The “new class” secured the future of BMW. From its introduction in 1961 to the early 1970s, the company’s path to the expansion of new class sales was paved. The takeover of glass in 1966 finally enabled BMW to compete with Mercedes Benz, as 5, 6 and 7 series models were built in Dingolfing. The CEO of Quandt’s hand, Eberhard von Kuhnheim, led BMW from uncertainty to profitability. His leadership made the BMW that we know. The subsequent financial stability of BMW enabled him to attract the lights and to train their departments of styling, production and research and development departments.
Rivals and realignment: BMW’s position in Germany after the war
In the 1960s, Borgwards Reich and Daimler Benz ‘sale of Auto Union to VW was dissolved. Its “beetle” had become the best -selling car in history and exceeded the sale of Ford’s legendary model T. At the end of the 1960s, VW would also acquire the NSU -manufacturer of the elegantly designed RO80, which was unfortunately reduced with a distant Wankel -Rotary engine.
However, VW was found in a situation as a demand for the overarching beetle at the end of the 1960s. However, the recently acquired styling department of NSU would work on VWS advantage if they continued from the beetle. VW also consolidated its Auto Union and the NSU under the Audi brand – which would ultimately become a violent competitor for BMW. (And the designer of the groundbreaking NSU Ro80, Claus Luthe, later became BMWS Styling Department Director.)
Mercedes Benz’s status as an aspiration brand suffered when the generation rejected her parents’ totems after the war. The sporting image of BMW was well coordinated for growing this generation, which were wealthy even in the middle of the Cold War. And the American market was ripe for the selection, with the emerging “baby boomers” showing increased brand awareness.
Laying the foundation: FIZ and BMW’s research revolution
The US market was then booming for BMW in the 1980s. Then BMW founded its research and development organization in the middle of the decade. To support this organization, BMW built up the research and innovation center, the FIZ, in North Munich – near the old works.
The FIZ made it possible for all parties to bring a car to market the opportunity to plan and carry out the development together. The BMW model of combining styling, engineering, production and marketing disciplines under one roof becomes a model of the industry. The FIZ offered the ideal environment to examine new technologies and solutions for predictable regulatory problems.
Emissions, regulations and early EV experiments
In the 1970s, the regulations on exhaust gas emissions were introduced in Europe and North America. The California Air Resources Board (Carb) was commissioned to find solutions for the air quality problems for the state. The legislative template that Carb created was signed by the then governor of California, Ronald Reagan, and the initial focus was on reducing Smog in the Los Angeles basin. The manufacturers initially tried to correspond to the regulations for emissions and fuel consumption (for example the “ETA” motorization of BMW 528E – interesting but unpopular technology).
Climate change soon became a regulatory problem; In the 1970s, the media began to report on climate. The topic had drawn attention to academics and finally governmental authorities to alleviate the effects of climate change with additional regulations.
In 1990 California made a requirement that manufacturers had to collect loans for the sale of zero emission vehicles as a percentage of their total sales. This led to testing electric vehicles, including GMS EV1 and BMW -E1, both the Z11 and the Z15 prototypes. While BMW had recorded the 325ix -based LS Electric for the 1972 and 1975 Olympic Olympics, these were not applicable projects and not in the new regulatory environment.
However, the E1S (Z11 and Z15) were practical prototypes with which BMW examined the electrification for “city” agencies. Neither the Z11 nor Z15 were quick, with a top speed of around 80 miles per hour, and they had a limited range, in view of the battery technology and the low space to provide the battery.
The E1 was BMW’s excursion to determine how electric cars are built. Materials, production processes and performance have been examined. Ironically, the Z11 prototype survived on a crunchy Z15 and a possible E2 prototype was set up. All of these prototypes emphasized the passenger room in a small package about the performance. And BMW was dependent on external suppliers of electric motors and batteries because they did not yet have to build their own electric motors or battery packs.
Alternative fuels for vehicles were also followed. BMW built natural gas and hydrogen -powered combustion engines in the 1980s. This included several hydrogen prototypes of the 7 Series and the 316G and 518G cars with natural gas.
Alternative drive trains and the rise of hybrids
In the late nineties, early examples of hybrid vehicles came onto the market, of which the Toyota Prius was most remarkable. The market demand for production hybrid vehicles was unknown and led a Toyota marketing person based in the USA to ask themselves whether they would sell. The fears of this marketer proved to be unfounded, since the Prius could now be an independent sub -brand if Toyota was so desired.
The commitment of BMW to reduce exhaust gas emissions and to improve fuel consumption led to the efficient program. BMW built hybrid prototypes such as the mid -nineties E34 518iev to research hybrid technology and market life. However, the increasing regulatory pressure for more “zero emission vehicles” would effectively require that only electric vehicles are added to the offers of a manufacturer.
Mini e and ActiveE: EV tests of the real world begins
In 2009, Mini E introduced a limited number of people in selected markets. These purely electrical minis were rented without the possibility of buying the vehicle at the end of the rental period. BMW followed the mini E project with the BMW Activeee, which was essentially a coupé of the BMW 1 series with an electric drive train. The same rental conditions were enforced for the “Active E” and the BMW maintenance data and customer feedback to refine their approach for electric cars.
While Mini E and Activee was in operation, BMW prepared for the next step in its electrified portfolio. In June 2011, about two months before the IAA show of Frankfurt, BMW presented the i3 and i8 concepts of the International Automotive Press (BMWblog had a little insight into the i3 chassis in the FIZ in April 2011).
Project I am brought to life: the Revolution I3 and i8
The i3 and i8 were the first editions of BMW’s “Project I”, whose impact on the electrification. However, they came close to the production. There was a fairly internal debate whether they should treat them as prototypes or actually push them forward by building volume. In view of the technology required for the production, it was a risky offer, but the decision was made to take action. And in 2013 the first examples rolled from the Leipzig assembly line.
BMW used an impressive high -pressure resin form process to create the carbon passenger compartment structures for both the i3 and for i8 together with a layout “finger and palm trees” for the production in the Leipzig system. The engines were built by BMW and the BMW battery compiled. BMW had planned to put a purely electric i5 into production, but this product was canceled in 2017. BMW introduced the IX prototype in 2018 and brought it to production. They had crossed the line into the production of electric vehicles with full -fledged electric vehicles. While these projects I cars were built on tailor -made platforms, BMW was located on the production of offers of electric vehicles on the existing CLAR platform.
From Project I to New Class: The development of BMW EVS
The current BMW allide offers are based on existing platforms using the fifth generation edrive system, which includes the electric motor, the gear and power electronics in a single small central housing. BMW now offers the i4, i5, IX and i7 together with IX, IX1, IX, IX3 and IX2. Mini offered the Mini Cooper SE, Countryman SE and Mini Aceman. The top of the charts is the Rolls Royce Specter. While these cars are built on the existing BMW platforms, the next iteration of BMWS “Project I” will introduce electric vehicles on a new platform, the next new class.
