BMW to expand its EV range

[voyager]

BMW is future-proofing its business by accelerating plans to add more electric and petrol-electric hybrid models to its regular line-up and i sub-brand, sources close to the company have revealed.

The shift away from traditional combustion-engined models towards alternative drive offerings comes as BMW seeks to reinvent itself as an electric mobility, autonomous driving and internet-based services-led company.

At the same time, BMW will bid to become a leader in autonomous driving technology and driver assistance features through heavy investment in a three-way joint venture it operates with Intel and MobileEye.

BMW set for reinvention with larger range of EVs | Autocar

 

[green1]

I'll believe they're serious when they believe they're serious. That will be when they release a BMW that just happens to be electric, instead of an electric weird mobile that happens to have their emblem on it.

 

[EinSV]

Interesting.

Perhaps BMW should have let its Chief Financial Officer and its VP of Electric-Powertrain Development in on the good news.

They seem to be under the impression EVs will be growing at a glacial pace:

BMW CFO Friedrich Eichiner: “We’ve learned that people aren’t prepared to pay a higher price for an electric vehicle. I don’t see some kind of disruptive element coming from electric cars that would prompt sales to go up quickly in the next five to six years.”

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BMW Vice-President of Electric Powertrain Development Stefan Juraschek "told reporters (via Bloomberg) that the automaker doesn’t expect a doubling of battery capacity for the next “~7 years” and in the meantime, the executive says that they will have to 'walk through the valley of tears' in order to manufacture electric vehicles at a price competitive with gas-guzzling cars."​

BMW expects years of difficulties for electric cars, should get better in ~7 years with doubling battery capacity