The survey, which quizzed the country’s largest fleet operators who between them run more than a million vehicles, saw the popular and high-seller 3 Series taking the second position, followed closely by the 5 Series (5th) and the MINI (8th).

The UK’s 50 largest fleet companies were asked to rate their most reliable vehicles and manufacturers among their combined fleet of 840,000 cars and 183,000 light commercials. While Honda took the crown in the Top 10 Most Reliable Cars, BMW Group wins in the Top 10 Most Reliable Car Manufacturers, a great recognition of their efforts to produce highly reliable cars, but still fun to drive.

The top table of the most reliable manufacturers confirms the widely-held belief that it is the German and Japanese who make the most dependable vehicles.

Top 10 Most Reliable Cars

1. Honda Civic
2. BMW 3 Series
3. Honda Jazz
4. Honda Accord
5. BMW 5 Series
6. Audi A4
7. Mercedes Benz C-Class
8. Mini
9. Toyota Avensis
10. Volkswagen Golf
Top 10 Most Reliable Car Manufacturers

1. BMW
2. Honda
3. Audi
4. Toyota
5. Volkswagen
6. Mercedes-Benz
7. Ford
8. Mazda
9. Nissan
10. Skoda

[Source: Fleet News ]

BMW Group’s success in reducing CO2 is thanks to its EfficientDynamics programme which incorporates a wide variety of fuel-saving and emissions-reducing measures across the whole vehicle range as standard. Many of its competitors sell fuel efficiency packages as options.

EfficientDynamics technology includes Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration and Active Aerodynamics, amongst a wide range of other features. This technology gives BMW and MINI owners outstanding fuel economy and low emissions without forsaking driving enjoyment. The result is the reduction of BMW Group’s average vehicle emissions in 2008 to 154g/km, down 10.2 per cent from 172g/km in 2007. With the introduction of further efficient BMWs in 2009 this figure is expected to drop again.

GreenFleet Awards success for BMW
As further recognition of the class-leading position BMW Group vehicles command courtesy of EfficientDynamics technologies, the marque has scooped two more prestigious awards. The UK fleet industry presented the BMW Group with Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year and the Industry Innovation Award.

The former award was bestowed in recognition of the car manufacturer that had shown the greatest improvement in CO2 emissions, had expanded its range of low emission vehicles or offered alternative fuel vehicles. It is the second year in a row that the BMW Group has been award top honours in this category. The Industry Innovation Award was presented to the BMW Group because it had introduced new technologies that had such a significant impact on fuel consumption and emissions.

Most sustainable car company in the world
BMW has also been named the “Most sustainable car company in the world” in the latest Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the fifth year in a row. Since its inception in 1999 BMW is the only automotive organisation to have featured every year on the index.

This is the latest accolade in a string of environmental awards, most recently including Green Sports car and Executive car of the year awards at the What Car? Green Awards, Green Initiative and Manufacturer of the year at the BusinessCar Awards 2009 and the Special Editor’s Award for EfficientDynamics technologies at the Auto Express New Car Honours.

[Source: BMW]

Third-quarter revenues decreased to euro 11,759 million (third quarter 2008: euro 12,588 million). The Group reports a profit before financial result (EBIT) of euro 55 million (third quarter 2008: euro 387 million) and a profit before tax of euro 126 million (third quarter 2008: euro 279 million). Revenues for the nine-month period decreased to euro 36,239 million (first nine months 2008: euro 40,425 million). EBIT amounted to euro 169 million (first nine months 2008: euro 1,639 million) and the profit before tax to euro 79 million (first nine months 2008: euro 1,522 million). The profit after tax was euro 47 million (first nine months 2008: euro 1,292 million).

During the period from July to September, the automobile industry in its main sales markets was again confronted with reduced consumer spending and with intense market competition amidst unfavourable business conditions. The BMW Group was unable to avoid the effects of these developments.

The BMW Group, however, continues to benefit from having reacted quickly to the global financial and economic crisis by putting a wide range of measures into place at an early stage. As a result, the BMW Group has been able to improve its cost structures continually over the course of the year. A whole range of efficiency improvement measures are being implemented at great pace on both the cost and the revenues side to offset the impact of adverse market conditions.

Automobiles segment aiming to achieve positive free cash flow in 2009

As a result of the stabilisation of conditions on the automobile and capital markets as well the effect of transferring the second tranche of German pension obligations to an external fund under a Contractual Trust Arrangement (CTA), liquid funds decreased to euro 9,899 million at30 September 2009 (30 June 2009: euro 11,898 million). The BMW Group is steering towards a target of approximately euro 9 billion for the year-end. Free cash flow generated by the Automobiles segment in the third quarter 2009 was reduced by approximately euro 1.9 billion by the funding of pension obligations and investments in marketable securities. Adjusted for this effect, free cash flow would have only just been negative (minus euro 99 million) as a result of a small increase in net working capital. The adjusted free cash flow for the nine-month period was positive at euro 417 million. On the basis of this adjustment, the aim is to achieve a positive free cash flow for the full year as well.

