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BMW ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS
04/22/2008
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - April 22, 2008...BMW announces today the following four executive management appointments.
Tom Purves has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited. In this capacity he is responsible for the overall global Rolls-Royce business, including production, sales and marketing. He will assume responsibilities in his new position, effective July 1, 2008. In his prior capacity, Tom served as Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp., a position he held since 1999. His responsibilities encompassed all sales, marketing and distribution activities for the BMW and MINI brands of the BMW Group in North, Central and South America. Prior to his arrival in the US, Tom was Sales and Marketing Director of the Rover Group and also served previously as Managing Director of BMW (UK). Tom began his automotive career with Rolls-Royce as an apprentice engineer. His role with the company evolved to include several management positions including sales in Europe the Middle East and Africa.
Jim O'Donnell will assume the position Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. effective July 1, 2008. Jim recently joined BMW of North America's executive management team as President of BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) on April 1, 2008. In his new role, Jim will also serve as Chairman of BMW NA's Management Board and as the Regional Manager for US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Jim O'Donnell has been with the BMW Group for 17 years. Prior to arriving in the US he held the position of Managing Director of BMW (UK) Ltd. He also worked as Sales and Marketing Director of BMW South Africa and Sales Director of BMW (UK) Ltd. Before joining BMW Group, Jim held various positions at Ford Motor Company.
Tom Kowaleski has been appointed Vice President of Corporate Communications for BMW of North America, LLC effective May 1, 2008. Tom will have responsibility for the overall management of the Corporate Communications department. Tom Kowaleski has worked in the automotive communications and marketing fields for over 30 years and has broad experience with both domestic and imported manufacturers, including Daimler Chrysler and GM. He is currently the President of ACTK2, a communications consultancy which will continue to operate.
Tom Salkowsky has been appointed as Manager, BMW Corporate Communications for BMW of North America, LLC, effective May 1, 2008. Tom will be specifically responsible for the BMW automotive brand and is a12-year veteran with BMW of North America. Previous to this appointment, Tom served as Manager, Experiential Marketing with overall responsibilities for auto shows, consumer driving events, the BMW Golf Championship and Formula BMW Americas. Tom joined the company in 1996 as a Management Associate and during his career at BMW has held a number of positions including M Brand and Motorsport Manager, Retail Operations Training Manager and Senior Retail Analyst.
Robert D. Mitchell, the previous head of BMW Corporate Communications and a 32 year veteran of BMW, will retire on April 30, 2008.
BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and the upcoming X6 Sport Activity Coupe. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
STATEMENT BY IAN ROBERTSON, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF BMW AG
04/21/2008
Ladies and Gentlemen-
I would like to welcome you all to the BMW Group Press Conference here today in Beijing.
The BMW Group is proud to present a new vehicle which embodies a whole new dimension of sporting style: the BMW X6.
The BMW X6 creates a whole new vehicle segment: that of the Sports Activity Coupe.
This new vehicle combines the best of both worlds: the versatility of a Sports Activity Vehicle and the dynamic performance of a sports car.
Let's welcome the most sporting and dynamic member of the BMW X family: the new BMW X6!
This full-size coup?® has an athletic design - which won a renowned design prize at its debut in Detroit in the United States.
Its muscular presence is backed by equally powerful engines. The strongest engines in the BMW Group's portfolio were developed specifically for the BMW X6.
The high-performance eight-cylinder engine at the core of the X6's most powerful version is the first to combine Twin Turbo technology with High Precision Injection. It develops a maximum power output of 407 hp.
Like all X models, the X6 features BMW's intelligent all-wheel drive technology, xDrive, which ensures that drive power is always perfectly distributed between the front and rear axle. An electronic control function regulates power distribution in response to driving conditions.
The BMW X6 also introduces a unique innovation for even better handling: BMW Dynamic Performance Control.
Thanks to Dynamic Performance Control, power can be distributed variably between left and right rear wheels, which considerably improves the vehicle's cornering ability.
The combination of BMW Dynamic Performance Control with BMW xDrive makes the X6 incredibly agile.
The vehicle's driving performance is one impressive quality. The BMW X6 also has the best fuel consumption figures and CO2 emissions in its segment.
The new X6 - coming soon to a BMW dealership near you!
Turning now to our sales performance in China: The BMW Group got off to a very good start this year on the Chinese Mainland: In the first quarter we sold nearly 14,000 BMWs, and more than 700 MINIs. BMW retail was up 40 percent on the previous year. MINI retail grew by 112 percent.
We expect this positive trend to continue. By the end of this year we expect to see double-digit growth in retail for both brands.
In 2008 we will also continue to invest in the Chinese market as we press ahead with the expansion of our sales infrastructure. We are increasing production capacity at our plant in Shenyang to 41,000 units this year.
