In the world's largest automobile market, the biennial Beijing Auto Show is of great significance, it is the vane of the automotive industry, and it is also the largest show venue for the country and even the world. In particular, the BMW Group, as a representative of the first-line luxury brand, exhibited many new blockbuster models.
At the auto show, the full lineup of 15 major car series under the two major brands of the BMW Group was unveiled. The all-new all-electric BMW i4 made its world premiere, the new-generation concept car made its debut in China, the Aceman, the first all-electric crossover model of MINI, and the all-new electric MINI COOPER made its debut in China. And this blockbuster new car lineup also makes BMW not only the most popular in the W4 hall, but also the "hottest" booth in the entire Beijing Auto Show.
BMW Group Chairman Philip Zipzer and Director of Customer, Brand and Sales Firmer Gao Le, attended the press conference and reaffirmed their long-term confidence and commitment to the Chinese market. "BMW never stops innovating, and with the new generation of models, BMW will step into the future in three dimensions: design, technology and concept. ”
It is worth mentioning that on April 24, on the eve of the Beijing Auto Show, Zipzer was also present in person, and a number of heavyweight new models were also present, such as BMW's new-generation concept car, the new pure electric BMW i4, MINI Aceman, etc., and the amazing appearance show opened the eyes of fans and media on the scene. The BMW Group Night sent a clear signal that the BMW Group brands are firmly committed to the era of smart electric vehicles in accordance with the established plan.
A new generation concept car, very futuristic, more BMW
If there is one of the most "hot" models in BMW's booth, it is undoubtedly the BMW new-generation concept car. The new-generation concept car, which is coming to China for the first time, gives Chinese consumers a glimpse of BMW's new definition of personal luxury mobility in the future: very futuristic, more BMW. Take the leap to electric, smart and sustainable luxury.
As soon as the new-generation concept car was unveiled, it attracted a lot of attention. The angular shape, the illuminated kidney front grille, the Holmes corners are made of "reflective print", and the L-shaped taillights extend to the middle of the tail...... It's always different. This concept car takes "inheritance and innovation" to the extreme, and can be described as new everywhere but BMW everywhere.
Inside, the interior of the new-generation concept car adopts a minimalist design style, with almost no physical buttons except for the multi-function steering wheel, central display, and panoramic view bridge. The new car will be equipped with the next-generation BMW iDrive operating system and will debut the Surround View Bridge technology, which can project content into the driver's line of sight.
Another key word for the new generation of concept cars is "efficiency". The new-generation model is equipped with the sixth-generation BMW eDrive electric drive system, and the charging technology voltage platform has been increased to 800 volts, so that the charging speed is increased by 30%, the range is increased by 30%, and the vehicle efficiency is increased by 25%.
The birth of a next-generation concept car and its debut in China also heralded the BMW brand's entry into a new era of electrification. Officially, the first new-generation car will be unveiled globally in 2025 and put into production in Shenyang in 2026. Over the next 24 months, the lineup will increase to six.
Accelerating the pace of renewal: 20 new models will be launched this year
In addition to the new-generation concept car, there are also three pure electric vehicles, allowing BMW to successfully complete the two-way journey with the Chinese market and realize the full electrification of the brand. First of all, the much-anticipated new BMW i4 welcomes its world premiere with a new design that is more unique and sporty, adding another touch of color to the electric vehicle market.
Secondly, MINI's first pure electric crossover model, MINI Aceman, also chose its world debut in Beijing, opening a new chapter of electric vehicles for MINI models with cutting-edge technology and unique style. Also on the same stage is the fifth-generation electric version of the MINI three-door, the all-new electric MINI Cooper, which is making its official debut in China. Together with the all-new MINI Countryman, they form a new MINI family and mark the beginning of a new era for the brand full of personality.
Of course, if you're looking for a gasoline sports car that focuses on handling pleasure, the new M4 Coupe and Cabriolet are undoubtedly more worthy of your attention. It is reported that in 2024, BMW will launch more than 20 new models of BMW and MINI brands in China to further meet the different needs of consumers.
BMW continues to increase its investment in China
BMW showcased its customer-centric product strategy and innovations at the Beijing Auto Show, further strengthening its leading position in the luxury car segment. In the past first quarter, despite the volatile and increasingly competitive automotive market environment, the BMW Group delivered an excellent response.
The BMW Group delivered 594,700 vehicles worldwide in the first quarter, up 1.1% year-on-year. In the face of the surging wave of new energy, the BMW brand has always maintained strong competitiveness, and pure electric models have also become the engine of business growth. The BMW Group delivered 82,700 BEVs worldwide in the first quarter, a year-on-year increase of more than 27.9%, which can be said to be quite remarkable.
Behind this achievement, BMW Group's R&D investment has remained above 6 billion euros for three consecutive years, of which R&D investment in 2023 has increased significantly to 7.538 billion euros. Considering that the Chinese market is the largest single market for the BMW Group, in order to maintain its leading position in the Chinese market, BMW is comprehensively upgrading its R&D capabilities in China to meet China's needs with better Chinese R&D and enhance BMW's core competitiveness in the world.
It is worth mentioning that during this year's Beijing Auto Show, BMW also brought another innovation: the "BMW Bright Horse: 2024 BMW Exploration of the New Generation Concept Exhibition" will be held on the banks of the Liangma River in Beijing from April 25 to April 30. Thirty years ago, BMW Beijing was established on the banks of the Liangma River, and today, BMW is showcasing its vision for the future of mobility with a number of innovative products and achievements, promoting the development of China's automotive culture, and continuing to contribute to the high-quality development of China's automotive industry.
BMW's lineup at the Beijing Auto Show can be described as "shining stars", bringing not only a "cross-era electric luxury lineup", but also expressing its own electrification strategy and entering a new era. With the unveiling of many blockbuster new cars at the Beijing Auto Show and the debut of the full lineup of the 15 major car series of the two brands, BMW will continue to maintain high-quality development in the future.