Sales volume decrease of 10% to 15% expected for the full year 2009

Based on the sales volume growth in September 2009, the BMW Group should be able to record increases for the remaining months of the year. This will be enhanced by the new BMW X1 and 5 Series Gran Turismo models added to the model range at the end of October, which are arousing much interest amongst customers. Overall, the company expects that the sales volume decrease for the full year will be within a corridor of between 10% and 15%. “It is still too early to give the all-clear for the world’s automobile markets“, stressed Reithofer.

The BMW Group is cautiously optimistic about its outlook for 2010: “We expect that the markets will make a gradual recovery over the coming year”, continued Reithofer. The BMW X1 and BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo should provide good momentum. This trend will be fuelled further between 2010 and 2012 when the new versions of high-selling models come onto the markets. The aim for 2012 in the Automobiles segment is still to achieve a return of sales (EBIT) of between 8% and 10% and a return on capital employed (RoCE) of more than 26%.

Weak economy takes toll on Automobiles segment earnings

The pace of sales volume decrease continued to slow in the third quarter compared to the preceding quarter. The total number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles delivered to customers in the period from July to September decreased by 7.2% to 324,100 units (third quarter 2008: 349,098 units). Sales of BMW brand cars dropped by 9.2% to 263,864 units (third quarter 2008: 290,661 units). The number of MINI brand cars sold increased by 3.4% to 60,104 units (third quarter 2008: 58,105 units). A total of 132 Rolls-Royce brand vehicles was sold during the third quarter 2009 (third quarter 2008: 332 units / -60.2%).

939,554 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand cars were delivered to customers in the period from January to September 2009 (first nine months 2008: 1,113,972 units / -15.7%). Sales of BMW brand cars dropped by 16.2% to 777,455 units (first nine months 2008: 928,230 units). The number of MINI brand cars sold was 12.6% down at 161,638 units (first nine months 2008: 184,915 units). 461 Rolls-Royce brand vehicles were sold during the period (first nine months 2008: 827 units / -44.3%).

Third-quarter revenues and earnings of the Automobiles segment were adversely affected by the sales volume decline caused by the global economic crisis and by intense market competition in the automobile sector. The segment reports a negative EBIT of euro 76 million (third quarter 2008: positive EBIT of euro 141 million) and a loss before tax of euro 154 million (third quarter 2008: profit before tax of euro 18 million). Revenues declined to euro 10,178 million for the quarter (third quarter 2008: euro 11,113 million) and to euro 30,610 million for the nine-month period (first nine months 2008: euro 37,029 million). The segment reports a negative EBIT of euro 358 million (first nine months 2008: positive EBIT of euro 1,155 million) and a loss before tax of euro 783 million (first nine months 2008: profit before tax of euro 882 million).

BMW Motorrad records volume decline in third quarter

The third-quarter performance of the Motorcycles segment was also dominated by difficult market conditions worldwide. 22,741 motorcycles (third quarter 2008: 24,818) were sold during the three month period, 8.4% fewer than one year earlier. Revenues decreased to euro 239 million (third quarter 2008: euro 271 million). The Motorcycles segment reports a negative EBIT of euro 3 million (third quarter 2008: negative EBIT of euro 5 million) and a loss before tax of euro 5 million (third quarter 2008: loss before tax of euro 7 million). The number of motorcycles sold during the first nine months of the year decreased to 69,715 units (first nine months 2008: 80,750 units / -13.7%). Segment revenues fell to euro 865 million (first nine months 2008: euro 1,008 million), while EBIT dropped to euro 51 million (first nine months 2008: euro 87 million). The profit before tax amounted to euro 45 million (first nine months 2008: euro 80 million).

Financial Services segment performs well

The Financial Services segment performed well during the reporting period in the midst of unfavourable business conditions. Third-quarter segment revenues fell to euro 3,831 million (third quarter 2008: euro 4,084 million). The profit before tax improved to euro 94 million (third quarter 2008: loss before tax of euro 17 million). Nine-month revenues totalled euro 12,058 million (first nine months 2008: euro 11,818 million) and the profit before tax was euro 247 million (first nine months 2008: euro 131 million).

Compared to 31 December 2008, the segment’s business volume in balance sheet terms decreased by 2.6% to euro 59,055 million. At 30 September 2009, the Financial Services segment was managing a worldwide portfolio of 3,053,166 lease contracts, up by 2.8%. The weak state of the global economy took its toll on credit financing and leasing business volumes. The number of new contracts signed worldwide with retail customers fell by 18.3% to 752,257 units for the nine-month period. Lease contracts accounted for 28.9% of total new business, 5.4 percentage points lower than in the corresponding period last year. Credit financing contracts accounted for 71.1% of new business. The proportion of new cars of the BMW Group financed or leased by the Financial Services segment was 48.9%, 0.9 percentage points higher than the proportion recorded one year earlier.

