BMW Group.
Today’s decisions shape mobility
for our customers tomorrow
Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen!
There are many different aspects to mobility. It serves us in our
daily lives, but can also be a tremendous source of pleasure. At the
BMW Group, we have 130,000 men and women full of energy and passion
working daily in developing mobility.
Many of them are watching today. I would like to start by addressing
you, our employees. You are what make the BMW Group so strong and
unique. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all
of you: Together, we ensure this company’s continued success. That is our obligation towards our shareholders.
Allow me to welcome you all – everyone here in the Olympiahalle and
those joining us via internet – to the 98th Annual General Meeting of
BMW AG!
Some of you, Ladies and Gentlemen, have been with us for many years.
You know that the BMW Group is built on a solid foundation.
It is more than 100 years of experience that has enabled us to master
major changes in the past and to take on those to come. We have the
strength and confidence to see us through the current transformation.
Our premium aspiration is to be at the forefront. With the biggest
model offensive in our history, we are issuing a challenge to our
competitors. We are the number one in electrified vehicles in Europe
and Germany. All our brands and model series are going electric. That
shows our consistency. That’s the future.
2017 was our eighth consecutive record year:
- We sold more than 2.4 million cars and
- 164,000 BMW motorcycles and scooters.
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Group earnings before tax exceeded ten billion euros.
And, most importantly for you: We are the most profitable car
company in the world.That, Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguishes Your Company – and you,
our shareholders, should share in this success.For 2017, we are proposing our highest dividend ever: 4.00 euros
per share of common stock and 4.02 euros per share of preferred
stock. Our employees in Germany will also benefit through our
profit-sharing programme.Fairness promotes unity – which is what our society needs. At
BMW, we face the challenges ahead together. That is our culture.In a complex, fast-paced world, there are no easy answers;
commercial success cannot be taken for granted – especially over
the long term.The car industry is currently facing some criticism as well as
strong regulation, although individual mobility will remain a very
popular mode of transportation.The truth of the matter is that the behaviour of certain
manufacturers has damaged our industry as a whole.Ladies and Gentlemen,
There is one thing I would like to clarify at this point:
A mistake was made a few years ago, involving previous model
versions of the BMW 5 Series and 7 Series, which were fitted with
an engine control software we believe had been correctly
developed. These models were later fitted with a software module
not designed for them.To be clear: This has nothing to do with deliberate manipulation,
either of engine control or exhaust gas treatment.We are now awaiting approval from the authorities, so that we can
provide a corrected software. A maximum of 11,700 vehicles are
affected. To put that into perspective: In the last five years
alone, the BMW Group delivered more than 11 million cars to customers.We were the first manufacturer to use a multi-phase exhaust gas
treatment concept – which proved very successful: Our Euro 5 and
Euro 6 diesels in Germany are around 40 percent below the average
NOx figures published by the German Environment Agency.
In further tests conducted by the German automobile club, ADAC,
investigating the NOx emissions of Euro 6 diesel models, BMW and MINI
models performed very well. The BMW 520d and 530d were much lower than
the future limits for road driving tests.
We keep our word. In Germany, we are implementing the decisions
adopted at the National Diesel Summit. This means that our Euro 5
diesel models from 2011 or later will get a software update. But, we
will also speak out if something is not technically viable: upgrading hardware.
Responsibility is part of our core values. That is also how we are
handling allegations of unlawful cartel arrangements. The European
Commission has not yet completed its evaluation in this matter.
Dear Shareholders and Shareholder Representatives,
I ask that you continue to place your trust in the BMW Group!
BMW charts its own clear path, as set out in our Strategy NUMBER ONE
NEXT, which provides us with a strategic roadmap up to 2025, with
three main priority areas: Electrification, Being
Global, and Products and services.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I have often emphasized, the e-mobility growth curve is constantly rising.
Our first-quarter sales confirm this: We sold over a third more
electrified vehicles worldwide, and almost 80 percent more in the US.
That’s all I want to say about our figures.