At the same time, good corporate citizenship is very important to us at the BMW Group. Here in China we promote the exchange of technological ideas and are involved in cultural and educational projects as well.
Our goal remains the same: to become the most successful premium car company in the China region.
Sales growth in the other Asian markets has also been very promising. Overall the BMW Group achieved the highest growth rates on the Asian continent: retail sales climbed about 18 percent over the previous year, which makes the Asian markets among the fastest-growing in the world for the BMW Group.
On a broader front, BMW is a leader in creating individual mobility. And individual mobility will only be feasible in the future if we conserve our resources and protect the environment today. For many years, the BMW Group has been researching and developing environmentally-friendly engines for tomorrow's world.
Here in the present, we are already reducing the CO2 emissions of our vehicles on an ongoing basis. Our aim is to achieve efficient dynamic performance - combined with the sheer driving pleasure typical of a BMW. In China and in other Asian countries we currently offer highly-efficient petrol engines incorporating state-of-the-art technologies such as Valvetronic and High Precision Injection.
Our EfficientDynamics strategy sets us apart from the competition.
I am delighted to present to you today another BMW automobile which embodies our idea of efficient, dynamic performance. This model is also our first venture into the compact segment in China.
Here is the BMW 1 Series!
The BMW brand is about offering our customers sheer driving pleasure, even in the compact segment. The BMW 1 Series is the best example of this. As the only rear-wheel drive in the compact segment it doesn't face any direct competition.
We launched the first model of this series four years. Since then we have sold more than 550,000 1 Series vehicles around the world.
In China we will be releasing the five-door model in 120i and 130i versions. We believe there is a clear demand for such a vehicle in China. The compact segment is evolving here and now is the right time for a premium vehicle in this market. We are confident that we will be able to find plenty of eager customers.
Now let me come back to our strategy of Efficient Dynamics - what is the idea behind this concept?
This program is about reducing the fuel consumption and emissions of our vehicles - in the short term, in the medium term, and also in the distant future. No other manufacturer fits more fuel-saving features as standard across the whole fleet.
EfficientDynamics combines efficiency with performance. In every segment our vehicles are equipped with EfficientDynamics. They record the lowest figures for consumption and emissions, but manage to combine that with outstanding driving performance. In that respect, EfficientDynamics is as close as it gets to having the best of both worlds.
Our vehicles have won prizes across the globe for being environmentally-friendly - and rightly so! Last month the BMW 1 Series Hatchback was voted "World Green Car of the Year" in the United States.
The EfficientDynamics concept comprises several stages. The first stage focuses on features that reduce fuel consumption in and around the engine. That means optimizing our engines - petrol and diesel alike.
EfficientDynamics also includes innovative electric water pumps, which only run when really needed. We also use extremely lightweight construction with lightweight components.
The BMW 1 Series offers a number of features designed to reduce fuel consumption. The full benefit of EfficientDynamics is realized when all of its elements are brought together - you could say, like a game of dominoes.
Now you know what EfficientDynamics means today. But this is just the beginning. We are also developing environmentally-friendly, economical technologies, such as the hybrid drive which powers this vehicle: Next year the BMW X6 Active Hybrid will be the first BMW hybrid model to reach the market - it combines both a combustion and an electric engine.
This model uses around 20 percent less fuel than a comparable vehicle with a combustion engine, whilst providing customers with better mileage on all types of roads.
In the medium term we will further electrify the power train by offering a fully-hybrid vehicle. In the long term, we are developing drive trains which do not use any fossil fuels at all. Our hydrogen-driven BMW Hydrogen7 is at the very forefront of this technology. You can also see this model on our stand. It proves that - even today - it is already possible to drive virtually emission-free.
So, with EfficientDynamics we are well prepared for the future.
I would now highlight the subject of diesel power. This is the first time we have presented a diesel engine here in China.
You can see the latest, state-of-the-art straight-six diesel engine with Variable Twin Turbo Technology on our stand.
ÔÇó No other diesel has won the Engine of the Year Award more times.
ÔÇó No other diesel engine offers such dynamic acceleration with such low consumption.
More than 40 percent of all BMW-brand vehicles sold around the world today have a diesel engine. The BMW Group makes the world's most efficient, innovative, sporty diesel engines in the premium segment.
They're so clean and convenient now that we are even releasing them in the US this year. There the federal state of California has the toughest emissions laws in the world.
We therefore consider our BMW diesel engines as highly appropriate for the Chinese market. If infrastructure and local conditions allow, we are prepared to release our diesel models here in China.
We will continue to offer our customers vehicles with innovative features and systems, which offer sheer driving pleasure but are environmentally-friendly all the same. The BMW Group's goal of becoming the biggest premium manufacturer in China remains unchanged. But above all, we want to be number one in the eyes of our customers.
