BMW Group Malaysia brings the Future of Mobility to Malaysia

BMW innovations towards emissions free mobility showcased in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, 20 Oct 2011 – BMW Group Malaysia today launched the BMW EfficientDynamics showcase at Pavillion, Bukit Bintang featuring the company’s celebrated BMW ActiveE concept vehicle.

“The BMW Active E is BMW’s next systematic step towards an emission-free mobility solution and demonstrates our leadership and commitment in Sustainable Innovation as facilitated through the BMW EfficientDynamics strategy,” said Mr.Geoffrey Briscoe, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

According to Briscoe, in the three years since BMW Group Malaysia has introduced BMW EfficientDynamics to the market with the fleet of BMW Advanced Diesel vehicles of the BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW X1, BMW X3 and BMW X5, the premium automaker now accounts 15 to 20 per cent of its total vehicle delivered to customers to be that of the Advanced Diesel variant. The positive growth in the take up of the technology already proves that there is a growing interest and demand for Sustainable technology in the Malaysian Automotive industry.

Advanced diesel engines are able to consume up to 30 percent less fuel whilst at the same time, provide 20 percent more horsepower and up to 70 percent better acceleration. The engines are also reputed to emit 25 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) compared to their petrol counterparts. At the current moment, the technology is also one of the more immediate solutions to tackling the issue of rising cost of fuel.

“As Malaysia continues to move further up the green technology and sustainability chain, it is imperative that constant measures are implemented to prime the market for the adoption of the latest innovations in technology. The Malaysian government’s long stated intention of introducing Euro IV diesel standards in the near future for instance is a critical step towards the country’s evolution into an actual advocate of Green Technology, one which we at BMW hope the government will comprehensively commit to,” said Briscoe.

He further added that the showcase by BMW was intended to provide Malaysians with an understanding of the broad technology spectrum for the premium automotive industry the BMW Group is exploring for today and the future which includes Advanced Petrol and Diesel combustion engines, Hybrid Technology as well as Electric and Hydrogen vehicles.

“The Malaysian government’s extension of full exemption of import duty and excise duty on hybrid and electric cars until 2013 is an important first step as it also initiates the momentum towards the establishment of a roadmap for mass adoption of Clean and Green Technology in the automotive industry. However, more can and should be done to include immediate technologies available today such as Advanced Petrol and Diesel engines which run on lower sulphur content Euro IV specification fuel, as well as the introduction of incentives for all hybrid technology including those for hybrid vehicles above the 2 litre capacity,” said Briscoe.

Officiating the showcase in Kuala Lumpur, Dato’ Jacob Dungau Sagan, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry further reiterated the Malaysian government’s commitment towards the adoption of Green Technology in Malaysia.

“The Malaysian government continues to pursue its commitments towards reducing carbon emission levels in the country by the year 2020 to 2005 era levels, as outlined during the Copenhagen Accord in 2009. These commitments serve both as a strategic initiative to introduce more advanced technology to Malaysia’s infrastructure and industry and to ensure the long term wellbeing and health of our citizens,” said Dato’ Jacob.

Dato’ Jacob further added that he was pleased to see companies like BMW taking proactive steps to provide clarity around new innovations such as with electric vehicles. He said, “BMW Group Malaysia has made strong commitments to the country in its efforts to promote the use of clean and sustainable technology which has led to the introduction of advanced assembly techniques and technology to the country, first with the introduction of Advanced Diesel technology and hopefully with other sustainable drivetrains in the near future.”

The BMW ActiveE is a fully electric drive car based on the BMW 1 Series body and is the second vehicle after the MINI E to be developed under the BMW Group’s Project i, an initiative towards the development and introduction of market feasible electric vehicles by the year 2013. The BMW ActiveE marks the next systematic step towards an emission-free, mass produced electric vehicle by BMW and will collate data from research and development work which is being conducted throughout the world with the main focus of establishing the necessary design parameters for a Megacity Vehicle that meets the demands of sustainable mobility solutions in congested urban areas.

Built on the platform based on the BMW 1 Series Coupe, the BMW ActiveE features four seats, a two hundred litre boot capacity and BMW’s newly conceived lithium-ion storage units to give it an effective range of 160km on a full charge. The BMW ActiveE’s batteries can also be fully replenished from a zero charge in 3 hours utilising either a home wall box or a public charging space, making it suitable for the lifestyles of most urban motorist.

At the heart of the BMW ActiveE is a powerful electric synchronous motor with a maximum power output of 125 kW/170 bhp. Maximum torque of 250 Nm– as is typical of electric vehicles – available from a standstill and, for the first time, remains utilisable across an exceptionally broad load range. As a result the BMW ActiveE is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds flat. Top speed of the BMW ActiveE is electronically limited to 145 km/h and naturally, as a pure electric motor engine emits no CO2 emissions whatsoever.

With over a thousand units undergoing field trials throughout the world, BMW is developing intensive amounts of data on the requirements for the introduction of automotive infrastructure to fully support the introduction of a market viable Megacity Vehicle within the near future.

Presenting the BMW ActiveE, Mr. Glenn Schmidt, Head of Government Steering Affairs, BMW Group AG said, “For over 40 years now, BMW has led the field in introducing an array of technologies across all our product lines and assembly methods with the ambition of achieving total sustainability within the automotive industry.”

Schmidt added that the BMW ActiveE is but the most recent iteration of the BMW Group’s stand to introduce alternative sustainable drive-trains, joining BMW’s Advanced Diesel and BMW ActiveHybrid ranges so as to provide future solutions and options to as wide a range of communities facing as diverse a range of concerns, wherever they are in the world.

Members of the public who are keen to learn more about the BMW ActiveE are welcome to visit the public showcase which will be held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur from 20-24th October 2011.

Further information about the BMW Active E and BMW EfficientDynamics is available at www.bmw.com.my.

-End-

About BMW EfficientDynamics
BMW EfficientDynamics was coined by BMW more than a decade ago to define the company’s long term sustainable strategy to produce fuel-saving and alternative vehicle concepts through clean production processes. It is an array of technologies that are already fitted as standard across practically the whole model range. As the manufacturer with the most comprehensive programme for reducing fuel consumption and emissions, BMW EfficientDynamics are designed to enhance the performance and driving pleasure of the vehicles at the same time. In 2007, BMW was awarded a “Green Steering Wheel” for outstanding environmental innovation for its BMW EfficientDynamics technology.

BMW Group
Malaysia
Corporate Communications