The total volume of all new credit and leasing contracts signed with retail customers during the nine-month period under report amounted to euro 18,334 million, 18.0% down on the corresponding period year.

The risk profile with respect to residual value and credit risks was unchanged compared to the first half of the year. As before, the positive and negative effects on the risk provision offset each other. No additional expense was required to be recognised for unforeseen risk provision.

Workforce reduced

The number of employees decreased during the period under report. The BMW Group workforce comprised 98,358 employees worldwide at the end of the third quarter (September 30, 2008: 103,850 employees). This corresponds to a reduction of 5.3%. Natural fluctuation, pre-retirement part-time working arrangements and voluntary employment contract termination agreements are used in managing the size of the workforce.

At the same time, however, the BMW Group continues to recruit specialists in a number of areas, particularly in the field of research and development. In addition, even during difficult economic times, the BMW Group is showing responsibility in the area of training: 1,118 apprentices were taken on in 2009, 1,080 of them in Germany.

BMW already cooperates with the French company PSA in developing engines for the MINIs, the 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter engines which are used in the Peugeot 207 and 308 and in the Citroen C4 and C4 Picasso.

Quoting PSA CEO, Phillipe Varin, AutoNews reports PSA Group aims to deepen ties with BMW Group. Varin said he is talking with BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer about cooperation in areas such as purchasing and components including transmissions and climate control systems.

Varin said PSA could provide BMW a new fuel-efficient three-cylinder engine for its upcoming efficient vehicles. The French carmaker aims to introduce the 3 cylinder engine in 2011. In exchange, PSA could buy larger engines from BMW.

To extend the cooperation, Varin has gone a step further in discussing a plan of co-purchasing transmissions and HVAC units.

Past rumors also revolved around the idea of a future 1 Series model powered by four-cylinder bangers produced by PSA, but no further information were released at this time.

[Source: AutoNews ]

“BMW (BMWG.DE) became the first major blue chip German company to link the bonuses of its top managers to those of its assembly line workers, amid growing global criticism of executive compensation. The move sends a strong message to other firms also examining their compensation practices, as the world’s largest banks in particular have come under fire from politicians, shareholders and the public over excessive bonuses during one of the worst economic crises the world has seen.

BMW plans to tie executive bonuses to those of its blue-collar workers, in a bid to create a fairer and sustainable compensation environment within the company. Starting in 2010, the company will use a common formula to ascertain and award bonuses to its upper and lower level employees, based on the company’s performance as measured by profit, sales and other factors. That means that upper level management could potentially lose more money than their lower level counterparts for bad performance, BMW said.

A spokesman for BMW said the company’s goal was to create fair and transparent compensation practices and to prevent a gap between management and the workers, as the under class, from developing. “We don’t just want to build sustainable cars. We also want to have sustainable personnel politics. We think this is good for the company culture,” the spokesman told SPIEGEL ONLINE. He declined to be more specific on how the formula will work.”

Full Article on BusinessWeek

BMW is the second-bestselling German luxury car brand in China with Audi being the leader in the Chinese car luxury market. In September, BMW/MINI sold 8,131 units in china, Audi reported 15,000 and Mercedes-Benz around 7,000 units.

Based on the official numbers, China leads the world as the top market for the BMW X6, with about 4,500 units sold this year.

Some BMW 3 and 5 Series models are produced in China already due to a joint venture between BMW and Brilliance China Auto. Rumors say that 1 Series production line might become available in China as well.

The new BMW 760Li and 5 Series GT premium luxury cars are heading for China where the demand for high-end cars remains large.

Thanks for the tip Taylor!

The jobs, which are being filled by BMW’s contract agencies MAU Inc. and Tier One Solutions and it shows the first sign of a turnaround since the economic crisis hit most of the auto makers. The first new 10-hour shift began Friday while the second 10-hour Friday shift will commence next month. The staffing agencies initially contacted people who had previously worked at BMW to see if they could return to the plant for the 10-hour shifts. The positions are in production and logistics.

“We’ve seen a little pickup recently in ordering across our entire system,” BMW spokesman Bobby Hitt said. “We don’t know why, but we’re taking this as a good sign. And we’re responding to it.”

According to GreenvilleOnline, candidates must have a one-year stable work history and a GED or high school diploma. MAU also is looking for either experience in manufacturing production or manufacturing logistics. The jobs will pay $13 to $14 an hour and benefits are offered.

With more than 5,000 employees in the area, BMW’s increase in workforce will stimulate the hiring process at its suppliers as well. It’s expected to see an increase in hiring in order to keep up with BMW’s demand.

