BMW will spend more to keep green lead over Mercedes

Why not target the leader directly?

Correct. Lexus.

Who, Honda? Oh, BMW doesn't compete with them.

I think Mercedes has too big a lead right now. Their Bluetec technology is revolutionizing diesel production, and VW, Audi and BMW have all bought the rights to it. I don't see what else BMW can do to get a "lead" over Mercedes. And I have no idea how that can be measured!

Hydrogen ... state of the art paint facilities that are leading edge technology in Europe.

For those that dont know ... BMW has some of the most innvoative Production Facilities in the world. They are the most Green. Hybrids dont have anything on BMW and the Paint Facility in Spartenburg, SC... Did you know? BMW to Operate World’s First Green Paint Shop
(Friday, May 5th, 2006)
BMW to Operate World’s First Green Paint Shop

SPARTANBURG, S.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 5, 2006–BMW Manufacturing Co. announced today that it will use recycled methane gas generated by the Palmetto Landfill near Spartanburg to provide energy to its paint shop.

BMW is working with long-standing partner Durr Systems of Plymouth, Mich., to modify and upgrade equipment so landfill gas can be used to fuel the paint shop. Durr Systems specializes in developing and implementing energy performance projects in industrial facilities and is a partner in the Environmental Protections Agency’s (EPA) Landfill Methane Outreach Program, which helps businesses lower operating cots, protect the environment and build a sustainable future.

“BMW is the first automotive paint shop to integrate the use of landfill gas in its process equipment,” said Dave Ciuffoletti, Durr’s vice president of sales. “BMW should be congratulated for its environmental stewardship. By taking advantage of a renewable resource, BMW has truly become the world’s first green paint shop.”

BMW Manufacturing gained international recognition on June 20, 2002, when the automotive manufacturer first announced that a 9.5-mile pipeline has been constructed from the landfill to its facility to provide some of the plant’s energy needs. With today’s announcement, about half of BMW Manufacturing’s energy is now provided by this renewable resource, saving the company at least $1 million per year in energy costs.

BMW Manufacturing gained international recognition on June 20, 2002, when the automotive manufacturer first announced that a 9.5-mile pipeline has been constructed from the landfill to its facility to provide some of the plant’s energy needs. With today’s announcement, about half of BMW Manufacturing’s energy is now provided by this renewable resource, saving the company at least $1 million per year in energy costs.

By utilizing previously unused energy from landfill gas, BMW Manufacturing is reducing area emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, by approximately 17,000 tons and is recovering enough energy to heat 10,000 homes per year. The quantity of greenhouse gases reduced is the equivalent of driving a car around the globe 4,300 times, or more than 100 million miles.

Wednesday, January 24th, 2007)
SPARTANBURG, S.C., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Less than two weeks after being named 2006’s “Top Plant” by Plant Engineering magazine, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named BMW Manufacturing Co. LLC, and partner Durr Systems, Inc., as joint recipients of the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) “Energy Partner of the Year” award. The award was presented at today’s 10th Annual LMOP Conference and Project Expo in Baltimore.

The prestigious award was given to BMW Manufacturing and Durr in recognition of their achievements in implementing one of the most ambitious Landfill Gas to Energy Projects in North America — recycling landfill methane gas from the Palmetto Landfill to provide energy to BMW’s paint shop. Durr built the paint shop