15.09.2009 Speech

Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG

Ladies and Gentlemen—

The passion for mobility is in our genes. It is part of our heritage. Each of these three classic cars represented state-of-the-art mobility at its time:

The BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster was the 1940 trendsetter in matters of aerodynamics and lightweight construction.

The Isetta reflected the prevailing taste of the 1950s.

The BMW 525e with eta technology already set new standards
in fuel efficiency in the early 80s.

Many of our models have written automotive history. And you know that looking ahead is also part of our DNA at the BMW Group.

The best example: The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics. A sports car to a core, and yet it runs on less fuel than a small car. This is not an illusion but an embodiment of our innovative BMW ActiveHybrid technology. So what else should this study show? That there is one thing that you will always experience when opting for a BMW: Sheer driving pleasure.

Welcome to the BMW stand at the start of the IAA 2009!
Individual mobility can take different forms. Because what people require from their cars might vary greatly. These two cars demonstrate the wide range of the BMW Group model portfolio:

Firstly, our flagship: the new BMW 7 Series. It has not only received numerous awards but it is also appealing to customers. At present it is the best-selling luxury sedan – both here in our home market and worldwide. Obviously, this makes us very proud and happy. This fall, the new 7 Series line-up is complemented by the all-wheel drive version that you can see here. What this means is: We are going to give our customers an even greater range to choose from and more flexibility. No other manufacturer delivered more cars with all-wheel drive last year than BMW. Now our xDrive technology is available for the BMW 7 Series for the very first time.
The MINI E looks like the exact opposite of the BMW 7 Series. A small car – but we are going to make a big thing of it. This car is also proof that protecting the climate can be fun. Why is that important? Isn’t environmental protection mainly a matter of reason and understanding? New technologies only promote an effect if customers actually buy them. And why should customers compromise? We consider it our responsibility to have an uncompromising balance between ecological requirements and attractive products. This is how we define Premium at BMW.

The electric drive is the great hope for the future. It is one way of making zero-emission mobility come true. And I am sure there will be many concepts here in Frankfurt. However, no other electric car has covered more miles and kilometers than our MINI E.

Our customers’ experiences with the MINI E will be applied to the development of our Megacity Vehicle. As you know this car will be launched as a BMW sub-brand.

At the BMW Group, we will continue to remain forward-thinking:

We are developing a completely new car architecture.

We have entered into a battery-cell cooperation with SB Limotive.

We will implement sustainable measures throughout the entire value chain.

But there are some things which are not in our hands, such as: creating the necessary regulatory framework to realize a new type of individual mobility. Mobility for the future, whether it be electric- or hydrogen-based needs clear guidelines. We aim to promote an open dialog about future mobility with all stakeholders and other representatives of society – to find viable solutions from which we will all benefit in the long term.

Sustainability is on everyone’s agenda. But, what is most urgently needed is clear action. We all know how beautiful but fragile nature can be. We need to preserve the environment, not only for ourselves but future generations.

I am proud to announce: The BMW Group is the world’s most sustainable car manufacturer.
This was confirmed again by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, just this month for the 5th time in a row. This index is one of the world’s most important indicators of sustainable business. It is a fact – no other manufacturer in our industry uses resources as economical as we do. This inspires us to go even further and it shows us that we are on the right track. In the end, our approach also pays off in economic terms.
All of our activities and goals are presented in our 2008 Sustainable Value Report which we have just released. The report itself complies with the strict requirements of the environmental label “Blue Angel”.
We have accomplished a lot. But we will do even more! For us at the BMW Group, sustainability – in all its forms – is an integral part of being premium. We truly believe this – and we live it.

Dr. Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development

There are some events in our lives which make us incredibly proud – and for me, this is one of them. I was closely involved in the development of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo right from the very beginning. I clearly remember how we started: The first question we considered was: What does the customer want? We quickly came to the conclusion that customers would welcome a completely new model.

So our aim was to develop a completely new BMW:
based on an elegant, prestigious sedan
with the functionalities of an SAV
and elements of a traditional Gran Turismo.

Here you see the final result. Today I am extremely proud to present the world premiere of
the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo. It is an innovative and intelligent vehicle that also opens a new segment – and it really adds to the BMW brand.

