before government tax incentives.
“It will be more than that,” he said.
He declined to say how many of the cars BMW expected to sell.
Source
By John Reed in Munich
Published: February 21 2011 15:03 | Last updated: February 21 2011 18:18
BMW has announced the creation of a sub-brand devoted to “sustainability” and said it had established a unit for mobility services.
The industry’s largest luxury car producer said on Monday that its “BMW i” marque would launch its first two vehicles – an electric city car and a rechargeable hybrid car – in 2013.
BMW will invest about €400m ($547m) to make them at its plant in Leipzig.
BMW said it was establishing a New York-based venture capital company called iVentures to invest in providers of location-based and other “premium mobility” services.
The fund will be capitalised at up to $100m.
The company said it was launching the sub-brand in response to changing customer needs, including demand in congested megacities for the ability to mix and match different kinds of transport.
“Mobility” has become a buzzword among carmakers as they seek to capitalise on the opportunities from electric cars, car-sharing schemes, and the growing convergence of cars and mobile communications.
BMW i’s services will include parking solutions, navigation systems with local information, and route planning.
It intends to make a profit from these “premium services”, which could draw new customers.
“Some people are interested in having more flexibility when it comes to driving cars,” Ian Robertson, BMW’s head of marketing, said.
“The logic is simple: I’ll pay for it when I want to use it. ”
BMW had until now focused on reducing carbon dioxide emissions in its conventional petrol and diesel cars under its Efficient Dynamics programme.
The German producer and its rivals are launching electric and rechargeable hybrid cars powered by lithium-ion batteries, in spite of doubts voiced about how many people will buy them because of their higher price and limited driving range.
Toyota in January said it was building a family of cars around its Prius hybrid model.
BMW’s forthcoming electric car, the i3, and the hybrid i8 will have lightweight bodies composed of an aluminium chassis and a passenger cell made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic.
The company said use of the material would offset almost entirely the weight of the batteries.
Mr Robertson told the Financial Times the electric car would be sold at a “premium” price higher than the €30,000 to €40,000 which early plug-in cars such as Nissan’s leaf and General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt sell, before government tax incentives.
“It will be more than that,” he said.
He declined to say how many of the cars BMW expected to sell.
Source
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Amzamus
Aventador | Huracán | Murcielago | Gallardo
36
Sep 20, 2012 03:41 PM
Bookmarks
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)