Maserati reveals the Levante Trofeo – first Levante built around a V8 engine at the New York International Auto Show. The Levante Trofeo is the ultimate Maserati of SUVs, capable of accelerating in style from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds (0-100 kmph in 3.9 seconds) and reaching a top speed of over 187 mph (>300 kmph).

The Levante Trofeo is equipped with one of the most powerful engines ever fitted in a Maserati. A 3.8-litre Twin Turbo V8 engine that has been engineered to perfectly mate with the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive System and delivers an astounding 590 hp at 6,250 rpm and 730 Nm of peak torque at 2,250 – 5,000 rpm. The engine boasts the highest output per litre (156 hp/litre) of any Maserati powerplant ever produced and, like all Maserati petrol engines, is assembled by Ferrari in Maranello, Italy.

The chassis of the fastest Levante ever has been tuned to handle the higher power output and provides an exhilarating driving experience with no compromise in terms of comfort. This tuning ensures the Levante Trofeo continues to embody the essence of the Maserati GranTurismo philosophy with supercar performance.

“It’s proof that when you play with the elements you end up in a storm”, says Maserati CEO Tim Kuniskis. “In the case of Trofeo, the engineers and designers in Modena knew that the driveline parameters were more than able to cope with additional power and they also knew that Maserati had access to the finest engines on earth. So, they were up to the challenge of making the finest luxury SUV also one of the fastest.”

The Levante design exudes sportiness in this top of the line Trofeo. The restyling was mainly focused on the lower front fascia and the rear bumper and is underlined by the 22-inch forged aluminium ‘Orione’ wheels – the largest ever fitted on a Maserati – available in both polished and matte finishes.

The side air intakes in the lower fascia feature a new, more aggressive design, defined by two aerodynamic wings that give a sense of further stability, visually pushing the weight of the car’s nose towards the massive front wheels. And to help improve the airflow distribution, Trofeo is outfitted with carbon fibre side bezel blades and a carbon fibre splitter. The rear end also looks wider and more muscular with a sharper carbon fibre horizontal element and body-colour lower extractor that embrace the oval quad exhaust tips.

In front, the Levante Trofeo has Full Matrix LED headlights, a front grille with double vertical bars in a piano black finish and lower honeycomb mesh fascia, as well as body colour door handles, oval exhaust tips in a dark finish and performance painted brake calipers in red, blue, black, silver or yellow. And to cap it off, specific ‘Saetta’ Trofeo logos adorn the iconic c-pillars of the coupe styled SUV.

Specific details, like the lower splitter, the blade side bezels in the front air intakes, the side skirt inserts and the rear extractor are made of ultralight, high-gloss carbon fibre, giving the Levante Trofeo a polished racing look. Even the bonnet is new, featuring two aggressive vents for better cylinder head cooling. And under the bonnet, the engine cover is also made of high-gloss carbon fibre featuring a V8 inscription and the iconic Trident logo, while cylinder heads and intake manifolds are painted red.

Interior designers have come up with elegant ways to create a distinctive environment within the Levante Trofeo cabin. The sculpted sport seats feature a premium full-grain ‘Pieno Fiore’ natural leather available in black, red and tan, all with contrast stitching and ‘Trofeo’ logo stitched on the headrests. ‘Pieno Fiore’ is like no other leather used in the automotive industry for its natural, soft feel and for the unique character it develops throughout the years.

A new matte carbon fibre trim and paddle shifters, specific instrument cluster graphics, floor mats with metal Trofeo badges and a Maserati clock with a unique dial elegantly underline the exclusive sporty character of this extraordinary Levante, which is outfitted with a standard 1,280-watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium surround sound audio system for exceptional listening enjoyment.

The production of the Levante Trofeo starts this summer at the refurbished Maserati plant in Mirafiori (Turin), Italy. The fastest Levante in Maserati history is initially intended for overseas export markets, including the U.S. and Canada.

Honda UK has launched a concept roadster version of the CR-V. Available in showrooms from 1st April, this unique version of the SUV is based on the current platform and is currently only available with a petrol engine.

