BMW i3 world premiere in New York, London and Beijing

New York, London, Beijing (ots) -

Series version of the BMW i3 unveiled simultaneously worldwide

Reithofer: BMW i3 is a great leap forward

BMW i3 sets new benchmark for sustainable mobility

Already more than 90,000 requests for test drives

The BMW Group debuted the series version of its innovative
electric vehicle, the BMW i3, simultaneously in New York, London and
Beijing on Monday. "Innovation drives change. The i3 is more than
just a car. It's a revolutionary step towards sustainable mobility.
It is purpose-built around an electric power train to serve the needs
of our megacity customers," said Chairman of the Board of Management
of BMW AG, Norbert Reithofer, at the world premiere in New York on
Monday.

The BMW i3 - the BMW Group's first pure electric series-produced
model - has the same sporting genes as every BMW and is characterised
by sheer driving pleasure. Sustainability is a priority throughout
the entire BMW i3 value chain: "The BMW i3 sets a new benchmark for
sustainable mobility in all stages of development and production, as
well as aftersales," said Friedrich Eichiner, Member of the Board of
Management of BMW AG, Finance, at the unveiling of the BMW i3 in
Beijing.

Range of 130 to 160 kilometres generally quite sufficient

The vehicle achieves a range of 130 to 160 kilometres. The BMW
Group's experience with test fleets of MINI E and BMW ActiveE cars
has shown that a range of 130 to 160 km is quite sufficient for the
vast majority of drivers. The average distance driven daily worldwide
is no more than 64 km.

If desired, the BMW i3 is also available with a range-extender,
which maintains the charge of the lithium-ion battery at a constant
level enroute, as soon as it falls below a specified value. This is
performed by a two-cylinder gasoline engine with 34 hp (25 kW),
mounted adjacent to the electric motor above the rear axle. The range
extender increases the car's maximum range in day-to-day driving to
around 300 kilometres.

Low running costs and strong global interest

The BMW i3 will be released in Germany and other European markets
in November 2013. The market launch of the BMW i3 in USA, China,
Japan and several other markets will take place in the first half of
2014. The base price for the BMW i3 has been set at 34,950 Euros in
Germany. If customers opt to purchase the Range Extender as an extra,
the price in Germany will amount to 39,450 Euros.

The vehicle's running costs are comparatively low: Over a period
of three years, the maintenance and running costs for a BMW i3 are
about 40% lower than those of a highly-economical 320dA registered in
Germany. In other countries, figures may even be lower, depending on
the level of subsidies available for electric vehicles.

Public interest in the BMW i3 and BMW i overall is extremely high
and the response has been very positive: BMW i already has more than
1.2 million fans worldwide on Facebook, and more than 90,000 people
have already requested a test-drive with the BMW i3.

BMW i3 sets a new benchmark in lightweight construction

The BMW i3 features a large number of technological innovations -
such as a carbon-fibre passenger cell and a chassis made of aluminium
- and sets new standards in the field of lightweight construction.
With a curb weight of 1,195 kilogrammes, it is lighter than most
vehicles in the compact segment, yet offers significantly more space
for up to four occupants.

Its low weight contributes to the agility and dynamic performance
of the BMW i3. The car's electric drive-train generates output of 125
kW/170 hp and peak torque of 250 Newton metres, which is immediately
available from a standing start. The BMW i3 sprints from 0 to 60 km/h
in 3.7 seconds and from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. Its top speed
is limited to 150 km/h for efficiency reasons.

Sustainability throughout the value chain

Sustainability plays a vital role for the BMW Group. For example,
the electricity needed for production of the BMW i3 at the Leipzig
plant is generated from wind power. In addition to its CO2-free
electricity supply, the plant also uses 50% less energy and 70% less
water than the average for the already highly-efficient BMW
production network.

Sale of BMW i vehicles via multi-channel sales model

BMW i products and services will be marketed through a
multi-channel sales model, comprising authorised retail partners (BMW
i agents), a multimedia Customer Interaction Centre (CIC) and an
online sales platform. All sales channels will be fully integrated
and customers will be able to choose their own individual customer
journey. Customers can easily switch between all four channels.

With the introduction of the new online sales channel, BMW is
responding to changed customer behaviour. Customers want new
possibilities in how they inform themselves about products and how
they purchase them. BMW i Partners will be the backbone of the BMW i
sales network and the main contact point for the customer.

With its holistic "360 ° ELECTRIC" approach, BMW i provides the
customer with an extensive product and service offer designed to meet
the driver's needs. "We will support our BMW i3 customers with a
comprehensive package of premium services for seamless and
uncomplicated "sheer driving pleasure", explained Ian Robertson,
Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing BMW,
at the BMW i3 launch in London.

Global market for electric vehicles likely to exceed 150,000
vehicles in 2013

The global market for electric vehicles is showing positive
development: After almost 93,000 electric vehicles were registered
worldwide last year, a total of 150,000 units is already forecast for
the current year.

The BMW Group

The BMW Group is the leading premium manufacturer of automobiles
and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce
brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 28 production and
assembly facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.

In 2012, the BMW Group sold about 1.85 million cars and more than
117,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the
financial year 2012 was euro 7.82 billion on revenues amounting to
euro 76.85 billion. At 31 December 2012, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 105,876 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore
established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value
chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result
of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the
Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last eight years.

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If you have any queries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Linda Croissant, Business and Finance Communications
Telephone: +49 89 382-35617, Fax: +49 89 382-24418,
linda.croissant@bmw.de

Mathias Schmidt, Business and Finance Communications
Telephone: + 49 89 382-24118, Fax: + 49 89 382-24418,
mathias.m.schmidt@bmw.de

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Email: presse@bmw.de