An abbreviated Morning Reads ÔÇô Catch up on
BMW ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS
04/22/2008
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - April 22, 2008...BMW announces today the following four executive management appointments.
Tom Purves has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited. In this capacity he is responsible for the overall global Rolls-Royce business, including production, sales and marketing. He will assume responsibilities in his new position, effective July 1, 2008. In his prior capacity, Tom served as Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp., a position he held since 1999. His responsibilities encompassed all sales, marketing and distribution activities for the BMW and MINI brands of the BMW Group in North, Central and South America. Prior to his arrival in the US, Tom was Sales and Marketing Director of the Rover Group and also served previously as Managing Director of BMW (UK). Tom began his automotive career with Rolls-Royce as an apprentice engineer. His role with the company evolved to include several management positions including sales in Europe the Middle East and Africa.
Jim O'Donnell will assume the position Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. effective July 1, 2008. Jim recently joined BMW of North America's executive management team as President of BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) on April 1, 2008. In his new role, Jim will also serve as Chairman of BMW NA's Management Board and as the Regional Manager for US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Jim O'Donnell has been with the BMW Group for 17 years. Prior to arriving in the US he held the position of Managing Director of BMW (UK) Ltd. He also worked as Sales and Marketing Director of BMW South Africa and Sales Director of BMW (UK) Ltd. Before joining BMW Group, Jim held various positions at Ford Motor Company.
Tom Kowaleski has been appointed Vice President of Corporate Communications for BMW of North America, LLC effective May 1, 2008. Tom will have responsibility for the overall management of the Corporate Communications department. Tom Kowaleski has worked in the automotive communications and marketing fields for over 30 years and has broad experience with both domestic and imported manufacturers, including Daimler Chrysler and GM. He is currently the President of ACTK2, a communications consultancy which will continue to operate.
Tom Salkowsky has been appointed as Manager, BMW Corporate Communications for BMW of North America, LLC, effective May 1, 2008. Tom will be specifically responsible for the BMW automotive brand and is a12-year veteran with BMW of North America. Previous to this appointment, Tom served as Manager, Experiential Marketing with overall responsibilities for auto shows, consumer driving events, the BMW Golf Championship and Formula BMW Americas. Tom joined the company in 1996 as a Management Associate and during his career at BMW has held a number of positions including M Brand and Motorsport Manager, Retail Operations Training Manager and Senior Retail Analyst.
Robert D. Mitchell, the previous head of BMW Corporate Communications and a 32 year veteran of BMW, will retire on April 30, 2008.
BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and the upcoming X6 Sport Activity Coupe. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
STATEMENT BY IAN ROBERTSON, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF BMW AG
04/21/2008
Ladies and Gentlemen-
I would like to welcome you all to the BMW Group Press Conference here today in Beijing.
The BMW Group is proud to present a new vehicle which embodies a whole new dimension of sporting style: the BMW X6.
The BMW X6 creates a whole new vehicle segment: that of the Sports Activity Coupe.
This new vehicle combines the best of both worlds: the versatility of a Sports Activity Vehicle and the dynamic performance of a sports car.
Let's welcome the most sporting and dynamic member of the BMW X family: the new BMW X6!
This full-size coup?® has an athletic design - which won a renowned design prize at its debut in Detroit in the United States.
Its muscular presence is backed by equally powerful engines. The strongest engines in the BMW Group's portfolio were developed specifically for the BMW X6.
The high-performance eight-cylinder engine at the core of the X6's most powerful version is the first to combine Twin Turbo technology with High Precision Injection. It develops a maximum power output of 407 hp.
Like all X models, the X6 features BMW's intelligent all-wheel drive technology, xDrive, which ensures that drive power is always perfectly distributed between the front and rear axle. An electronic control function regulates power distribution in response to driving conditions.
The BMW X6 also introduces a unique innovation for even better handling: BMW Dynamic Performance Control.
Thanks to Dynamic Performance Control, power can be distributed variably between left and right rear wheels, which considerably improves the vehicle's cornering ability.
The combination of BMW Dynamic Performance Control with BMW xDrive makes the X6 incredibly agile.
The vehicle's driving performance is one impressive quality. The BMW X6 also has the best fuel consumption figures and CO2 emissions in its segment.
The new X6 - coming soon to a BMW dealership near you!
Turning now to our sales performance in China: The BMW Group got off to a very good start this year on the Chinese Mainland: In the first quarter we sold nearly 14,000 BMWs, and more than 700 MINIs. BMW retail was up 40 percent on the previous year. MINI retail grew by 112 percent.
We expect this positive trend to continue. By the end of this year we expect to see double-digit growth in retail for both brands.
In 2008 we will also continue to invest in the Chinese market as we press ahead with the expansion of our sales infrastructure. We are increasing production capacity at our plant in Shenyang to 41,000 units this year.
