Latest news with #JochenGoller
TimesLIVE
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
BMW unveils a smart concept car with an amazing 18,000Nm of torque
BMW has presented its brawniest and brainiest prototype to date at Auto Shanghai in China, the world's biggest car show. Boasting an astonishing torque output of 18,000Nm, the BMW Vision Driving Experience (VDX) is a concept car that has been undergoing testing on roads and racetracks in recent months. It showcases technology to be featured in the German brand's next-generation Neue Klasse electric vehicles, including the new iX3 and 3 Series. It boasts a lightning-fast 'Heart of Joy' control computer, which works in conjunction with the BMW Dynamic Performance Control software stack to centrally calculate all driving dynamics functions. With this new super brain, the VDX converts the ultimate electric power into controlled driving pleasure, says BMW customer, brands and sales manager Jochen Goller. 'The first all-electric Neue Klasse vehicles will roll off the production line at the Debrecen plant in Hungary from the end of the year. The Heart of Joy central computer, which ensures a new level of precision and driving dynamics, will be fitted as standard in every Neue Klasse vehicle.' With its combined torque of up to 18,000Nm from four electric motors — one for each wheel — the VDX is described as the fastest test rig in the world. It's a mobile laboratory that pushes the Heart of Joy and BMW Dynamic Performance Control — both developed in-house by BMW — to their limits. With active aerodynamics, the concept car develops a downforce up to of 1.2 tonnes and lateral forces of up to 3G — on a par with Formula 1 and far beyond the requirements of regular road cars. BMW says that if the hardware and software can tame the brute forces of the test rig, they will easily cope with the demands of everyday use. The Heart of Joy is the central computer responsible for driving, braking, recharging through recuperation and some steering functions. It enables 98% of braking operations to be carried out using brake energy regeneration — a 25% increase in efficiency compared to today's architectures. The vehicle can also be brought to a standstill more smoothly than before. Though the VDX is only a test rig, BMW says its exterior is based on the design language of the Vision Neue Klasse with a monolithic-looking body, powerful wheel arches, recessed greenhouse and 'shark nose' front end. It has a new interpretation of the characteristic BMW radiator grille and twin headlights with a striking, three-dimensional light signature. For Auto Shanghai, the concept car, which had previously been covered in camouflage, was given an innovative self-illuminating paint finish. The paint has light-sensitive pigments that recharge in daylight. In the dark, the colour varies from a whitish yellow to an expressive neon yellow, depending on the state of charge.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BMW electric vehicle sales surge in Europe and US in Q1 2025
BMW Group has reported a 32.4% increase in its fully electric vehicles (EVs) sales in Q1 2025 compared to the same period previous year, indicating a growth in demand for its EV lineup. The overall deliveries for the group reached 586,149 vehicles in Q1 2025 ending 31 March, with key markets in Europe and the US experiencing growth of 6.2% and 4.0%, respectively. Excluding China, the company's growth stood at an impressive 5.9%. In the first quarter of 2025, BMW Group achieved a global total of 109,516 EV deliveries across its brands, including BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce models. This surge was particularly notable in Europe, where EV sales jumped by 64.2%. BMW board member Jochen Goller highlighted the success of the company's "technology-open strategy", with new fully electric Mini models being key drivers of this growth. In Europe, one in three Mini vehicles sold was fully electric, while in China, that proportion surpassed 50%. The BMW brand itself also saw an increase in the electric cars segment, with 520,142 units sold globally. Global sales of fully electric BMW vehicles grew by 9.9%, with 86,449 EVs delivered to customers between January and March. The company's M division, renowned for its high-performance vehicles, reported a 5.0% sales increase, driven by strong demand for models like the BMW M5 sedan and M3 sports car. The Mini brand also saw a contribution to the EV success, with a 4.1% increase in sales and 64,626 units sold worldwide. Fully electric vehicles accounted for 35.3% of all Mini sales in the first quarter of 2025. In 2025, BMW Group aims to reach a total of three million electrified vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) since the introduction of the BMW i3 and BMW i8. The company also aims to deliver 1.5 million fully-electric EV's (BEVs) to customers worldwide in this year. Goller added: 'The BMW Group's technology-open strategy is proving successful. Our products are winning over customers worldwide across all drive technologies, with positive momentum driven, in particular, by the new MINI models – especially the fully-electric variants. One in three MINIs sold in Europe and more than one out of every two sold in China were fully-electric.' "BMW electric vehicle sales surge in Europe and US in Q1 2025" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BMW's China sales drop to lowest level in five years at start of 2025