As pictured, the launch version of the car will not actually feature a roof whatsoever, making it a no-top rather than a drop-top. This innovative design makes it a vehicle purely for sunnier climates and therefore completely useless for the two-day British summer which traditionally occurs in May.

The CR-V roadster concept has been created by removing both the B and C pillars of the car to create a sleek flow from front to rear of jagged metal. And while this innovative prototype will definitely turn heads; the designers, namely the PR team and an angle grinder, estimate the structural rigidity of the car has been reduced overall by approximately 100 per cent, currently rendering it completely undriveable.

Despite this minor detail, Eipurirufuru, Future Opportunity Occupational Lead, commented: “This is a bold new direction for the CR-V and opens up an entirely new non-existent market. Our sales target is somewhat conservative to start with, at zero cars, but we are confident that once the minor glitches are ironed out, such as the lack of roof and the fact it is totally structurally unsound, the car will fly out of showrooms.”

Prices are expected to start from half the current price of the CR-V as customers are only getting half the car.

BMW Group Plant Chennai celebrated its 11th anniversary yesterday at a memorable event. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and students from the College of Engineering of Anna University, launched ‘SKILL NEXT»’, a technical skilling initiative. Together, they assembled a BMW engine and transmission at the main assembly line of BMW Group Plant Chennai to commemorate the beginning of the project.

Aiming to act as a major catalyst in developing automotive talent in the country, Skill Next will reach educational institutes and students in every state and union territory in India. Through the initiative, 365 BMW engine and transmission units will be provided for learning purposes to engineering and technical institutes at no cost. Skill Next will present an opportunity for engineering and technical students to get hands-on training on advanced technologies of BMW engine and transmission. BMW Group India will also deliver the engine and transmission units to campuses of engineering colleges, industrial training institutes and polytechnics at no cost by end of 2018.

The handover of demonstration units will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis after due undertakings are submitted by the institutes. The undertakings will ensure that the engine and transmission units are used inside the laboratories on campuses of the institutes for learning purposes only.

Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The luxury automotive segment in India has witnessed tremendous growth in the last decade and with the growing number of cars on road, there is a high requirement of good technical talent in the industry. ‘SKILL NEXT»’, will strongly promote the development of technical competencies in students across the country by enhancing their practical knowledge of advanced automotive technology. This initiative will also contribute in increasing the availability of skilled technical staff required at automotive dealerships in India.”

The state-of-the-art engineering unit, including the BMW TwinPower Turbo in-line 4-cylinder diesel engine and the BMW eight-speed steptronic automatic transmission, will serve as a valuable learning tool for students. Since 2007, this engine has proved its mark in India by powering close to 50,000 units delivered to customers.

The engine presently powers six cars locally-produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai – BMW 3 Series (320d), BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo (320d GT), BMW 5 Series (520d), BMW X1 (xDrive 20d), BMW X3 (xDrive 20d) and the upcoming MINI Countryman Cooper D. The BMW eight-speed steptronic automatic transmission is presently featured in five cars locally-produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai – BMW 3 Series, BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, BMW 5 Series, BMW X1 and BMW X3.

Post-handover, a ‘Train the Trainer’ module will be devised for institutes where 40 Aftersales Master Technicians will conduct extensive workshops at BMW dealerships in more than 20 cities. The module has been devised by professional trainers from BMW Group India Training Centre and BMW Group Plant Chennai. The workshops will be a combination of classroom sessions and hands-on practical sessions using detailed training materials.

Dr. Jochen Stallkamp, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai said, “For BMW Group Plant Chennai, skilled workforce is the foundation to make finest cars of outstanding quality. The know-how of advanced technology and the confidence to work with state-of-the-art machinery and complex processes is a great asset in engineering field. ‘SKILL NEXT»’ initiative will facilitate development of talent in the future generation of engineers. These skills will open up new doors for a workforce that wants to make a successful career in automotive industry in India.”

