BMW Boss Commits To A Future Of Better Combustion Engines And New Concepts

BMW has just teased its new i7 electric luxury limousine as part of the brand's Annual Conference 2022, but the electric 7 Series wasn't the only big piece of news that the Bavarian automaker focused on. There's a lot of change on the way for the brand as it looks to diversify its mobility solutions, offer more electric motorcycles, and better deal with supply issues. The news seems good overall, but there are some standout announcements that we've decided to focus on with this article, beginning with more detail on the decision to stick with internal combustion engines, at least for the foreseeable future.

In August last year, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said that the brand's Neue Klasse platform would support both gas and electric vehicles, and this platform will be launched at BMW's newest plant (Hungary) in 2025. Just building clean cars isn't enough, and all plants will be going "lean, green, and digital," with each being called a BMW iFactory going forward. The construction of the Debrecen plant in Hungary will begin on 1 June, and BMW expects the pre-series Neue Klasse models to roll off its line just 26 months later. While it may not be building Neue Klasse cars, BMW's oldest plant (Munich) will also be transitioning to 100% electric operation during production as it too becomes an iFactory.

The brand has also said that its new BMW 7 Series will be offered as an EV (that's the aforementioned i7), but also with a plug-in hybrid and a "modern combustion engine." The i7 will be the most powerful model, while regular 7s will get Munich's "new generation of [...] highly efficient combustion engines." BMW says that these new engines are "already geared towards the likely incoming Euro 7" emissions regulations, meaning that the newest of BMW's so-called conventional drivetrains to be debuted on the 7 Series are also compliant with 2030 regulatory requirements, with the main financial expenses for these requirements already covered. The new 7 Series will be presented at its world premiere on 20 April, but there's still more news to unpack.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was a great success for BMW this year as it showcased exciting innovations like color-changing paint, as seen on the iX Flow. CES 2023 is set to be just as special for the brand, as it intends to follow up the i Vision Circular Concept with a new "digital Vision Vehicle," which will be the brand's next idea of what mobility in 2040 could look like. Member of the Board of Management Pieter Nota says that this will be "a metaverse experience, combining the physical vehicle and the digital future."

Solid-state batteries, collaboration with new technological partners, streamlining of the supply chain, and the promise of 15 EVs in production this year were also mentioned.

Finally, BMW says that hydrogen "remains relevant" and promises that its iX5 Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is in the final development stages now, having performed with aplomb in the Arctic Circle. Production begins in small numbers begins in the fall. Bring on the rest of 2022 and beyond.