THE NEXT 100 YEARS: BMW Group Vision Vehicles bring future mobility to life today

Krüger: The quest for ideal solutions is a part of our DNA

Looking into the future of premium individual mobility

BMW Vision Vehicle starts symbolic World Tour

Munich hosts the BMW Festival – THE NEXT 100 YEARS

BMW Group enhances the work of its foundations

 

Munich. 2016 sees the BMW Group celebrate its
centenary under the motto THE NEXT 100 YEARS. Throughout its history,
the company’s image has been defined by a future focus and pioneering
action – all made possible by its extraordinary team of employees, who
share a fascination for mobility which is integral to all our lives.

 

“At the BMW Group, we are always on a quest for the best solution.
It’s part of our DNA,” said Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of
Management of BMW AG, at the Centenary Event in Munich on Monday.
“It’s also the spirit of our collaborations, a recurring theme that
permeates our corporate and leadership culture.”

 

Three qualities in particular set the BMW Group apart: the capacity
to learn and adapt, technological innovation, and a sense of
responsibility toward society. “We have demonstrated on many occasions
throughout our history that we are capable of learning fast and taking
bold steps,” Krüger said.

 

Against this background, the BMW Group’s centenary celebrations are
set to focus primarily on what lies ahead and explore how individual
mobility might develop over the coming decades.

 

To answer this question, the BMW Group has generated a futuristic
scenario with a clear vision: premium mobility by the BMW Group will
be completely effortless, comprehensively available and tailored to
every customer’s individual preferences. At the moment, the world is
on the verge of realising automated driving; in the not-too-distant
future the majority of cars will probably be completely self-driving
and travel the streets of cities inhabited by far more people than today.

 

In the future, one thing will be in ever shorter supply: time. But
connectivity will become increasingly commonplace, and technologies
will learn to learn from people. “Future mobility will connect every
area of people’s lives. And that’s where we see new opportunities for
premium mobility,” Krüger added.

 

The BMW Group has now made its vision for the future a reality – with
the BMW VISION NEXT 100. This vehicle combines
coupé-type sportiness with the dynamic elegance of a sedan – but
rather than being an anonymous transport machine, it is a highly
customised vehicle that is perfectly tailored to suit the driver’s
changing needs.

 

Driver-vehicle interactions are managed by Alive Geometry; Boost and
Ease modes offer a choice of driver-controlled or vehicle-controlled
operations, and the interior of the vehicle changes to suit the mode
of travel. In Boost, the entire vehicle focuses on the driver,
offering the support needed to maximise the driving experience – for
instance by indicating the ideal driving line, steering point and
speed. Ease mode sees the interior transform: the steering wheel and
centre console retract; the headrests turn to the side, and the seats
and door trim merge to form a single unit so that the driver and
front-seat passenger can turn towards each other.

 

“If, as a designer, you are able to imagine something, there’s a good
chance it could one day become reality,” said Adrian van Hooydonk,
Head of BMW Group Design. “So our objective with the BMW VISION NEXT
100 was to develop a future scenario that people would engage with.”

 

The BMW Vision Vehicle will make its world debut at the Centenary
Event in the Munich Olympic Hall on 7 March 2016 – exactly one hundred
years after the company that is now known as BMW AG was first entered
into the commercial register. About 2,000 guests from industry,
politics, research, society and the media will be present, as will
selected dealers, suppliers and employees. A multi-media experience
will guide them through the history of the company to this latest
interpretation of tomorrow’s premium mobility, culminating in the
unveiling of the Vision Vehicle.

 

The success of the BMW Group would not be possible without the
commitment of more than 122,000 employees in 140 countries around the
world. Almost all of them will be able to follow the Centenary Event
in the Olympic Hall live as part of the activities happening at their
site. In many markets, the live-stream will be accompanied by local
centenary celebrations, and one particular highlight in Munich will be
the live broadcast at the Allianz Arena football stadium, for more
than 30,000 employees based in and around the Munich site.

 

After its world debut, the BMW VISION NEXT 100 will go on a symbolic
World Tour entitled “Iconic Impulses.” stopping in
China, the UK and the USA. After its Asian premiere in Beijing, it
will travel to London, where the Vision Vehicles of the BMW Group’s
British brands – MINI and Rolls-Royce – will be unveiled. Its last
port of call will be Los Angeles, USA, where BMW Motorrad will add its
Vision Vehicle to the collection to complete the quartet of brands.

 

Key content from “Iconic Impulses.” will also be on show in Munich as
a permanent exhibition. The Future Exhibition in the ‘double cone’
structure of the BMW Welt will open to the public in spring. A further
exhibition will be mounted by the BMW Museum, where a temporary
centenary display entitled “100 Masterpieces” will present milestones
in the history of the BMW Group. It will be open to the public from 10
March onwards.

 

From 9-11 September 2016, the BMW Festival – THE NEXT 100 YEARS will
welcome fans from all over the world. It will take place in the Munich
Olympic Park, including the Olympic Stadium and Hall. The BMW Museum
and BMW Welt will also be involved, as will the entire area around the
iconic ‘four-cylinder’ headquarters building.

 

To round off the centenary year, there will be a special publication
consisting of 13 volumes. This will outline the history of the company
and discuss key future topics. The books will contain a mix of essays,
reports, studies and expert interviews. They will reflect the
diversity of the BMW Group and its BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW
Motorrad brands.

 

To mark its centenary, the BMW Group is also enhancing its commitment
to social responsibility. The capital of its foundation, BMW
Foundation Herbert Quandt, will be increased by €50 million to a total
of €100 million. In addition, annual donations will be made to support
project work. In 2016 this financing will amount to another €5
million. Further financing will be provided by major shareholders
Stefan Quandt and Susanne Klatten, who will support project work with
an additional €30 million.

 

 

If you have any queries, please contact:

 

Corporate Communications

 

Max-Morten Borgmann, Business and Finance Communications
max-morten.borgmann@bmwgroup.com

Telephone: +49 89 382-24118, Fax +49 89 382-24418

 

Nikolai Glies, Head of Business and Finance Communications
nikolai.glies@bmwgroup.com

Telephone: +49 89 382-24544, Fax: +49 89 382-24418

 

Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com

E-Mail: presse@bmw.de

 

 

 

 

The BMW Group

With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the
world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles
and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global
company, the BMW Group operates 30 production and assembly facilities
in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

 

In 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and
nearly 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the
financial year 2014 was approximately € 8.71 billion on revenues
amounting to € 80.40 billion. As of 31 December 2014, the BMW Group
had a workforce of 116,324 employees.

 

The success of the BMW Group has always been based 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.

 

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