In 2008 and earlier this year, about 900 contract workers were laid off when sales took a dive. BMW’s worldwide sales were up 0.7 percent in September, this was the first month in 2009 when BMW saw an increase in its sales numbers.

BMW has nearly completed the plant expansion, a $750 million project that includes a new assembly building, new paint shop and a new refurbished body shop.

[Source: GreenvilleOnline ]

From 2010, BMW’s Landshut plant will boast the world’s first foundry with emission-free sand core production. The light-alloy foundry at the BMW plant is introducing a new sand core production method for gravity die-casting, whereby conventional organic binders will be replaced by highly eco-friendly inorganic binders, which generate virtually no pollutant emissions. The introduction of this innovative production method will allow the light-alloy foundry to reduce its emissions of combustion residues by 98 per cent. The plant will completely decommission its current waste air treatment systems by 2010.

The Landshut light-alloy foundry’s approximately 1,300 employees currently produce around 1.8 million aluminium and magnesium castings a year, with a total weight of 45,000 tonnes. The product range includes engine components such as cylinder heads and crankcases, structural components and chassis parts such as suspension strut supports, tailgate frames, corner castings and casting nodes for the front and rear axle.

Approximately half the castings produced are gravity die-cast using sand cores. The light-alloy foundry uses some 120 tonnes of sand daily in sand core production. 90 per cent of this volume is recycled. Following an initial pilot operation phase, the BMW Group is now poised to become the world’s first manufacturer to use inorganic sand cores in volume production of all engine core components. The inorganic binders used are based on water-soluble alkali silicates (i.e. a water/silica sand solution), resulting in significantly reduced resource consumption.

“Inorganic sand core production positions us at the forefront of the foundry industry,” says Dr Wolfgang Blümlhuber, head of the light-alloy foundry. “We see inorganic sand core production as key to competitive operation, particularly in highly industrialized countries with stringent environmental regulations, where manufacturing costs are correspondingly high.”

The light-alloy foundry first introduced this reduced-emission production process for use in the manufacturing of aluminium crankcases and cylinder heads for six-cylinder diesel engines. Now inorganic sand core production is gradually being extended to the foundry’s entire product range.

In addition to the environmental aspect, the process also has economic and ergonomic benefits. The strength of the resulting light-alloy components is enhanced by the improved, faster solidification of the liquid aluminium during the casting process, as it cools from a temperature of approximately 750º C. The BMW Group is using this light-but-strong design potential as a way of producing energy-saving, fuel-efficient engines capable of higher peak cylinder pressures and increased power density.

The Landshut light-alloy foundry’s employees benefit as well, due to substantially enhanced working conditions. Until now, the casting tools had to be blasted with dry ice after every use in order to remove combustion residues. This energy-intensive process can now be dispensed with.

To accompany the introduction of inorganic sand core production, the light-alloy foundry developed new core shooting tools and equipment. The casting equipment has become less complex, since the previously required venting systems can be dispensed with. At the same time, the cooling intensity during the casting process can be increased, thus reducing manufacturing cycle times by around 10 per cent. The simulation technology used in the process and tool development was developed at the BMW Landshut plant too.

“We will be able to fully amortise the investment in tools and equipment, along with our development costs, in the space of just a few years at most thanks to increased productivity, and thanks to savings on tool maintenance, tool and workshop air extraction systems and waste air treatment systems,” says Dr Wolfgang Blümlhuber, head of the BMW light-alloy foundry. Specifically, the productivity increase works out at around 10 per cent. Tool maintenance costs will be reduced by half.

[Source: BMW ]

Germany, California, Germany, and back to California again: Laurenz Schaffer, Director of the Munich Studio of BMW Group DesignworksUSA since the year 2000, will be taking over the position of the President of BMW’s Subsidiary in Newbury Park (Los Angeles) in California on 1 December 2009.

“With his many years of experience in numerous areas of design, Laurenz Schaffer has made a significant contribution in recent years to strengthening DesignworksUSA as an international driving force in BMW Group Design and in making the Studio an appealing partner also for external customers. The success of our concept of inter-acting, interdisciplinary transfer of know-how to the mutual benefit of both the BMW Group and external clients of Designworks is largely attributable to Laurenz Schaffer,” states Adrian van Hooydonk, Director BMW Group Design. “Working for our brands BMW and MINI and for companies such as Siemens, HEAD, Sony or Starbucks, he and his team in Munich have consistently paved the way for innovative products and strategies.”

Schaffer, born in 1967, first worked as a product designer with renowned design studios in Stuttgart, Munich, and San Francisco, before joining the Munich Studio of BMW Group DesignworksUSA in 1998. In the year 2000 he took over management of the Munich Studio.From the start, Laurenz Schaffer was fascinated by the concept of this unique Subsidiary which, with studios in California, Munich and Singapore, has acquired international renown in the world of design. “As an external studio, we are able in cooperation with the BMW Group and its brands and with customers outside of the company, to acquire know-how in many different areas. This benefits both sides”, says Schaffer.

