BMW 2013 Annual Report Download - page 38

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18 COMBINED MANAGEMENT REPORT
18 General Information on the BMW Group
24 Report on Economic Position
24 Overall Assessment by Management
24 General and Sector-specific
Environment
27
Financial and Non-financial
Performance Indicators
29 Review of Operations
29 Automotive Segment
35 Motorcycles Segment
36 Financial Services Segment
38 Research and Development
40 Purchasing
41 Sales and Marketing
42 Workforce
44 Sustainability
47 Results of Operations, Financial
Position and Net Assets
56 Events after the End of the
Reporting Period
63 Report on Outlook, Risks and
Opportunities
81 Internal Control System and Risk
Management System Relevant for the
Consolidated Financial Reporting Process
82
Disclosures Relevant for Takeovers
and Explanatory Comments
85 BMW Stock and Capital Markets
Efficient Dynamics
The vehicles produced by the BMW Group feature in-
telligent lightweight design, optimised aerodynamic
characteristics and efficient engines. The well-thought-
out mixture of materials used to build our vehicles
enables us to continually reduce their weight. The BMW
Group is also one of the world’s leaders in the use of
CFRP in car production. The lightweight material is at
least as strong, but up to 50 % lighter than steel and
around 30 % lighter than aluminium. When combined
with an aluminium chassis, a thermoplastic outer
skin
and comprehensive weight optimisation in many
other components, the CFRP passenger compartment
used in the BMW i3 is currently the most effective
implementation of intelligent lightweight carmaking
on
the market.
As from 2014, a completely new family of engines fea-
turing BMW TwinPower turbo technology will power
the first BMW and MINI models with new 3-, 4- and
6-cylinder in-line engines, ensuring that the best pos-
sible Efficient Dynamics technology is available in all
segments and performance categories.
The EU6 emission standard, which is mandatory for all
newly registered automobiles as from autumn 2014, has
already been met for most new BMW and MINI models
since 2013. BMW Blue Performance technology ensures
that the reduction in the percentage of nitrogen oxide
in emissions required by the EU6 standard has been ful-
filled for BMW’s diesel models.
In the field of electromobility, too, the BMW Group is
relying on in-house developments for its drive systems.
BMW eDrive embraces all of the drive system compo-
nents required for fully electric driving, i.e. the electric
motor, power electronics, e-transmission and high-
voltage
battery system.
Intelligent energy management ensures that the waste
heat generated by the drive system is reduced; kinetic
energy is produced as needed and recovered. The BMW
Group has done pioneering work in the field of recu-
peration technology, which it has gradually been intro-
ducing
since 2007. The technology generates electrical
energy that is fed into the vehicle’s electrical system
during acceleration and braking phases.
The BMW i3
The fully electrically powered BMW i3 was launched
in 2013 and is the first electric car on the market to com-
bine the pleasure of driving so typical for BMW with
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
electromobility suitable for daily use. It is based on an
innovative vehicle concept, which is tailor-made for
electromobility and includes a passenger compartment
made of CFRP. Driver assistance systems and mobility
services from BMW ConnectedDrive as well as the
services of 360° ELECTRIC have been specially developed
for the BMW i Series. The BMW i3 uniquely combines
dynamic driving (from 0 to 100 km / h in 7.2 seconds)
with low electricity consumption (12.9 kWh in the EU
test cycle). It is powered by a lithium-ion battery spe-
cially developed and produced by the BMW Group,
which is integrated in the underbody to save space. The
energy storage capacity gives the car a range of 130 to
160 kilometres under everyday driving conditions.
Connected mobility
With the new orientation of BMW ConnectedDrive ser-
vices, BMW continues to extend its outstanding posi-
tion as leading provider worldwide of online-based ser-
vices for vehicles. BMW ConnectedDrive is based on
two key areas, namely driver assistance systems (con-
venience
and safety functions) and services (infotain-
ment and mobility services). Customers can now order
mobility services on an individual basis. Moreover, in-
dividual services can be ordered for limited periods of
time. The individualisation of services is now also avail-
able for the first time for a used BMW. As a result, both
BMW and BMW i customers can benefit from a broad
range of services and far lower entry prices. Since July
2013, many BMW
models have been equipped with an
integrated SIM
card as standard. The aim is, by 2017, to
connect around five million BMW vehicles worldwide
via Connected Drive by means of the permanently in-
stalled SIM card.
In future it will be possible to order BMW Connected-
Drive services in the newly created BMW Connected-
Drive store, an option unique for the market. The store
is not only available online, but also when travelling,
via the vehicle’s on-board system.
With its intelligent emergency call feature, BMW already
offers a broader range of functions than that required
by EU legislation for 2015. Automatic position-finding
and accident severity detection also help to greatly
minimise the time between an accident occurring and
the arrival of medical and rescue teams. In future, the
intelligent emergency call will be offered as standard in
practically all markets and models.
The range of optional driver assistance systems has
also
been considerably expanded for the new MINI.