BMW Goes On The Attack -- FWD, Four-Door Coupes, Expanding Into China

BMW Goes On The Attack -- FWD, Four-Door Coupes, Expanding Into China
With the automotive world undergoing significant change in a short period of time, some brands are not going to sit around and just take it. One of them is BMW, who appears to be aiming high.

Not only is the brand looking to create innovative models but it is ensuring that it continues to maintain and earn more market share.

BMW Chief Executive Officer, Norbert Reithofer, says “We have plenty of different ideas on how to win new customers."

Hm, what don't we know about, Reithofer?

For the full story, click "Read Article."


**Thanks to CS4444 for the tip

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world’s largest maker of luxury autos, will expand the BMW and Mini model ranges to boost annual sales 55 percent over the next decade and fend off Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG.

A new factory and expansion of existing facilities may be needed to underpin growth in the long run, Chief Executive Officer Norbert Reithofer said. BMW aims to sell more than 2 million vehicles by 2020 from 1.29 million last year.

“The big push in new models, entering new segments comes after 2012,” Reithofer said in an interview at the automaker’s Munich headquarters. “If I look forward to 2020, then we have to think about additional capacity....








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Read Article

911gt2911gt2 - 9/7/2010 1:17:13 PM
+6 Boost
"BMW shares have climbed 38 percent this year, outperforming Volkswagen’s 27 percent gain and Daimler’s 11 percent increase. The shares slipped 10 cents, or 0.2 percent, to 43.94 euros at the 5:30 p.m. close of trading in Frankfurt, valuing the carmaker at 28 billion euros ($35.6 billion)."

"The new 5-Series is sold out, and orders take two to three months to fill, Reithofer said. BMW is adding a third shift to the bodyshop of its Leipzig factory to meet demand for the X1 compact sport-utility vehicle, he said."

"The luxury carmaker is wary of putting too much weight on growth in China, where the economy has shown signs of cooling. The company’s sales plans in China are based on growth rates below the current level, Reithofer said."

"BMW’s sales in July jumped 82 percent in China, which has become the automaker’s third-biggest market after the U.S. and Germany. U.S. sales rose 10 percent in July, as the company claws back from the 25 percent drop suffered during the financial crisis."

“We need a balanced relationship” in terms of growth, Reithofer said. “The U.S. is a very key market.”


Sounds like things are going good at BMW!



dl767captaindl767captain - 9/7/2010 2:03:57 PM
-5 Boost
Going to FWD for some models might be a mistake, if they are all about the performance and handling of a car then they need to keep it RWD


bmwcsbmwcs - 9/7/2010 2:36:40 PM
+7 Boost
The Fwd will be used on their Compact cars and the mega city vehicle sub brand, to reduce the development costs for mini. Last time I checked the Mini is one of the best driving FWD cars around.


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 9/7/2010 4:49:02 PM
+4 Boost
it's not for current models, just new compact city cars as stated above.


AmericaAmerica - 9/7/2010 8:23:09 PM
+4 Boost
The front driver is likely for the fast expanding Chinese markets. BMW is not a dogmatic company that sits back saying "we have it all figured out and we aren't going to adapt to new challenges and opportunites". BMW is not the one that said they would never do front drive, they just did a great job of getting all of the benefits that rear drive offered.
Big difference.



JB007JB007 - 9/7/2010 2:08:10 PM
-2 Boost
Most BMW customers don't even know where the engine is located. Let alone whether or not the car is FWD or RWD.


carE10carE10 - 9/7/2010 2:32:33 PM
+4 Boost
"Most BMW customers don't even know where the engine is located."

I think that could be said for any brand.


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 9/7/2010 4:49:59 PM
+4 Boost
there are plenty of drivers who know little about their cars, but i think it's safe to say that BMW drivers tend to know a bit more than average.


S1000RRmanS1000RRman - 9/8/2010 9:13:34 AM
+3 Boost
Also most customers probably don't know how many cyclinders or valves their cars have, or the general engine configuration... but as someone else said, this isn't only true of BMW customers.


S1000RRmanS1000RRman - 9/8/2010 9:11:07 AM
+3 Boost
"He also plans to introduce new front-wheel-drive technology to the BMW brand, ending the nameplate’s exclusive association with rear-wheel powertrains, as the automaker expands its compact vehicle offerings."

This statement is not correct, RWD is not exclusive to BMW's, and BMW's do not use exclusively use RWD...
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