In his new function Laurenz Schaffer will focus in particular on the ongoing development of DesignworksUSA as an international agency for strategic design, for product, automotive and transport design, and as a specialist in brand strategy.

DesignworksUSA was established in 1972 by design legend Chuck Pelly and was taken over by BMW in 1995. Today DesignworksUSA comes under the responsibility of BMW Group Chief Designer Adrian van Hooydonk, who himself was the President of this BMW Subsidiary in California from 2001 – 2004.

At DesignworksUSA, designers, engineers, multi-media specialists and model builders form an international team of more than 135 specialists developing the interior of business jets and yachts, mobile telephones, sports equipment, medical/technical equipment, entertainment electronics as well as solutions for graphic and interface design on behalf of customers such as Embraer, Hewlett Packard, and Microsoft.

Laurenz Schaffer is succeeding Verena Kloos as the President of DesignworksUSA in California, who had been in charge of the company since September 2004. Kloos who, after working for Volkswagen, Mazda and DaimlerChrysler Advanced Design, joined BMW and DesignworksUSA, will be responsible from now on in Munich at BMW Group Design for the Department of Context Design and Advanced Development.

Starting on 1 November 2009, Niko von Saurma-Jeltsch will be taking over the Munich Studio. Until 2008, von Saurma-Jeltsch was the successful President of the newly established DesignworksUSA Studio in Singapore, after which he given responsibility for design strategy in Munich.

[Source: BMW ]

The new Harman system is multimedia driven and will offer a sophisticated set of features including 3-D navigation, brilliant graphics, Internet access, and wired or wireless connectivity for all passengers. A hard disc drive will provide rich navigation data and will accommodate the user’s personal entertainment files for increased flexibility and comfort.

The new system will utilize Harman’s energy-saving GreenEdge™ technology to deliver exceptional performance without compromise while reducing weight and power consumption.

“We are honored by BMW’s continued confidence in Harman automotive infotainment systems and we look forward to delighting new BMW drivers with next-generation solutions,” said Dinesh C. Paliwal, Harman’s Chairman, President and CEO. “This new award underscores the success of previous project launches, and follows a similar win from Daimler for its Mercedes models which we announced last week. New projects awarded during the last two months exceed $2 billion, the majority of which came from Daimler and BMW. With these new wins, Harman’s total awarded business exceeds $10 billion, approximately five times our automotive revenue during FY2009.”

“Our energy-efficient GreenEdge systems were developed in response to customer expectations for high performance combined with efficiency and we are pleased that BMW will be among the first to offer these systems to its customers,” added Dr. Klaus Blickle, CEO and President of the Harman International Automotive Division.

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing: “For the first time this year we were able to increase our sales volume slightly in September. Provided there are no economic setbacks, we should continue to make gains throughout the remaining months of the year: Not least thanks to the new BMW models X1 and 5 Series Gran Turismo, which will join our model range in late October and are already being extremely well received.”  Robertson added: “There is a good chance that we will end this year with a moderate decrease in sales of only 10 to 15 percent from 2008 levels, despite difficult economic conditions overall.”

The BMW brand recorded 97,545 deliveries in September – almost matching sales for the same month last year (98,744 / -1.2%). The BMW 1 Series (22,145 units / +3.0%) made gains in the month under review, and deliveries of the BMW 3 Series sedan (20,184 / +4.2%) and the BMW 3 Series Touring (8,100 / +9.3%) also increased substantially. The BMW 7 Series (4,336 / +51.1%) and the BMW Z4 Roadster (3,019 / +124.8%) reported particularly strong growth. Both models established a clear lead in their vehicle class in the key German domestic market within just a few months of their launch. The BMW 5 Series also performed well in September: Global deliveries were on previous year’s level at 14,773 units (prev. yr. 14,749 / +0.2%). Between January and the end of September a total of 777,455 BMW automobiles were sold (prev. yr. 928,230 /-16.2%).

Global deliveries of the MINI brand climbed 9.5% to 24,759 units (prev. yr. 22,619) in the month under review. In particular, the new MINI Convertible (3,870 units / +232.2%) launched in late March and the MINI One, available in Hatch and Clubman versions (5,534 units / +60.4%), boosted sales of the premium compact car brand in September. A total of 161,638 MINI cars were delivered to customers in the year to the end of September (prev. yr. 184,915 / -12.6%).

