It is no secret that german carmaker BMW became the automotive giant that it is today creating powerful machines that were fun to drive on the road. Indeed, the company's reputation of being able to create the "ultimate driving machine" is in no means an exaggeration, with numerous models being considered as the best vehicles of their era.
As the automotive world enters a new generation, however, BMW has announced its intentions to somewhat modify its business strategy. With automotive developments from companies such as Tesla and Alphabet, firms which have taken massive strides in clean, efficient and technologically-advanced mobility, BMW has finally decided to jump on the bandwagon.
At a press conference in Munich on Wednesday, BMW CEO Harald Krueger discussed what the future holds for the luxury carmaker. The CEO also stated that the company within the next few years will see major investments in advanced automotive technologies.
"We are leading BMW Group into a new era. To this end, we leverage innovative technologies, comprehensive connectivity and zero-emission mobility. All of these need to be industrialized, bearing in mind our business responsibilities, and in a sustainable manner, which in itself is another great challenge," he said.
Considering the state of the luxury automotive market, such a decision makes perfect sense. After all, BMW's main rivals, Mercedes-Benz and Audi, have closed in on the firm's sales lately, largely due to the fact that their vehicles are very advanced. The Audi A4, for one, is not as powerful as BMW's Series 3 sedans, but it has all the bells and whistles which made consumers receive the car very warmly.
Within the next few years, fans of the brand could expect BMW to develop more and more cars that are either hybrids or full-fledged electric vehicles. According to BMW, from 2016 onwards, the firm would have about seven models in its range which would feature the best technology that the company could offer.
For the near future, however, BMW is set to add a roadster version of its i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. The company's electric sedan, the BMW i3, is also set for an upgrade, enabling the car to get more miles on a single charge.
Of course, such goals are just beginning, and considering this is BMW, fans of the carmaker could rest assure that the world of electric vehicles is set to become even more interesting.