I also want to tell you about an experience that touched me on a
personal level: In December 2017, I handed over our 100,000th
electrified vehicle at BMW Welt: a BMW i3. I admit, I expected the
customer to be a young person who was already familiar with electric
driving. But, it was actually an 80-year-old gentleman, standing in
front of me with a big smile on his face. He had spent his whole life
driving rival models with a combustion engine. I think this
demonstrates: It is never too late to switch to BMW and our electric models.
That same evening, we lit up our Group headquarters, the BMW
Four-Cylinder, as a battery. I watched from the Olympic Park, with a
group of employees, and it really was an emotional moment.
100,000 electrified vehicles in 2017. Promised and delivered. That is BMW.
Our course is clearly mapped out:
- At least 140,000 electrified vehicles in 2018.
- 25 electrified models by 2025 – 12 of them pure electric.
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By the end of 2019, we will have a total of half a million
electric models and plug-in hybrids on the roads. We have already
a quarter of a million today.Two models illustrate our progression to a new dimension: the BMW
i4 and the BMW iNEXT.The BMW i4 Concept was the star of last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
A few years ago, “project i” started out as an independent
project. Now, the letter “i” is coming to our core BMW brand.
Going forward, all pure electric BMW models will sport the “i”
badge and come equipped with fifth-generation battery technology.
With an increased range of about 700 kilometres, electric models
will become entirely practical for everyday use.Parallel to the i4, we are also developing the BMW iNEXT.
Today, we wanted to give our shareholders an exclusive first
glimpse. And I can reveal that we will be presenting the iNEXT as
a vision vehicle later this year.It is our modular system for the future.
If that sounds a bit like Lego, that’s roughly the idea. The
iNEXT will benefit the entire company and all its brands. For the
first time, we are combining all key technologies for future
mobility. The iNEXT is fully electric, fully connected, and
enables safe, partially autonomous driving. Further models will follow.We are working on autonomous driving at our campus outside of
Munich, which we announced in 2017 and opened in April of this
year. Once again – promised and delivered. That is BMW.The campus idea is all about short distances, fast decisions and
agile working. 1,800 experts from different countries work
together there.We are developing the cars of the future right here in Germany.
And we will build them here as well: the i4 in Munich, and the
iNEXT in Dingolfing.Bavaria will always be our home. From here, we drive
technological innovations and Industry 4.0. We produce more than
half our vehicles abroad. But nearly 70 percent of our employees
are still based in Germany. For me, that shows our strong
commitment to our roots. These roots give us stability in a global world.And that brings me to my second point: Being Global.
Our production network comprises 30 locations in 14 countries. We
are enabling our plants for a wide range of drive trains, using
flexible architectures. From 2020, we will be able to fit all
model series with any type of drive train.Today, we are already producing electrified models at ten
locations worldwide. Not many manufacturers can say the same.Three major markets are crucial for us: Europe, China and the US.
They each differ in terms of political demands, customer desires
and culture.In Europe, for
example, we are facing strict regulations on emissions, which we
will continue to comply with. The BMW Group benefits from the
European single market and remains committed to Europe. The EU has
to be competitive to play an appropriate role in the world.But internally, Europe also needs to be fit for the future.
Particularly in the areas of connectivity and autonomous driving,
we need consistent legal rules and a 5G standard throughout the
European Union. On the topic of e-mobility: Europe needs to take
on a leading role. We need to create an internal European market
in digital infrastructure and e-mobility.The close ties between Germany and France are fundamentally
important to Europe. However, the UK must also remain close to the
EU. We will start building the first fully electric MINI in Oxford
in 2019. It is therefore important that access to the EU internal
market remains uncomplicated and customs free. We are once again
targeting a slight increase in European sales this year.Let’s take a look at China.