At the same time, good corporate citizenship is very important to us at the BMW Group. Here in China we promote the exchange of technological ideas and are involved in cultural and educational projects as well.
Our goal remains the same: to become the most successful premium car company in the China region.
Sales growth in the other Asian markets has also been very promising. Overall the BMW Group achieved the highest growth rates on the Asian continent: retail sales climbed about 18 percent over the previous year, which makes the Asian markets among the fastest-growing in the world for the BMW Group.
On a broader front, BMW is a leader in creating individual mobility. And individual mobility will only be feasible in the future if we conserve our resources and protect the environment today. For many years, the BMW Group has been researching and developing environmentally-friendly engines for tomorrow's world.
Here in the present, we are already reducing the CO2 emissions of our vehicles on an ongoing basis. Our aim is to achieve efficient dynamic performance - combined with the sheer driving pleasure typical of a BMW. In China and in other Asian countries we currently offer highly-efficient petrol engines incorporating state-of-the-art technologies such as Valvetronic and High Precision Injection.
Our EfficientDynamics strategy sets us apart from the competition.
I am delighted to present to you today another BMW automobile which embodies our idea of efficient, dynamic performance. This model is also our first venture into the compact segment in China.
Here is the BMW 1 Series!
The BMW brand is about offering our customers sheer driving pleasure, even in the compact segment. The BMW 1 Series is the best example of this. As the only rear-wheel drive in the compact segment it doesn't face any direct competition.
We launched the first model of this series four years. Since then we have sold more than 550,000 1 Series vehicles around the world.
In China we will be releasing the five-door model in 120i and 130i versions. We believe there is a clear demand for such a vehicle in China. The compact segment is evolving here and now is the right time for a premium vehicle in this market. We are confident that we will be able to find plenty of eager customers.
Now let me come back to our strategy of Efficient Dynamics - what is the idea behind this concept?
This program is about reducing the fuel consumption and emissions of our vehicles - in the short term, in the medium term, and also in the distant future. No other manufacturer fits more fuel-saving features as standard across the whole fleet.
EfficientDynamics combines efficiency with performance. In every segment our vehicles are equipped with EfficientDynamics. They record the lowest figures for consumption and emissions, but manage to combine that with outstanding driving performance. In that respect, EfficientDynamics is as close as it gets to having the best of both worlds.
Our vehicles have won prizes across the globe for being environmentally-friendly - and rightly so! Last month the BMW 1 Series Hatchback was voted "World Green Car of the Year" in the United States.
The EfficientDynamics concept comprises several stages. The first stage focuses on features that reduce fuel consumption in and around the engine. That means optimizing our engines - petrol and diesel alike.
EfficientDynamics also includes innovative electric water pumps, which only run when really needed. We also use extremely lightweight construction with lightweight components.
The BMW 1 Series offers a number of features designed to reduce fuel consumption. The full benefit of EfficientDynamics is realized when all of its elements are brought together - you could say, like a game of dominoes.
Now you know what EfficientDynamics means today. But this is just the beginning. We are also developing environmentally-friendly, economical technologies, such as the hybrid drive which powers this vehicle: Next year the BMW X6 Active Hybrid will be the first BMW hybrid model to reach the market - it combines both a combustion and an electric engine.
This model uses around 20 percent less fuel than a comparable vehicle with a combustion engine, whilst providing customers with better mileage on all types of roads.
In the medium term we will further electrify the power train by offering a fully-hybrid vehicle. In the long term, we are developing drive trains which do not use any fossil fuels at all. Our hydrogen-driven BMW Hydrogen7 is at the very forefront of this technology. You can also see this model on our stand. It proves that - even today - it is already possible to drive virtually emission-free.
So, with EfficientDynamics we are well prepared for the future.
I would now highlight the subject of diesel power. This is the first time we have presented a diesel engine here in China.
You can see the latest, state-of-the-art straight-six diesel engine with Variable Twin Turbo Technology on our stand.
ÔÇó No other diesel has won the Engine of the Year Award more times.
ÔÇó No other diesel engine offers such dynamic acceleration with such low consumption.
More than 40 percent of all BMW-brand vehicles sold around the world today have a diesel engine. The BMW Group makes the world's most efficient, innovative, sporty diesel engines in the premium segment.
They're so clean and convenient now that we are even releasing them in the US this year. There the federal state of California has the toughest emissions laws in the world.
We therefore consider our BMW diesel engines as highly appropriate for the Chinese market. If infrastructure and local conditions allow, we are prepared to release our diesel models here in China.
We will continue to offer our customers vehicles with innovative features and systems, which offer sheer driving pleasure but are environmentally-friendly all the same. The BMW Group's goal of becoming the biggest premium manufacturer in China remains unchanged. But above all, we want to be number one in the eyes of our customers.