What I like best about this car is its incredible versatility. Its interior is both luxurious and extremely spacious – so it’s not just a Coupé with a large tailgate. It is an extremely practical car.
The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is a true long-distance sedan that offers maximum comfort and driving pleasure. I can only recommend that you take it for a test-drive yourself: sheer-driving pleasure at its very best.

Our second new BMW also has its world premiere today. Please welcome the new BMW X1.

The BMW X1 combines the typical features of a BMW X model with the driving characteristics and fuel efficiency of the BMW 1 Series. It is the perfect solution for customers who do not require a big vehicle but nevertheless want to enjoy the advantages of driving a modern SAV.

I believe that many customers have simply been waiting for such a compact BMW SUV. And this is why the BMW X1 has every prospect of becoming a huge success. I am absolutely convinced that it will be a big hit.

At first glance, this car looks just like an ordinary BMW 3 Series sedan. But did you notice the lowered car body and the special wheel rims? Let me tell you: These have not been chosen for the visual effect. This car is all about state-of-the-art climate protection – true to our Efficient Dynamics program.

This BMW 3 Series sedan is the BMW model with the lowest CO2 emissions available today.
Its name: BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition.

This model has 163 horsepower – so it is sporting through and through.
It runs on 4.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
And its carbon emissions amount to 109 grams; which is an amazing achievement in engineering

Just a short while ago, this would have been beyond the scope of what the industry could do.
So today, you are looking at true progress – made possible only through the dedication to our Efficient Dynamics program. Just in case you are looking for a new driving experience:
The European market launch is scheduled for March 2010.

Please welcome the world’s fastest all-wheel drive hybrid – the BMW ActiveHybrid X6.

For this vehicle we have combined a V8 Twin Turbo with two electric motors. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 is a full hybrid – which means that short distances can be covered entirely in electric mode. Compared with the so-called conventional BMW X6, this hybrid model is 20 percent more fuel-efficient. I loved this vehicle right from the start – the way it seems to float without a sound, and on top of it the great performance. This is simply unique for a hybrid!

The same is true for the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Series.

Once again, the drive is based on a V8Turbo and complemented with an electric motor that supports the engine particularly during starting and accelerating and recovers brake energy.
The electric motor basically serves as an “electric turbo”. As a result, the BMW ActiveHybrid
7 Series’ acceleration is even better than that of the BMW 750i. Besides offering enhanced performance, it also saves 15 percent in fuel and emissions.

And this is exactly the idea behind our Efficient Dynamics strategy: to combine greater dynamics and greater efficiency.

All the new models I have just presented to you are scheduled for series production in the near future.

But what would the Frankfurt Motor Show be without exciting visions? We asked ourselves: How would a BMW look and feel if we took Efficient Dynamics to a whole new dimension?

And here you see the answer to that question: the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics.

This concept has already been highly acclaimed by the media. In fact, I can’t remember a concept study that has received such an overwhelming response. And rightly so I would say.
Here are the facts:

zero-to-one hundred (km/h) in 4.8 seconds an electronically regulated top speed of 250 km/h a fuel consumption of 3.7 liters per 100 kilometers. Yes, that’s right: 3.7 liters! and CO2 emissions of 99 grams per kilometer in hybrid mode – or 50 grams per kilometer in fully-electric operation.

These performance figures are achieved by combining three engines:

a completely new 3 cylinder turbo diesel drive

and two innovative electric motors on each axle.

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics can be operated electrically or solely by using the power of the turbo diesel engine or in the continuously variable combination of all three drives.

But the innovative drive system is not the only energy-saving technology in this concept car. Another good example is the proactive energy management: On-board sensors record data concerning the current driving situation and send it to the vehicle computer. It evaluates the information as well as the upcoming driving situation. Let’s imagine the following scenario: You are heading to the motorway. Already at this point, various vehicle systems are adjusted accordingly. This means: The cooling system’s activity is reduced. The short increase in cooling agent temperature will be offset by the increase in speed on the motorway. As I said: We call this proactive energy management.

This vision clearly sets a new standard in sheer driving pleasure and shows that individual mobility definitely has a future. Such a vision is one of the many reasons why the BMW Group is the most sustainable car company in the world today and in the future. Thank you very much!

Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing

Those who know MINI know that MINI is always a step ahead. One of the best examples is the MINI E. Electric vehicles are a promising zero-emissions alternative and we are leading the way in the development of this technology. We are the first to use the latest generation of lithium-ion technology in an all-electric vehicle, the MINI E.