The BMW Group’s positive sales result for September was bolstered by gains in many markets. For instance, sales increased in Europe’s major volume markets, such as the UK, (24,590 / +1.1%), France (6,817 / +3.0%), Italy (7,678 / +2.1%) and Spain (3,996 / +7.6%). In September the emerging markets of Brazil (685 / + 132.2%), India (433 / +47.3%) and China (8,131 / +35.4%) once again enjoyed the strongest growth rates. China is now the BMW Group’s fourth largest single market after Germany, the US and the UK. Growth rates in South Korea (1,050 / +36.5%), Australia (1,989 / +34.3%) and Canada (2,742 / +36.5%) were also well over 30 percent. In the US, both the BMW (+2.1%) and MINI (+9.7%) brands were able to make substantial gains against the prevailing market trend. The BMW Group delivered a total of 19,175 (prev. yr. 18,506 / +3.6%) vehicles to customers here last month.

The Rolls-Royce brand sold 50 automobiles (prev. yr. 129 / -61.2%) in the month under review; 461 (prev.yr. 827 / -44.3%) vehicles were delivered to customers around the world for the year to the end of September. Ian Robertson: “Final preparations for the launch of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost are well underway. The 2010 order intake is very encouraging.”

In September BMW Motorrad sold 7,715 (prev. yr. 7,802 / -1.1%) motorcycles worldwide. For the year to the end of September, 69,715 (prev. yr. 80,750 / -13.7%) motorcycles were delivered to customers.

This will allow production capacity to be increased in the long term from 60,000 to 87,000 units a year. In addition, around 1,100 employees will undergo further training within an 18-month advanced training programme to carry out production and business management tasks, and will acquire a nationally recognised certificate.

“This investment is a clear sign of the BMW Group’s commitment to South Africa as a location and of its confidence in the growth of this economic region. In the current difficult economic situation in particular, we are standing by our belief in a corporate policy based on sustainability. We are providing a stimulus for further market development, to secure jobs and to strengthen the country of South Africa”, Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, emphasised in Munich.

The BMW Group has a long tradition of commitment to South Africa. The company has been represented there since 1968. The Rosslyn plant – the company’s first production plant outside Germany – was founded there in 1975. Today, BMW 3 Series vehicles are produced here for the local market and for export to the USA, Canada, sub-Saharan Africa, Japan, South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. BMW South Africa employs around 2,500 people, with another 40,000 or so jobs provided in retail and service operations and the supplier industry associated with the company’s activities.

BMW Brand Sales
Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 2.1 percent in September for a total of 15,047 vehicles compared to 14,744 vehicles reported in the same month a year ago driven by strong passenger car sales. BMW’s sports activity vehicles saw a decline compared to last year in part due to limited inventory of the X5 after the better than expected Advanced Diesel X5 model sales volume. Year-to-date, BMW brand sales were down 26.3 percent to 144,223 vehicles compared to 195,633 vehicles sold in the same period of 2008.

“For now, we’ll take this first small bit of good news but the premium segment is not out of the woods yet as consumers keep on reacting cautiously to the mixed signals in the economy,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. “For BMW, we expect the bumpy road to continue into next quarter in advance of 2010, when we see consumer confidence improving and a major launch of new BMW products start to hit the market.”

BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO)
In September, dealers continued to see good interest in pre-owned vehicles. Sales of BMW’s Certified Pre-Owned vehicles increased 4.2 percent, to 8,033 CPO vehicles versus 7,707 vehicles reported in September a year ago.  Year-to-date, CPO sales were up 9.6 percent, to 84,515 over the 77,144 reported in the same period of 2008.

MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA reported sales of 4,128 automobiles an increase of 9.7% compared to 3,762 cars reported in the same month a year ago.   Year-to-date, MINI USA also reported sales of 34,996 automobiles, a decrease of 14 percent, compared to the 40,694 cars reported in the first nine months of 2008.

“September was another unique ‘out of wack’ month as many dealers reported fewer shoppers and tire-kickers after the end of the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President MINI USA. “MINI has been fortunate to counter this climate with higher sales compared to last September and serious buyers helping the brand to continuously increase its market share.”

[Source: BMW ]

Ever dreamt of having the same performance in your 330i E46 like the awesome new “bi-turbo” 6-cylinder from BMW? Stop dreaming. The G-POWER SK Plus NG supercharger system pushes the output of the BMW 330i E46 and Z4 3.0i from stock 231 hp to the level of the current 335i E90: 306 hp.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary G-POWER is offering 25 unites of the G-POWER SK Plus NG supercharger systems for a special price: 3.320,00 Euro.

Do-it-yourself supercharger system G-POWER SK Plus NG for BMW 330i E46 and Z4 E85

• 306 hp/360 Nm for BMW 330i E46 and Z4 3.0i
• Significant output increase of 75 hp and 60 Nm torque
• Supercharger coming from the well-known German brand ASA in OEM quality
• Installation without irremovable modifications to your car
• Easy DIY installation thanks to detailed step-by-step installation manual

The “NG” in the name of the G-POWER SK Plus NG supercharger system is standing for “next generation” and it indicates that the G-POWER SK Plus supercharger system features a complete reworked ASA T3-12 supercharger from the year 2009 on. Thanks to a redesigned supercharger transmission with improved tooth flanks and a modified shaft sealing, the originally for 0,3 bar rel. boost designed ASA T3-12 supercharger is now capable of 0,4 bar rel.