BMW saw its sales decline by 1.4% in the first three months of the year, delivering a total of 586,149 vehicles. While the car company sold more models in Europe, registering a 6.2% year-on-year jump, global sales were dragged down by China, which posted a 17.2% drop. This is the worst first-quarter figure recorded by the carmaker in China since 2020. In Germany, meanwhile, BMW sales were down 1.3%, while consumers in the Americas and the US bought more vehicles. In these regions, sales rose 5.4% and 4.1% respectively. BMW is struggling to compete with local competitors in China such as carmaker BYD, while demand in the country has also been hit by a property crisis and the subsequent economic fallout. Fellow European carmakers, such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, are suffering the same fate—taking a hit to their China sales. A bright spot for BMW was electric vehicle demand, which saw a 64.2% year-on-year rise in Europe. Globally, the carmaker delivered a total of 109,516 fully-electric BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles to customers worldwide in the first three months of the year, a 32.4% increase. 'One in three MINIs sold in Europe and more than one out of every two sold in China were fully-electric,' Jochen Goller, a member of BMW's Board of Management responsible for customer, brands, and sales, said in a statement. 'We are feeling confident, thanks to significant growth in new orders across all drive technologies, particularly in our domestic market of Germany,' added Goller. Success for BMW's EV models come as other carmakers are struggling with the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles. Companies in Europe complain of changing emissions targets, insufficient incentive schemes, competition from cheaper Chinese rivals, and a slower-than-expected rollout of charging infrastructure. Related European car sales dip in February, EVs pick up but Tesla sales tumble Why Trump's tariffs are a serious threat to the German car industry European firms that have watered down EV targets include Sweden's Volvo and Germany's Porsche. Thursday's announcement nonetheless gives a snapshot of BMW's fortunes before President Trump's auto tariff kicked in. The US president last week introduced a 25% levy on imported cars, while tariffs on auto parts are set to kick in on 3 May. BMW told the Wall Street Journal in March that it expects trade tensions between the US, China and European Union to hit its earnings by $1.1bn (€987m) this year. Carmakers will be faced with a choice: absorb the cost of sending cars to US consumers, pause shipments to the country, or move production to the US. The latter scenario may seem like music to the ears of the Trump administration, although experts doubt its feasibility. Trump's trade policies are currently so volatile that firms are nervous about uprooting operations based on tariffs that may change. A potential economic downturn, set to eat into business profits if investment and consumer spending slows, is a further deterrent. Sign in to access your portfolio
Euronews
10-04-2025
- Automotive
- Euronews
BMW's China sales drop to lowest level in five years at start of 2025
ADVERTISEMENT BMW saw its sales decline by 1.4% in the first three months of the year, delivering a total of 586,149 vehicles. While the car company sold more models in Europe, registering a 6.2% year-on-year jump, global sales were dragged down by China, which posted a 17.2% drop. This is the worst first-quarter figure recorded by the carmaker in China since 2020. In Germany, meanwhile, BMW sales were down 1.3%, while consumers in the Americas and the US bought more vehicles. In these regions, sales rose 5.4% and 4.1% respectively. BMW is struggling to compete with local competitors in China such as carmaker BYD, while demand in the country has also been hit by a property crisis and the subsequent economic fallout. Fellow European carmakers, such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, are suffering the same fate—taking a hit to their China sales. A bright spot for BMW was electric vehicle demand, which saw a 64.2% year-on-year rise in Europe. Globally, the carmaker delivered a total of 109,516 fully-electric BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles to customers worldwide in the first three months of the year, a 32.4% increase. 'One in three MINIs sold in Europe and more than one out of every two sold in China were fully-electric,' Jochen Goller, a member of BMW's Board of Management responsible for customer, brands, and sales, said in a statement. 'We are feeling confident, thanks to significant growth in new orders across all drive technologies, particularly in our domestic market of Germany,' added Goller. Success for BMW's EV models come as other carmakers are struggling with the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles. Companies in Europe complain of changing emissions targets, insufficient incentive schemes, competition from cheaper Chinese rivals, and a slower-than-expected rollout of charging infrastructure. Related European car sales dip in February, EVs pick up but Tesla sales tumble Why Trump's tariffs are a serious threat to the German car industry European firms that have watered down EV targets include Sweden's Volvo and Germany's Porsche. Thursday's announcement nonetheless gives a snapshot of BMW's fortunes before President Trump's auto tariff kicked in. The US president last week introduced a 25% levy on imported cars, while tariffs on auto parts are set to kick in on 3 May. BMW told the Wall Street Journal in March that it expects trade tensions between the US, China and European Union to hit its earnings by $1.1bn (€987m) this year. ADVERTISEMENT Carmakers will be faced with a choice: absorb the cost of sending cars to US consumers, pause shipments to the country, or move production to the US. The latter scenario may seem like music to the ears of the Trump administration, although experts doubt its feasibility. Trump's trade policies are currently so volatile that firms are nervous about uprooting operations based on tariffs that may change. A potential economic downturn, set to eat into business profits if investment and consumer spending slows, is a further deterrent.
