BMW Claims Industry Will Change More In Next 10 Years Than In Last 100

BMW sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson warned that the marketplace for transportation is evolving at a far faster pace than only recently believed by the car industry, likening incumbent automakers to frogs in a pot slowly cooking to a boil.

“In our view the next 10 years are probably going to involve more change and more dynamics than we have seen in the last 100,” he told participants at Automotive News Europe’s annual congress here today. “The challenge for us as an industry is: Don’t enjoy the warm water, because it’s not going to end well.”

In particular, people’s reliance on smartphones to shop for clothes, buy food or book holidays with the ease of a click has affected every sector of the economy, pressuring brick-and-mortar retail everywhere. In the future, intelligent devices will form the center point for access to personal mobility, Robertson said.

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MDarringer - 6/8/2016 9:44:11 AM

+1 Boost

Bold prediction: BMW and Toyota will merge.

HenryN - 6/8/2016 11:30:25 AM

+1 Boost

Dealer network will cease to exist. Maybe time to learn a new trade MD.

MDarringer - 6/8/2016 11:45:01 AM

+2 Boost

People will still want to see and drive cars before they buy. HOW that looks in the future will morph from now, but my business ventures have nothing to do with me personally selling cars to customers.

MorePower - 6/9/2016 2:37:36 PM

+2 Boost

Fewer people will buy cars and will shift to Co-Op ride share ownership

Cars will move to electric propulsion, hydrogen fuel-cell will be a non-starter

All vehicles will prefer to drive themselves

Specialty vehicles will be driver based = low production

Station wagon will be phased out in favor of more profitable car based SUVs