During extreme rain and weather conditions in Chennai in the past, a considerable number of engine and transmissions were water affected. As per BMW quality standards, these parts could not be used in the vehicles. The parts were insured and Bharti AXA General Insurance honored the claims. BMW India proposed providing the engines and transmissions to educational institutes at no cost as they could be used as a learning resource to impart theoretical and practical knowledge to students. Bharti AXA General Insurance played a vital role by giving special approval to allow realisation of the project.

Sanjeev Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Bharti AXA General Insurance said, “When BMW Group India approached us with the innovative idea of ‘SKILL NEXT»’, we were excited to be part of it. We at Bharti AXA General Insurance are always willing to explore ways that allow us to contribute towards the betterment of the society we live in. The contribution of engine and transmission units for educational purposes was a marvelous opportunity to do so. Vehicle insurance premiums amount to nearly 45% of Gross Written Premium (GWP) recorded by the General Insurance industry and is considered to be a growth generator for the category. We strongly believe that as leading players in our arenas, we have both the responsibility and the means to bring about change for good and upskill our future leaders to deliver efficiently. It is a pleasure to initiate this rare opportunity that can make a meaningful difference to the society.”

The students from College of Engineering, Anna University and Sachin Tendulkar assembled the BMW TwinPower Turbo in-line 4-cylinder diesel engine with the eight-speed steptronic automatic transmission for a BMW X3 being locally-produced at the main assembly line of BMW Group Plant Chennai.

Dr. T V Geetha, Dean – College of Engineering, Anna University, who was present at the event said, “In engineering, clarity of concepts is fundamental for creation and innovation. In a fast moving world where technology is constantly progressing, experiential learning plays a very important role. Reading about refined technology in books and getting a chance to experience it first-hand are completely different. With ‘SKILL NEXT»’, students will be able to use the BMW engine and transmission units to observe, practice, absorb knowledge and use it effectively in actual scenarios. This initiative will go a long way in motivating students and making them passionate about real and practical engineering aspects.”

Speaking on the occasion, Sachin Tendulkar said, “I strongly feel that initiatives like SKILL NEXT» will promote development of automotive engineering skills in our country. It is an opportunity for technical students in every state and union territory to get directly trained on BMW engine and transmission. I could have never played cricket by just reading about it, I had to be hands-on with the game. Similarly, SKILL NEXT» will make it easier for the students to understand automotive technology through first-hand experience.”

Jaguar Land Rover and Waymo have announced a long-term strategic partnership. Together, the two companies will develop the world’s first premium self-driving electric vehicle for Waymo’s driverless transportation service.

Jaguar Land Rover and Waymo (formerly Google self-driving car project) will work together to design and engineer self-driving Jaguar I-PACE vehicles. This long-term strategic collaboration will further Waymo and Jaguar Land Rover’s shared goals: to make cars safer, free up people’s valuable time and improve mobility for everyone.

Waymo Jaguar I-PACEs, equipped with Waymo’s self-driving technology, will start testing later this year. On-road testing and capturing real-world data will allow Waymo and Jaguar Land Rover engineers to refine technology and deliver optimum safety and reliability. Up to 20,000 I-PACEs will be built in the first two years of production and be available for riders of Waymo’s driverless service, serving a potential one million trips per day.

The Jaguar I-PACE was launched earlier this month and is the company’s first full-electric SUV. It is all-new from the ground up and is a no compromise, desirable and practical electric performance car. Jaguar Land Rover is committed to investing heavily, becoming automotive leaders in autonomous, connected and future electrified technologies.

To date, Waymo is the only company with a fleet of fully self-driving cars — with no one in the front seat — on public roads. Later this year Waymo will launch the world’s first self-driving transportation service allowing members of the public to use Waymo’s app to request a vehicle.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer said: “With the Jaguar I-PACE we have a world-beating car that’s captured the imagination of customers around the world. Our passion for further advancing smart mobility needs expert long-term partners. In joining forces with Waymo we are pioneering to push the boundaries of technology. Together we will deliver the self-driving Waymo Jaguar I-PACE with the grace, space and eco-pace that customers expect.”

