BMW i3 sets benchmark for sustainable mobility

THE BMW GROUP launched the series version of its innovative electric vehicle, the BMW i3, simultaneously in New York, London and Beijing on Monday (July 29). "Innovation drives change. The i3 is more than just a car. It's a revolutionary step toward sustainable mobility. It is purpose-built around an electric power train to serve the needs of our megacity customers," said  Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, at the world premiere in New York on Monday.
 The BMW i3, the BMW Group's first pure electric series-produced model, has the same sporting genes as every BMW and is characterized by sheer driving pleasure. Sustainability is a priority throughout the entire BMW i3 value chain: "The BMW i3 sets a new benchmark for sustainable mobility in all stages of development and production, as well as after sales," said Friedrich Eichiner, member of the board of management of BMW AG, finance, at the unveiling of the BMW i3 in Beijing.
 The vehicle achieves a range of 130 to 160 km. The BMW Group's experience with test fleets of MINI E and BMW ActiveE cars has shown that a range of 130 to 160 km is quite sufficient for the vast majority of drivers. The average distance driven daily worldwide is no more than 64 km.
 If desired, the BMW i3 is also available with a range-extender, which maintains the charge of the lithium-ion battery at a constant level en route, as soon as it falls below a specified value. This is performed by a two-cylinder gasoline engine with 34 hp (25 kW), mounted adjacent to the electric motor above the rear axle. The range extender increases the car's maximum range in day-to-day driving to around 300 km.
 The BMW i3 will be released in Germany and other European markets in November 2013. The market launch of the BMW i3 in the United States, China, Japan and several other markets will take place in the first half of 2014. The base price for the BMW i3 has been set at 34,950 euros in Germany. If customers opt to purchase the Range Extender as an extra, the price in Germany will amount to 39,450 euros.
 The vehicle's running costs are comparatively low: Over a period of three years, the maintenance and running costs for a BMW i3 are about 40 percent lower than those of a highly-economical 320dA registered in Germany.
In other countries, figures may even be lower, depending on the level of subsidies available for electric vehicles.
 Public interest in the BMW i3 and BMW i overall is extremely high and the response has been very positive: BMW i already has more than 1.2 million fans worldwide on Facebook, and more than 90,000 people have already requested a test-drive with the BMW i3.
 The BMW i3 features a large number of technological innovations - such as a carbon-fiber passenger cell and a chassis made of aluminum - and sets new standards in the field of lightweight construction. With a curb weight of 1,195 km, it is lighter than most vehicles in the compact segment, yet offers significantly more space for up to four occupants.
 Its low weight contributes to the agility and dynamic performance of the BMW i3. The car's electric drive-train generates output of 125 kW/170 hp and peak torque of 250 Newton meters, which is immediately available from a standing start. The BMW i3 sprints from 0 to 60 km/h in 3.7 seconds and from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 150 km/h for efficiency reasons.
Sustainability plays a vital role for the BMW Group. For example, the electricity needed for production of the BMW i3 at the Leipzig plant is generated from wind power. In addition to its CO2-free electricity supply, the plant also uses 50 percent less energy and 70percent less water than the average for the already highly-efficient BMW production network.
BMW i products and services will be marketed through a multi-channel sales model, comprising authorized retail partners (BMW i agents), a multimedia Customer Interaction Centre (CIC) and an online sales platform. All sales channels will be fully integrated and customers will be able to choose their own individual customer journey. Customers can easily switch between all four channels.
With the introduction of the new online sales channel, BMW is responding to changed customer behavior. Customers want new possibilities in how they inform themselves about products and how they purchase them. BMW i Partners will be the backbone of the BMW i sales network and the main contact point for the customer.
With its holistic "360° ELECTRIC" approach, BMW i provides the customer with an extensive product and service offer designed to meet the driver's needs. "We will support our BMW i3 customers with a comprehensive package of premium services for seamless and uncomplicated "sheer driving pleasure", explained Ian Robertson, member of the board of management of BMW AG, sales and marketing BMW, at the BMW i3 launch in London.
The global market for electric vehicles is showing positive development. After almost 93,000 electric vehicles were registered worldwide last year, 150,000 units in total are already forecast for the current year.
The BMW Group is the leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2012, the BMW Group sold about 1.85 million cars and more than 117,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2012 was euro 7.82 billion on revenues amounting to euro 76.85 billion. At 31 December 2012, the BMW Group had a workforce of 105,876 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been built 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. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last eight years.