The BMW Group presented its first BMW i Store worldwide in London, unveiling a showroom that offers a completely new brand experience focused on sustainable mobility.
BMW i Park Lane will officially open its doors on 25th July.
The opening of the new BMW i Store in the heart of London underscores the fact that customer needs are changing and that sustainable mobility is becoming an increasingly important part of the modern urban lifestyle.
London was chosen as the venue for the first BMW i store because of its importance as Europe’s leading megacity and its influence as a global trend-setter. London, like many other cities around the world, faces environmental and traffic congestion challenges that require innovative and sustainable mobility solutions.
Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing BMW. also presented an advanced version of the BMW i3 Concept with a revolutionary interior that uses sustainable natural materials.
The BMW i3 Concept can be viewed at BMW i Park Lane, together with the BMW i8.
The BMW i3 – the BMW Group’s first fully-electric series production vehicle – will be available to customers from late 2013 and the BMW i8 in 2014. In addition to the established sales channels through authorised dealers, new customer contact points such as a mobile sales force and online purchasing channels are under consideration.
In London, the BMW Group also presented for the first time in public the new BMW i Wallbox charger which has been specially created for BMW i models.
The BMW i Wallbox has been designed to make home-charging particularly easy and efficient. Wallbox installation together with vehicle charging will be offered via selected BMW i partners.
BMW i will support customers with a four-pillar package which includes:
– Assistance Services – Customers will be able to rely on services such as ConnectedDrive e-remote apps and future roadside services such as mobile recharging equipment
– Public charging – BMW i will partner with public charging providers in all countries where BMW i models are introduced
– Home charging with the BMW i Wallbox
– Flexible mobility solutions – Customers sometimes have mobility requirements which cannot be completely met by the range of an electric car.
In June, BMW i will kick off its “Born Electric” worldwide tour. This international communications roadshow will start shortly in Rome and touch down in Japan, then going to the USA before returning to London in early 2013. It will also visit France and China in the first half of 2013. These global events will showcase mobility services, new sustainable materials and technological developments, lifestyle trends and a vision of premium sustainable mobility in the future.
BMW i Pedelec Concept
BMW i has come up with an innovative two-wheeler, which acts as the perfect complement to the BMW i3 Concept and adds a new and convenient layer to personal mobility, particularly in urban areas.
The new BMW i Pedelec (Pedal Electric Cycle) Concept is a compact bicycle fitted with an electric motor that tops up the rider’s muscle power with an extra dose of torque. And that means the rider can get to other parts of town even more quickly and effortlessly – and without breaking into a sweat. The BMW i Pedelec Concept can be folded up almost in the blink of an eye and, handily, there is room for two of them in the boot of the BMW i3 Concept. Plus, their batteries can be recharged while they’re in there.
Like the BMW i3, the BMW i Pedelec Concept is a thoroughly high-tech form of personal transport. Advanced componentry – such as disc brakes at the front and rear, a three-speed gear hub integrated into the motor, a lightweight frame made (like the BMW i3 Concept) from aluminium and carbon fibre, a torquey electric motor complete with electronic management system and high-performance battery, and a clever folding mechanism – make this motor-assisted bicycle an extremely practical transportation solution. As well as its impressive riding and packing characteristics, the BMW i Pedelec Concept can also be converted in a matter of seconds to offer a handy pushing mode, which allows it to be rolled and steered and therefore taken on public transport at no extra cost, saving the rider the effort of having to carry it around.
The BMW i3 – the BMW Group’s first fully-electric series production vehicle – will be available to customers from late 2013 and the BMW i8 in 2014.[wzslider height=”400″ lightbox=”true”]