John Krafcik, Waymo Chief Executive Officer said: “While we’ve been focused at Waymo on building the world’s most experienced driver, the team at Jaguar Land Rover has developed an all-new battery-electric platform that looks to set a new standard in safety, design and capability. We’re sure Waymo riders will enjoy the safe, premium and delightful experience that the self-driving I-PACE will provide.”

The Waymo Jaguar I-PACE is being shown at the New York International Auto Show.

Dr. Jochen Stallkamp, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai with the all-new BMW X3 

BMW Group Plant Chennai has started the production of the all-new BMW X3 that will be launched next month in India.

Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The all-new BMW X3 is now set to continue the success story, with even more striking and dynamic styling and a luxurious interior. Like all members of the successful X family, it combines outstanding ride quality on all terrains with unlimited everyday practicality. I would like to congratulate BMW Group Plant Chennai team for achieving this important milestone and we are extremely proud for the smooth start of production of the all-new BMW X3.”

Dr. Jochen Stallkamp, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai said, “We are excited to start local production of the much-awaited third generation BMW X3. The all-new BMW X3 offers advanced design language, innovative technologies and top-of-the-line equipment. BMW Group Plant Chennai is proud to locally-produce the latest and one of the most diverse product portfolios that has the highest standards of quality, distinguished workmanship and uncompromising engineering. We are confident that the all-new BMW X3 produced in Chennai will further increase our momentum in the Indian luxury car segment.”

BMW Group Plant Chennai locally produces the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, the BMW 5 Series, the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo, the BMW 7 Series, the BMW X1, the BMW X3 and the BMW X5. BMW Plant Chennai will start the local production of MINI Countryman in 2018.

Hyundai Motor Company began sales of its Hyundai Nexo fuel cell electric vehicle today in Korea following very successful pre-orders.

Prior to retail sales commencing, the Hyundai Nexo had been met with wide public interest, with a total of 1,061 vehicles being ordered throughout the pre-order period between March 19-26, 2018. Just on the first day of pre-order availability, Hyundai Nexo recorded order of 733 vehicles.

“We are witnessing a historic day as fuel cell technology is being commercialized in large quantities. With this positive beginning, we will continue our efforts in overseas markets to support fostering the newly developing fuel cell vehicle market”, said Byung Kwon Rhim, Executive Vice President of Hyundai Motor Company in charge of Global Operations Division.

On the same day, Hyundai delivered the vehicles to both local governments of the city of Ulsan and Gwangju in Korea. The ceremony in Ulsan took place at the hydrogen house, created through joint efforts from Hyundai and Ulsan city, while in Gwangju the ceremony took place at the newly built DongGok hydrogen multi energy station. Both local governments expressed their intention to expand hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

Hyundai Motor also introduced new measures to encourage the further spread of fuel cell electric vehicles. Hyundai announced a 10-year, 160,000km warranty for fuel cell components to reassure customers of the durability and reliability of fuel cell electric vehicles sold in Korea. Furthermore, Hyundai announced it has secured personnel and equipment to service Hyundai Nexo vehicles in all of its 22 service networks in Korea.

The pricing of the fuel cell electric vehicle is set at 68,900,000 KRW for the Modern trim and 72,200,000 KRW for the Premium trim in Korea. The Government subsidy could reach a maximum of 35,000,000 KRW, with a central government’s subsidy for fuel cell electric vehicle of 22,500,000 KRW and a regional government’s subsidy ranging from 10,000,000~12,500,000 KRW. The final purchase price could be as low as 33,900,000 KRW for the Modern trim and 37,200,000 KRW for the Premium trim.

Pricing of Hyundai Nexo for overseas market will be disclosed at later date close to their market launches.

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), today announced that its Honda WR-V has crossed 50,000 cumulative sales milestone in India in one year since its launch in March 2017. According to the company, the Honda WR-V has witnessed success in Indian market and accounted for 28 per cent of total HCIL sales during the past 12 months.

Commenting on the success of the Honda WR-V, Yoichiro Ueno, President & CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd., said: “This is a very proud moment for us. Honda WR-V has witnessed great success in the Indian market and the 50,000 sales milestone validates its strong presence. It has emerged as a strong volume model in Honda’s model line-up striking the right chord among young urban customers who are looking for status, comfort and have an active lifestyle.”

