Ladies and Gentlemen,
The world as we know it is currently undergoing a dramatic
transformation. Many of the things we know are definitely changing –
trade agreements, laws, political activities. For the BMW Group, we
see three main trends that will affect us directly: political,
technological and social trends. I do not want to talk too much about
politics – we will all just have to keep a close eye on developments.
On the technology side, there is strong momentum. With our launch of
project i back in 2007, we advanced e-mobility significantly through
ground-breaking innovations. Now, thanks to digitalisation, the speed
of development is three times as fast. On the social front, we see the
rapid growth of megacities. Environmental concerns and the challenges
this brings are increasing.
The 17th Shell Youth Study was published recently. It shows that: On
the one hand, the generation between 12 and 25 wishes for more
security. At the same time, these young people are eager to try new
things: They want to pitch in, shake things up and explore new
horizons. This young generation in Germany in 2015 is therefore
referred to as a “generation raring to go”. So, we naturally ask
ourselves: What does that mean for our business?
I definitely see parallels. Where they seek a balance between
“security and eagerness to try new things”, ours is between “tradition
and innovation”.
The automotive industry is also changing and looking to new horizons.
I actually think “raring to go” fits the automotive industry a lot
better than “changing”, too!
Let us take a look at the positives: What do we have to offer?
Our capacity for innovation remains one of the major strengths and
opportunities for German manufacturing and the German automotive
industry. Especially in the future core area of “self-driving cars”,
many of the key patents are held by German and Japanese carmakers and
their suppliers. We have recognised how important it is to pool our
expertise in partnerships, for example, with suppliers from the IT
industry – as well as the importance of strategic alliances. Our
industry employs many hundreds of thousands of people. We offer young
people first-class vocational training. We are investing in a dual
education system that is recognised worldwide. All of this shows that
here in Germany, we have the ideal conditions for a new era of mobility.
There are still a lot of questions to be answered – for example:
What position do we want to occupy in the digital world?
or
How will this change the fundamental role of mobility?
We do not have all the answers yet, either. But the BMW Group has
already made a successful start. We have a clear vision of the future.
In the workshops today, we will show you where we stand in the
individual areas. We deliberately chose this location: Welcome to
prototype construction for all our electrified drive train components.
This is where we test production of electric engines and drive trains
for large-scale industrial production – also from an economic
perspective. In early November, we reached the milestone of 100,000
electrified vehicles. That means there are 100,000 customers who can
share their experience of e-mobility with us. We have set an ambitious
goal of another 100,000 electrified vehicles in 2017 – that is as many
as in the past three years. One thing is certain: We will continue to
invest in electro-mobility.
We are now entering Phase II of our electrification strategy. We will
gradually be transferring BMW i technologies to all other Group
brands, series and models. We have already announced a MINI BEV for
2019 and a pure electric X3 for 2020. Next year, we will release a
plug-in hybrid version of the MINI Countryman; followed in 2018 by the
highly emotional i8 Roadster. This will be the first chance to combine
e-mobility with genuine convertible feeling. I can promise you that
range will continue to improve.
Our vehicle architecture is extremely scalable across a broad range
of models. This enables us to use resources efficiently and
effectively. Future architectures are designed flexibly for use in
ICE, PHEV and BEV models. This also allows us to respond with high
flexibility to changes in demand and requirements.
We are the only ones in the market to adopt a 360-degree approach
with our BMW i brand. BMW i is a nucleus for successful new mobility
services and business segments that go beyond the vehicle itself.
Business in mobility services is developing rapidly. A large number of
new competitors have entered the field. That motivates us to continue
to evolve.
This is why we founded BMW i Ventures in 2011 – to make selective
investments in young, fast-growing start-up companies. We have now
significantly increased its capitalisation (up to 500 million
euros over ten years) and are relocating the unit to the heart
of Silicon Valley. Everybody is talking about UBER and LYFT – but we
are setting different priorities.
We will expand our mobility services. Our fleet business offers lots
of opportunities for the long term. We will certainly continue to
invest in the BMW i brand. It will remain our spearhead for
innovation. In 2021, we will launch the BMW iNext. This car embodies
the four characteristics of modern mobility – what we like to call the
ACES: Automated, connected, electrified and shared – in short: the
mobility of the future.
One of today’s two workshops will focus on the topic of autonomous
driving. Here, the BMW Group has a clear strategy for development and
more than ten years of experience. A BMW test vehicle already drove
around the Hockenheimring racetrack autonomously back in 2006. Another
milestone was the first autonomous lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife
in 2009. We are now concentrating all our expertise in this area at
our new Research and Development Centre for Autonomous Driving. The
campus will be located in the Munich area.
Working with colleagues from our FIZ Research and Innovation Centre
and external partners, this is where we will develop and test our
fully autonomous and highly automated vehicles.
As you will see today, the BMW Group is already well underway into
the future. Our four Vision Vehicles represent all of this. They
already embody the four ACES: They all drive autonomously. They all
drive electric. They are all fully connected. The MINI also represents
the sharing of the future. All four vehicles illustrate our clear
direction where we want to take our brands.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please take advantage of our experts here today. They are here to
answer your questions. I would also be happy to take your questions
myself now.