The MINI E has a top speed of 152 km/h and a range up to 250 km and it retains “MINI like” driving characteristics: quick acceleration and tight, nimble handling.

The MINI E is definitely one of the highlights in the fiftieth anniversary year of MINI.

With over 600 MINI E cars we have the largest all-electric fleet of this kind involved in an international pilot project. This project goes far beyond the simple test of a prototype electric MINI. We are working together with central and regional governments, energy providers and academic partners.

By testing the MINI E in some of the largest cities of the world, we are working towards finding sustainable solutions for future mobility.

Drivers have been testing the MINI E under real-life conditions in Germany and the US since June this year and will do so for twelve months. At the end of 2009, drivers in the UK will also participate in the project. And I’m pleased to tell you that the MINI E project will soon also be extended to France, starting at some stage in 2010. Feedback and experiences from all of our participants will provide us, and our partners, with valuable insight into the realities of living with an electric car.

These findings will help us to develop the next generation of electric-powered vehicles, and to understand the technology and infrastructure required to support them. Today, MINI already offers models with outstanding fuel-efficiency and some of the lowest output of CO2 emissions in its class. The ongoing development of new technologies for reducing emissions is a high-priority at MINI. According to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority, MINI achieved the highest reduction rate of CO2 emissions from 2006 to 2008, compared to any other brand.

This is MINIMALISM at work!

MINIMALISM is an overall attitude of the brand MINI – Lower Consumption. Lower Emissions. Same fun! Measures such as Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start Stop Function and Shift Point Display are standard on all new MINI models.

We now offer seven MINI models which generate no more than 140 grams of CO2 per kilometre. And this is the international show premiere of the MINI One D which we launched earlier this month. It is the new entry-level diesel model, which delivers exceptionally economical driving fun.

The drive system is based on the 1.6-litre diesel engine from the MINI Cooper D. Featuring a turbocharger and common rail direct injection, the new version of this four-cylinder unit has a peak output of 90 hp and maximum torque of 215 Nm. Like the MINI One, the new MINI One D provides a particularly economical entry point into the world of the MINI brand. And with a consumption of just 3.9 litre per 100 km and a CO2 emission rate of 104 g/km, the MINI One D has the lowest consumption and lowest CO2 emissions within the entire BMW Group. MINIMALISM pure!

And MINI offers eco-friendly vehicles across the whole range of models. Take the MINI Cooper D Clubman – outstanding efficiency, with a consumption of 4.1 litres and a CO2 emission rate of 109 g/km. One thing is for sure – MINI is ready for the future!

Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG

There is not much for me to add. The facts speak for themselves: So far, we have delivered
1.4 million cars equipped with Efficient Dynamics to customers. This is how we achieved greater reductions in fleet consumption than any other carmaker. So where do we stand right now?
In Germany, our fleet has achieved an average of 5.9 liters of fuel per 100 km, corresponding to
CO2 of 156 grams per kilometer. According to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority, this means that we:
outperform all other premium manufacturers
and outperform Germany’s highest-volume auto brand – even though our cars offer much higher performance.

And here they are once more: Our Efficient Dynamics fleet and our world premieres!
As an engineer I believe in the power of innovation – that benefit both society and the environment. What you see here are our solutions. This is our promise for responsible mobility – today and tomorrow. After all, this is what we owe future generations. In a moment, I will be opening the BMW Group Junior Campus outside of this hall, together with Frankfurt’s Lord Mayor Petra Roth. We have brought our Junior Campus to Frankfurt to teach children about sustainable mobility and road safety in a playful way.

Individual mobility has come to be an integral part of our society. Future generations also want to drive cars, with a clear conscience. Maybe the car of the future will look like the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics. Or maybe like our MINI E. We strongly believe in the future of individual mobility. And we are going to make it happen.

Now, I would like to invite all of you to join me here on stage. And remember:

The MINI press conference is about to start.
And at 4 o’clock this afternoon, we are going to unveil a very special new model for you at the Rolls-Royce stand here in Hall 11. I have already driven it – and I have to say – this is truly an incredible new addition to the Rolls-Royce family. And I hope you will also find it as fascinating as I do.

Thank you very much! I wish you all a successful motor show.