With the G-POWER supercharger system the 231 hp strong “old” 3.0l 6-cylinder M54 engine achieves the same output figures as the current bi-turbo engine, exactly 306 hp. Accordingly the performance figures improve likewise, so that the older version of the BMW 3 series and Z4 for are actually quicker than the current models due to there better power-to-weight ratio.

The G-POWER SK Plus supercharger system for BMW 330i E46 and Z4 3.0i is delivered with TÜV certification (which makes it street legal in Germany). G-POWER supercharged engines feature the unrestricted everyday practicability of the factory engine, combined with an improved specific consumption and the BMW-typical reliability.

According to Frank-Peter Arndt, BMW production boss, at least 620,612 vehicles would be produced.

Back in the summer, BMW started the shorter workers’ hours programs which have ended as of September. At the same time, most likely due to the upcoming new models, BMW has hired between 200 and 300 part-time workers at both its Leipzig and Munich works.Herr Arndt also said at its Spartanburg, South Carolina production facility BMW would add shifts.

One again, it has been confirmed that the Chinese automobile market still shows a strong demand for BMW vehicles. He also told the magazine demand for the company’s X5 and X6 SUV models was higher than the company’s output at the moment.

[Source: APNews ]

Magna, which is headquartered in Canada, it is currently a “’significant supplier”‘ to BMW’s Spartanburg facility and also its subsidiary Magna Steyr was responsible for the assembling of the first generation BMW X3 at its plant in Austria.

Quoting The Globe and Mail, “The average BMW 3-series car that rolls off the line carries $5,000 worth of Magna parts. The X3 contains $2,500 worth of Magna content.”

In a statement released to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, BMW’s head of production Frank-Peter Arndt said it generally was a problem when a supplier became a competitor.

“Magna would be well advised to clearly separate the two businesses. If we saw a conflict of interest we would react”.

At the Frankfurt Auto Show, BMW chief financial officer Friedrich Eichiner said:

“Magna has always been a strong supplier to us,” Mr. Eichiner said.

“However, with Magna acquiring control of Opel, this creates a new situation which we will have to assess. We will not put into question any running contracts with Magna. But where we see conflicts of interest, when it involves innovative technologies, such as new [drive train] technologies, this of course could create a conflict of interest in the future.”

BMW is Magna’s second biggest customer after General Motors. BMW generated 19 per cent of Magna’s $23.7-billion in sales last year.

There are also unconfirmed reports that a future MINI model will be built at the Magna Steyr Graz(Austria) plant.

[Source: The Globe and Mail | AutomotiveNews (sub. required) ]

The new generation 3 Series will be equipped with four cylinder engines, both gasoline and diesel. BMW is also considering similar engines in the X1 and X3 SAVs, along with the 1 Series line-up.

The more efficient engines will allow BMWNA to comply with the strict federal regulations to be implemented by 2015.

If the decision stands, this is great news for BMW customers and having more options in choosing more efficient engines, can only be beneficial.

Here is an excerpt from the Automotive News article(Subscription might be required)

FRANKFURT — BMW plans to offer four-cylinder gasoline engines in the United States in an effort to meet stricter fuel economy rules. Introduction of the powerplants, equipped with the automaker’s next-generation twin turbochargers, “is the goal and we will do it,” Jim O’Donnell, CEO of BMW of North America, said today on the sidelines of the Frankfurt auto show. O’Donnell said the engines will allow the automaker to reach U.S. targets before 2015. Under federal guidelines proposed today, automakers will have to improve the fuel economy of their fleets by 5 percent annually before a national standard of 35.5 mpg takes effect in the 2016 model year. BMW will add a four-cylinder variant for its next 3 series in the United States by spring 2012, O’Donnell said. The automaker already equips its European 3 series with four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines. BMW also is considering adding four-cylinder gasoline engines to its X1 and X3 crossovers and 1-series model in the United States. In Europe, the X1 will be available with a four-cylinder, twin-turbo diesel engine when it launches this fall. The X3 and 1 series also are offered with four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines in Europe. “We see potentially a significant market that could get to 100,000 four-cylinder engines” in the United States, O’Donne said.

The1.5 millionth vehicle, driven in the ceremony by Associate Eileen Huffman, is a 2009 Monaco Blue BMW X6 xDrive 35i with oyster interior. The vehicle is right-hand drive and has been ordered by a customer in Hong Kong.