WR-V has gained popularity across markets with its sales, fairly distributed across regions. In line with WR-V’s product offering with features like Sunroof, Tier 1 markets, comprising of large cities, contributed to 38 per cent of its nation-wide sales. The model has found equally strong resonance from Tier 3 markets due to its aspirational value and product strengths like high ground clearance.

[L-R] Jim Farley, Ford Executive Vice President and President of Global Markets, and Peter Fleet, Group Vice President & President, Ford Asia Pacific with Rajan Wadhera, President, Automotive Sector and Dr Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.

Ford and Mahindra  have signed five new memoranda of understanding that further strengthen their strategic alliance and accelerate the development of key products for consumers in India and emerging markets.

Under the initiatives, Ford and Mahindra will leverage their strengths in the utility vehicle space to co-develop a midsize sports utility vehicle (C-SUV), the companies said in a joint statement.

The SUV will be built on the Mahindra platform and will be sold independently by both companies as separate brands, it added.

“Ford and Mahindra also agreed to evaluate co-development of a compact SUV and electric vehicle, along with sharing powertrain portfolios, including the supply of Mahindra powertrains to extend Ford’s product range,” it added.

The MoUs, which are non-binding, mark the progress made by the two companies since announcing their alliance in September 2017, the statement said.

Ford Executive Vice-President and President of Global Markets, Jim Farley, said, “With utility vehicles and electrification as key focus areas, we are glad to see the progress our two companies have made.”

Listening to customers and incorporating their future needs is the core premise of this collaboration, he added.

Commenting on the development, M&M Managing Director Pawan Goenka said, “Both teams are working together on joint development areas in keeping with industry requirements and leveraging mutual strengths.”

The companies further said with an aim to generate synergies and improve efficiencies with the new initiatives, their strategic alliance continues to focus on leveraging the benefits of Ford’s global reach and expertise and Mahindra’s scale in India and its successful operating model.

Teams from both companies will continue to collaborate and work together, for a period of up to three years, to develop further avenues of strategic cooperation such as extending support for Mahindra in global emerging markets, including Ford’s manufacturing and distribution network and collaborate to address future mobility needs.

In September last year, Ford Motor Company and M&M had inked a pact to explore a strategic alliance covering areas like product development, electric vehicles and distribution in India and abroad.

The two companies had a 50:50 joint venture – Mahindra Ford India Ltd – in the mid-’90s when Ford re-entered India.

Volkswagen is making a statement by staging a world premiere of a new model for the first time in China – its largest market. The new Touareg marks a milestone in the brand’s largest model and technology campaign, and it shows what engineers and designers at Volkswagen can do. The new flagship takes a top position in the premium class SUV segment with its expressive design, its innovative operating, convenience and safety systems, as well as in the high quality of its materials and craftsmanship.

Equipped with the connectivity of a new era and a pioneering fusion of assistance, comfort, lighting and infotainment systems, the Touareg points the way to the future. At the same time, the exclusive SUV charges up its market segment with pure dynamism. The largest markets for what is now the third generation of the Touareg are China, Europe and Russia. Worldwide sales of the previous two generations amount to nearly one million units. The Touareg has, as the most technically advanced Volkswagen of its era, the potential to enthuse technology and design savvy drivers of premium class models of all sorts, reaching new target groups as well.

Volkswagen is presenting the fully digitalised Innovision Cockpit for the first time in the new Touareg. Here the digital instruments (Digital Cockpit with 12-inch display) and the top Discover Premium infotainment system (with 15-inch display) merge to form a digital operating, information, communication and entertainment unit that hardly needs any conventional buttons or switches. Always-on, offering intuitive control and maximum personalisation – with the Innovision Cockpit, the Touareg provides the blueprint for tomorrow’s digital interior today.

Drivers use the Innovision Cockpit to adapt the assistance, handling and comfort systems specifically to their personal tastes; the car becomes ‘their’ Touareg. This opens up a world in which the driver and on-board guests no longer have to adapt to the car; rather the car adapts to them. Like a new smartphone, the Volkswagen is set up and tuned to personal needs. This is made possible by a new high level of connected systems and programmes – controlled via digital interfaces and the multifunction steering wheel.

