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BMW management to skip Paris show over electric car impasse
- Thread starter zenmaster
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- Electric Vehicles France paris
Quotes from that article:
"...BMW has been torn about whether to accelerate development of new electric cars, given its expensive early investments into the area which resulted in only lackluster sales of its i3, which saw only 25,000 deliveries last year. Norbert Reithofer championed the i3 project while CEO of the carmaker and, in his new role as chairman, is keeping up pressure on new CEO Harald Krueger and BMW management to expand the company's electric program. But some other senior executives are unwilling to plow more resources into electric cars until i3 sales improve and there is a clearer business case for such investment..."
Some in BMW management appear to realize that EVs are the future and they need to expand their EV product line, but other senior management still don't get it. If they think i3 sales are going to "improve" they are sadly mistaken. What they need to do is build a more broadly compelling EV but they are afraid it will take sales from their profitable ICE vehicles.
"...BMW has been torn about whether to accelerate development of new electric cars, given its expensive early investments into the area which resulted in only lackluster sales of its i3, which saw only 25,000 deliveries last year. Norbert Reithofer championed the i3 project while CEO of the carmaker and, in his new role as chairman, is keeping up pressure on new CEO Harald Krueger and BMW management to expand the company's electric program. But some other senior executives are unwilling to plow more resources into electric cars until i3 sales improve and there is a clearer business case for such investment..."
Some in BMW management appear to realize that EVs are the future and they need to expand their EV product line, but other senior management still don't get it. If they think i3 sales are going to "improve" they are sadly mistaken. What they need to do is build a more broadly compelling EV but they are afraid it will take sales from their profitable ICE vehicles.
Have they considered the possibility that i3 sales were lackluster because they designed a lackluster car?
CuriousG
Active Member
They're probably in the process of making more terrible commercials of Tesla Model 3 to appear.
Nor, apparently, that they might go to the show to listen and observe, and perhaps (as unlikely as it might seem) learn something.
I wonder if B.M.W. is another way to spell Kodak.
Ryan MF
Member
In my mind, the Chevy Bolt EV is basically a better BMW i3.
It is less ugly while retaining some visual design cues, has optional similar one-pedal driving that comes to a full stop, has much more range, is cheaper, is faster, and is slightly larger.
The BMW has a nicer interior.
It is less ugly while retaining some visual design cues, has optional similar one-pedal driving that comes to a full stop, has much more range, is cheaper, is faster, and is slightly larger.
The BMW has a nicer interior.
Petra
Member
Hmm... A positively hideous car that's overpriced and has lackluster range selling poorly? Say it ain't so!
To be fair, the driving characteristics of the i3 are pretty enjoyable, but it's the wrong car to gauge BEV demand with.
To be fair, the driving characteristics of the i3 are pretty enjoyable, but it's the wrong car to gauge BEV demand with.
jgs
Active Member
"We gave you your damn EV and stuck a BMW nameplate on it! What more do you people want?"
I want to like the i3. I want to want to buy one. But it just ain't competitive, unless your only criteria, are, in this order:
1. Must have a BMW nameplate,
2. Must be an EV.
I am willing to believe that market is pretty small.
I want to like the i3. I want to want to buy one. But it just ain't competitive, unless your only criteria, are, in this order:
1. Must have a BMW nameplate,
2. Must be an EV.
I am willing to believe that market is pretty small.
No, it's the German spelling of D.E.C. (look it up youngsters
)
I suspect BMW is very proud of the i3. In many ways (mostly related to construction techniques) it is probably the most advanced car out there. Too bad brilliant engineering of all the constituent components doesn't guarantee an excellent end product.
JPP
Active Member
No, it's the German spelling of D.E.C. (look it up youngsters
You're back in my birth state. When I was just a youngster I got to play with one of the first PDP-8s. DEC was the hot new startup. Remember Wang Labs? Those who cannot remember the past etc.
Mo City
Active Member
Some majors will die off during the transition to EVs. The fact is they must sacrifice a chunk of short/mid-term profits or face irrelevance down the line. That's a tough sell to many shareholders.
BluestarE3
Active Member
Waiting4M3
Active Member
I suspect the problem is they don't have cheap enough battery and/or the construction. The i3 stands at 2860lb, if cost is not a constraint, they could add 1000 lb of battery, lower the roof line to make it aerodynamic, and really make a long range fast EV, given BMW's driving dynamics know-how they could probably really sell it.... if they can get low enough cost for the battery and the construction.
It's not a coincident that Tesla is focusing on battery and factory building.
It's not a coincident that Tesla is focusing on battery and factory building.
JPP
Active Member
Wang was an MIT mathematician who found a better equation to approximate logarithms. Instead of publishing it, he started a company and initially made an electronic calculator with a desktop terminal and a 'CPU' that was faster that what was available. Ahead of his time, but times changed.....
You know about not traveling with Tom Hanks? Well, I wrote software for DEC, Wang, and Polaroid.
I can also make roses wither with a glance.
I can also make roses wither with a glance.
JPP
Active Member
...quite a pedigree. Any other companies you coded for that went EOL?
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