BMW presents its vision and innovation of future mobility

BMW AG previewed its BMW Vision iNEXT, a highly automated, emission-free and fully connected electric car on Thursday in Beijing, which the German premium carmaker said represents its vision for future mobility by integrating all its strategic fields of innovation for the first time ranging from design, autonomy, connectivity to electrification and shared services.

"This vision car is a singular vehicle, the likes of which you have never seen from BMW before," said Klaus Froehlich, member of the board of management of BMW AG, development, onboard a Lufthansa cargo plane in Beijing - the last leg of its five-day global tour of four cities in three countries.

"In the BMW Vision iNEXT, future innovations and technologies are consolidated in a futuristic exterior and interior design concept," he said.

The intelligent connected vehicle adopts BMW's fifth-generation eDrive system that will enable it to drive more than 600 kilometers on one charge. It is Level 3 autonomous, with L4 functions technologically available, featuring 5G-based connectivity.

Among others, the lightweight body has made it a real BMW with extreme handling and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in less than four seconds.

Having the size and proportions of a modern BMW SAV, the model conveys its trailblazing character through clearly sculpted forms and surfaces. Striking paintwork and sophisticated details strengthen this impression further.

It adopts the large, interlinked double-kidney grille, the iconic side window graphic, and the blue accent surfaces at the front, sides and rear that featured on the BMW i Vision Dynamics presented in 2017.

BMW has designed the Vision iNEXT as a mobile living space that people can relax in. It allows the drivers to choose to either drive themselves or be driven.

Inside the car, it has emphasized the notion of keeping people onboard at center stage, so apart from the steering wheel and displays in the driver's area, there are no other screens or controls to be seen.

In other words, the intelligent technology is integrated out of sight. Only when it is required by the driver or passengers does the technology become visible and operable, said BMW. The series-produced version of the Vision iNEXT will become a new technological flagship in BMW's lineup, and production is slated to begin in 2021 at its Dingolfing plant in Germany, according to the carmaker.

It is more than just a car but rather a symbol of the new era of future mobility for BMW Group. It said the model will provide the building blocks for the future, from which the entire company and all of its brands are set to benefit.

"Based on our strategy NUMBER ONE \> NEXT, we are strategically aligning our company to be a proactive shaper of the digital transformation. Focusing on future technologies and customer desires, we are taking individual mobility to a new level," said Froehlich.

"This way, iNEXT also defines our mindset. It is basically our 'Project i 2.0'," he said. BMW launched "Project i" as part of its strategy NUMBER ONE and soon became a pioneer in electric mobility. In 2017, it sold 100,000 electric cars worldwide and the number is expected to exceed 140,000 this year.

"We are one of the leading providers of electrified vehicles - worldwide. By the end of this decade, we will have sold half a million electrified vehicles. So you see for us, electromobility is already the new normal," said Froehlich.

By 2025 the carmaker will be offering 25 models with electrified drive systems, 12 of which will be pure-electric, he said.

"Our next step in development, represented by the BMW iNEXT, is to offer safe autonomous driving by 2021. Our ambition is clear: We want to be the leader in this field as well," said Froehlich. "It will ensure that BMW has all the technologies at its disposal to be successful in the market when competing with both old and new players, today and tomorrow."

BMW's largest single market, China, is expected to have an even more important role in its new stage of development, with the all-new BMW iNEXT expected to be introduced into the country when it goes into series production in 2021.

The pure electric iX3 will be locally produced in the country starting from 2020 and exported to other countries.

Jochen Goller, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China, said, "China is already the largest new energy vehicle market in the world, and it will be one of the leading markets to welcome autonomous driving.

"BMW Group is dedicated to playing a pioneering role in this historical transformation and has taken decisive steps in China to shape the future of mobility."

The carmaker has built up a strong local research and development network in China. With three R&D centers in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenyang, it is the carmaker's second largest R&D network worldwide, and 76 percent of the staff are Chinese.

BMW is also the first among premium carmakers to establish a high-voltage battery plant in China. The plant is offering battery packs for localized plug-in hybrids. The phase two of the center started construction earlier this year.

The manufacturer has also joined hands with the leading tech giants in the country including Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent to become better prepared to meet the needs of local customers, according to Goller. "Covering all key innovation fields of ACES, we are well-positioned to actively shape the future of our business," he said.

lifusheng@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/17/2018 page19)