Fusion of new assistance, handling and comfort systems. The Touareg is launching with the largest range of assistance, handling and comfort systems ever to be integrated into a Volkswagen. They include technologies such as the Night Vision assistance system (detects people and animals in darkness via a thermal imaging camera), Roadwork Lane Assist (semi-automated steering and lane keeping, accelerating and braking up to 60 kmph), Front Cross Traffic Assist (reacts to cross traffic in front of the Touareg), active all-wheel steering (makes the Touareg handle like a compact car), new roll stabilisation with electromechanically controlled anti-roll bars, ‘IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights’ (interactive, camera-based dipped and main beam headlight control) and a ‘Windshield Head-up Display’ projected directly onto the windscreen.

The driver experiences these systems as a single unit in the new Touareg. They are simply there – interconnected via a new central control unit – working imperceptibly in the background and making travel safer, more convenient and more intuitive than ever.

Compared to its predecessor, the third generation Touareg is moderately wider and longer. The new dimensions have positive effects on both the vehicle’s proportions and its amount of interior space. The added exterior length leads, for example, to a significant increase in luggage capacity, from 697 to 810 litres (with rear bench seat up). Cargo there is hidden from onlookers by an optional electrically extending and retracting luggage compartment cover. Despite its increased length and width, the car body is 106 kg lighter because of its mixed material construction of aluminium (48 per cent) and high-tech steels (52 per cent).

In Europe, Volkswagen will initially offer two V6 diesel engines for the new 2018 Touareg with outputs of 170 kW / 231 PS and 210 kW / 286 PS. In a number of markets, this will also be followed by a V6 petrol engine (250 kW / 340 PS) and a V8 turbodiesel (310 kW / 421 PS). A new plug-in hybrid drive (270 kW / 367 PS of system power) is being prepared for China; its exact launch date in Europe is still open.

The 2018 Touareg is an important milestone in the largest product and technology campaign in the history of the Volkswagen brand. The brand’s range of SUVs is also being expanded comprehensively. It currently consists of the new T-Roc, the Tiguan, the new Tiguan Allspace (Europe) and Tiguan L (China), the new Atlas (USA) and the Teramont (China), plus the now completely redesigned Touareg as Volkswagen’s top SUV model. Volkswagen will also be further extending the lower end of its SUV range with the compact T-Cross. The first all-electric SUV from Volkswagen is also a sure thing: the I.D. CROZZ. It will arrive on the market in 2020.

The BMW Group is stepping up the pace in its drive to shape tomorrow’s mobility. Two years after the launch of Strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT, the BMW Group intends to increase upfront expenditure on research and development to an all-time high in 2018, while at the same time remaining steadily on course for a ninth record-breaking year in succession through 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. 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,” stated Harald Kruger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG in Munich on Wednesday.

Despite major changes impacting the mobility sector, the one constant factor influencing the company’s strategic decisions is fulfilling the needs of its customers. “Their passion and excitement is at the core of our growth strategy,” emphasised Kruger. “That is why the BMW Group offers a unique range of products (from the BMW i3 to the Rolls-Royce Phantom) and services (from customised financing to intelligent mobility services), all of which contribute towards making our customers’ lives easier. With this point in mind, we are on our way to becoming a customer-focused mobility and high-tech company.”

In 2018, the broadest product initiative ever undertaken by the BMW Group continues: With the market launch of the BMW X2 in March, the ramping up of the BMW X3 at three production sites and the new generation of the BMW X4, 2018 is sure to go down as the “Year of X” for one of the world’s largest manufacturer of premium vehicles. “We are bringing out completely new models and introducing a new design language for the whole product range. This is our recipe to ensure that the BMW brand regains pole position in the premium segment by 2020,” Kruger stated. “We gave the public a taste of these developments with the unveiling of the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe at the Geneva Motor Show and the series version will be presented in 2019.”

