BMW has big plans. Global sales and marketing boss Ian Robertson says the automaker will push into new segments, something it has successfully done in the past few years with vehicles such as the X1 and 1 series.

Leading BMW's new wave of vehicles will be its first electric car, the i3, and its first plug-in hybrid, the i8. Robertson, 55, shared his views into the automaker's future during an interview at his Munich office with Automotive News Europe Managing Editor Douglas A. Bolduc.

Q: Why did BMW create the i subbrand?

A: Technology is in our DNA. Pushing the boundaries of technology is what we've always done.

The i3 will be the first carbon fiber car the world has seen on a volume scale. We will be a major player in the carbon fiber technology field. We are developing things here that will wash into the core BMW brand and into the M subbrand.

Why are you bullish on the future of batteries?

Battery technology has developed faster in the last few years than it has in the last 100 years. After it is used in a car, the battery can be used for power storage for wind farms and solar. It's also very usable for storing solar panel output at somebody's house. What we do with the batteries and carbon fiber after they are used in the car is not viewed as technological obstacles. We view these as technological opportunities.

Previous article BMW's joint venture says it cuts...
Next article BMW's Willisch: A farm boy who...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here