China is beginning to set the pace for the whole world in
e-mobility and digitalisation. We are targeting solid growth in
our largest single market in 2018. After all, BMW is the most
attractive, most innovative premium brand in China.The Chinese government is accelerating e-mobility. We are likely
to see a million new electrified vehicles registered in China this
year alone. Our customers in China already have six electrified
models to choose from. With ChargeNow they also have access to the
world’s largest network of public charging points.Further strategic steps include:
- Deepening our partnership with Brilliance: From mid-2018, the new
BMW X3 will be built in Shenyang, in addition to the US and South
Africa. From 2020, we will also be producing the iX3 there, the
first all-electric model from our core BMW brand. -
We are planning another joint venture with Great Wall Motor,
aimed at producing fully electric MINI vehicles in China.The Chinese government announced its intention to reduce tariffs
and to further open up its car market, showing good sense and
vision in the midst of the current trade dispute.In the United
States, important political decisions still have to be
made, both in trade policy and domestically. With regard to the
upcoming review of fuel consumption regulations at federal level,
we are strongly in favour of a consistent national standard.The United States has been the BMW Group’s “second home” for many
years. We contribute greatly to the U.S. economy. In terms of
value, BMW is the largest vehicle exporter in the US, responsible
for around 70,000 direct and indirect jobs across the country. We
are targeting slight growth in the US market in 2018. Spartanburg,
home to our biggest plant, will benefit from a further 600 million
euros in investment up to 2021.We are also investing in Mexico, where we will open our new plant
next year. Mexico has relied heavily on free trade in the past –
and benefited as a result. Our plant in San Luis Potosí will
produce for the global market.Global thinking and global action have made the BMW Group
successful. Free trade leads to growth and prosperity for
everyone. That’s a fact.We operate globally – but we also take responsibility at the
local level: for jobs, value creation and the broader community.Now, let’s move on to my third point: Products and services.
We are currently in phase II of our model offensive, with another
20 new and revised models for release this year. Two highly
emotional vehicles are here next to the stage: The BMW i8 Roadster
and the BMW Z4 concept car.We will be focusing on two aspects: Luxury and X. Examples from
the highly profitable luxury segment include the new Phantom and
the Cullinan at Rolls-Royce.And, at BMW, the new 8 Series Coupé, which will be launched still
this year. The new 8 Series range will feature at least six
models, including the BMW M8 Gran Coupé, which showcases the new
BMW design language. The new BMW X7, which will go into production
towards the end of the year, is also resonating with its strong presence.2018 will be our X year, with:
- the new X3,
- the cool X2,
- the athletic X4, from the summer on,
-
and, as I can reveal exclusively today: later this year, a
successor to the X5.Our model offensive goes hand in hand with expansion in our services.
More than 23 million customers used our mobility services last
year. By 2025, we will expand this base to 100 million active
users, offering customers an all-round, all-inclusive package.We made three important strategic decisions this year:
- The full acquisition of DriveNow.
- The acquisition of Parkmobile LLC – which makes us the leading
international provider of digital parking solutions. -
The planned joint venture with Daimler Group, which will combine
our expertise in mobility services on an equal footing. This is
subject to approval by antitrust authorities.Dear Shareholders and Shareholder Representatives,
Mobility is a part of our daily lives.
The European Commission has calculated that private households in
the EU invest more than a billion euros in mobility every year.In Germany alone, mobility needs will increase significantly by
2040, most of that still relying on cars.The car remains the number one mode of transport. That makes
sense, when you consider that the world’s biggest car
manufacturers reported their highest-ever revenues in 2017.Our industry has always accomplished great things and continues
to play an important role in the economy and society at large: as
an employer, as a taxpayer and as a driver of innovation.So, let us focus our full attention on the shift towards
sustainable, digitalised mobility. Mastering that challenge is the
central task facing the German automotive industry – and nothing else.In times of change, sometimes the big guys win, sometimes the
little guys. But, with absolute certainty, those who prevail are
always flexible.I have been with this company for 26 years. During that time,
there have been many challenges – but the BMW Group has always
followed its own clear path, with innovation, determination and consistency.That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is why Your Company has been around
for more than 100 years.The performance of the BMW share price reflects our long-term
approach: Between May 2008 and May 2018, its value increased by
over 140 percent. Even during the current transformation, Your
Company remains profitable. We have maintained an EBIT margin of
between eight to ten percent in the Automotive Segment for the
past eight years. This allows us to invest in our future.We intend to make 2018 our ninth consecutive record year.
Your commitment towards the BMW Group gives us the strength and
support we need. We can count on you – and you can rely on the BMW
Group, your company. Thank you for your attention!