In addition to remarks by South Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce, Joe Taylor; Sky Foster and Ryan Childers, the BMW associates that presented the Spartanburg factory’s first vehicle to the world in September 1994 also reflected on their 15 years with BMW Manufacturing.

“Today’s events represent a significant milestone for BMW, emphasizing both BMW’s commitment to the US market and its confidence in the future,” stated Josef Kerscher, President of BMW Manufacturing. “We are very proud of the positive impact this BMW plant has delivered for this area and the quality of the vehicles that our associates produce for world markets each day.”

BMW announced their plans to build the first factory outside of Germany in June of 1992. Construction on the plant began in 1993 and the first vehicle rolled off the line in September 1994. Since then, BMW has produced 5 different vehicles and their variants, the BMW 318i, the Z3 and Z4 roadsters, the BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle and the X6 Sports Activity Coupe. BMW has expanded the plant 5 times, including the current $750 million expansion to add 1.5 million square feet. Following this most recent expansion, the plant will be 4.0 million square feet.

To date, BMW has invested $4.2 billion in South Carolina and employs about 5,000 people including contractors at the plant. According to the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business, who conducted an economic impact study on the plant in 2008, BMW’s South Carolina factory supports 23,050 jobs and generates $1.2 billion in wages and salaries annually within the state. In addition, the total economic output associated with BMW’s annual economic activities is more than $8.8 billion in South Carolina.

Other significant milestones in the plant’s history include:
* Landfill Methane Gas Program – originally launched in 2003, infrastructure was installed at the nearby Palmetto landfill to collect, clean and compress methane gas and transport it through a 9.5 mile pipeline to the BMW plant. In 2009, BMW replaced the original 4 turbines with 2 new highly efficient turbines. The new turbines will increase the electrical output from 14% up to almost 30%. Currently, over 60% of the plant’s total energy requirements are provided by methane gas.

* Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) – In 2003, BMW pledged $10 million to Clemson to endow professorships in the graduate automotive engineering program and under the Research Centers of Excellence Act, the state of South Carolina matched the pledge, generating $20 million for the school. In keeping with BMW’s original vision, the research and development being carried out at CU-ICAR today is laying the foundation for tomorrow’s next big discovery.

* The BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament – now headed into its 10th year, has raised more than $7.3 million for over 125 Upstate and Western NC charities

As BMW Manufacturing looks to the future, the plant in Spartanburg will begin production of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6, BMW’s first hybrid vehicle, later this year and finalization of the $750 million expansion to build the next generation BMW X3 is well underway. BMW in Spartanburg, SC currently employs 5,000 people including contractors and produces 500-600 vehicles per day.

[Source: BMW ]

Mr. O’Donnell indicated that the diesel vehicles are better suited to some of the larger models than the hybrid or electric powertrains. He also stated that the diesels fit BMW’s performance image better than the other options.

Since the beginning of this year, BMWUSA sold over 2,600 diesel vehicles, 335d and X5d.

The $4,500 Eco-Credit has also helped boost the sales for the two diesel offerings with most of the dealers running out of 3 Series diesel sedans.

As far as future plans, BMW is hoping for 10%-20% diesel penetration in U.S and also the introduction of new diesel vehicles on the market. The one mentioned by Mr. O’Donnell was a diesel variant of the next generation 5 Series due to launch next year.

While we’re big fans of the existing diesel offerings here in the U.S., we are still more excited about the four cylinder diesel powerplants that are very popular amongst European buyers. It has been rumored for years now that the powerful four cylinder turbocharged diesel will come to the U.S., but unfortunately no official confirmation has ever been issued. In a recent unveiling, BMW showcased the power of a diesel engine in its latest three-cylinder engine fitted in the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept.

The latest BMW online and TV advertising efforts revolved around the 335d and X5d, an effort meant to spike up U.S. consumer’s interest for this new, clean technology and also to build awareness.

[Source: Automotive News ]

“We are delighted that the BMW Group is super sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World for the fifth consecutive year.This proves once again that we are well on our way to establishing sustainability as the guiding principle for all our processes. We refined our sustainability strategy in the first half of 2009 – this was the next logical step and another important milestone,” said Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

The Board of Management of the BMW Group declared sustainability one of the company’s core strategic principles back in 2000. At the BMW Group corporate sustainability is firmly entrenched throughout the entire value chain: from the development of fuel-saving and alternative vehicle concepts through clean production processes to green recycling practices. The BMW Group also accepts responsibility for its roughly 100,000 employees and is involved in social projects outside of its plants.

In recent months the BMW Group has taken further important steps towards further improving sustainability. Each and every proposal today is measured against the corporate goal of sustainability. At the highest management level a Sustainability Board was established in summer 2009. This board, which comprises the entire Board of Management, determines the strategic alignment for sustainability issues. Twice a year it meets to discuss and adopt the strategies and activities proposed at operational level.

[Source: BMW ]