Numerous strategic decisions, for which the BMW Group did the groundwork at an early stage in conjunction with its Strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT, will begin to bear fruit in 2018. For instance, the acquisition of Parkmobile LLC was announced in January, making the BMW Group the leading provider of digital parking solutions. The acquisition of the car sharing joint venture DriveNow closed in March. These two transactions give the BMW Group control over a wide range of strategic options for enhancing its range of mobility services in a field set to make a crucial contribution to sustainable urban mobility going forward. The BMW Group is aiming to have 100 million active customers by 2025.

In February, the BMW Group and the Chinese manufacturer Great Wall signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture for the local production of fully electric MINI vehicles in China. This step is a further clear commitment to the electrified future of the MINI brand and highlights the importance of the Chinese market for the BMW Group.

At the Geneva Motor Show in early March, the BMW Group announced that the BMW i Vision Dynamics, unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2017, will be launched as the all-electric BMW i4 and manufactured at the Munich plant. Today, the BMW Group already manufactures electrified vehicles at ten production facilities. In 2019, Plant Oxford will join this list with the start of production of the fully-electric MINI. The BMW i4 is just one of the 25 electrified models that the BMW Group intends to bring to market by 2025. Half of these models will be fully electric. Powered by the fifth generation of battery and drivetrain technology, from 2021 the BMW Group will be capable of offering all-electric vehicles with a range of up to 700 kilometres and plug-in hybrids with an electrical range of up to 100 kilometres.

Continuing progress in the field of electric mobility is a key reason behind the BMW Group’s plan to allocate an increasing amount to research and development in the current year. After a spend of € 6,108 million in 2017, upfront expenditure for tomorrow’s mobility will increase significantly in the financial year 2018. Investment will rise by a further high three-digit million-euro amount year-on-year, primarily for the ongoing new model initiative as well as continued work on e-mobility and autonomous driving. In absolute terms, the amount could reach the 7 billion euro mark. The major scale of investment reflects the BMW Group’s determination to play a leading role in transforming the mobility sector with its future-oriented ACES programme: Automated, Connected,Electrified and Services.

Despite the cost of these wide-ranging activities, the BMW Group expects Group profit before tax to be at least in line with the record level reported for 2017. “We will need to remain steadfast in 2018 in order to achieve our target of reporting another year of record pre-tax earnings,” stated Nicolas Peter, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Finance. “But we are an ambitious company, constantly striving to improve the efficiency of our business processes. We are reducing the complexity of our range of products and services, rigorously bringing it into line with the requirements of our customers. This provides us with the necessary resources for future investments. As ever, our strategy is driven by the desire to achieve long-term sustainable profitability.”

As part of its Strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT, the BMW Group is systematically expanding into market segments with high rates of return in order to finance the similarly high levels of upfront expenditure necessary to drive tomorrow’s mobility from a position of underlying strength. Accordingly, the Group continues to target an EBIT margin within a range of 8 to 10 per cent for its Automotive and Motorcycles segments. Deliveries to customers are expected to rise slightly in the financial year 2018, resulting in a corresponding slight increase in Automotive segment revenues. The Motorcycles segment expects to see solid growth in volume terms.

In 2017, the BMW Group delivered more than 100,000 electrified vehicles to customers for the first time in a single year, mainly driven by the performance of the all-electric BMW i3, sales of which have risen every year since its market launch in 2013. Last year, the BMW Group accounted for more newly registered electrified vehicles (all-electric + plug-in hybrid) than any other manufacturer in Europe, with a share of 21 percent. The BMW Group intends to grow sales of its electrified vehicles to at least 140,000 unitsglobally in 2018 and is targeting more than half a million units on the world’s roads by the end of 2019. “Our electric mobility strategy is having a positive impact: the broad range of electrified models we now offer enabled us to cut CO2 emissions across our EU fleet yet again in 2017,” CEO Harald Kruger pointed out.

This year, the BMW Group will also broaden its base for adding value worldwide. Further investments are planned in the key regions of China, the USA and Europe. Maintaining a strong local presence, particularly in the USA and China, is and remains an essential prerequisite for being part of future growth in these regions.