Hot! BMW AG: What's Next

[mini_cooper4]

BMW AG: What's Next.

A thread to discuss "New beginnings" and further expansions of the BMW AG brands.


# BMWi

HOT Topic - BMW i5
IMO what BMWi really needs right now - A fully electric sedan. Its dimensions should be between 3er's and 5er's IMO.

UPDATE: "i5 will come in other form than sedan. It's expected to be a crossover / a sporty SAV. Infinity EX something." - Eni

# BMW UKL Platform
Since BMW already has the platform developed and the 1GT is almost here... a further expansion for both the Mini and BMW brand is crucial IMO.

UPDATE: "1er hatch 3dr / 5dr / 4dr; 2er coupe, cabrio; X1, X2; Active Tourer, Gran Tourer.
Sub-1er family: most likely 3dr, 5dr & a mini SAV.
MINI hatch 3d / 5dr / 4dr. Coupe, Cabrio, Roadster; Countryman, Paceman; Clubman, "Spacebox" minivan." - Eni

# BMW core

Hight end:

HOT Topic - BMW X7
MB GL sales prove that there's a need for such a model in BMW's portfolio. It will also be great for the company's image as a High-End premium brand IMO.

UPDATE: "Coming. Already in early development." - Eni
"the platform will be shared with Rolls-Royce SAV." - Eni

*BMW X8

UPDATE: "Not very likely unless the rivals will come up with such vehicles (GL-coupe, Cayenne coupe, RangeRover coupe, Audi Q9 etc)." - Eni

*BMW 8er/8GC

UPDATE: "Not very likely at the moment. BUT ... it depends what the rivals will do (eg Audi coming with A9 etc)" - Eni

Entry level:

HOT Topic - BMW 2GC/BMW 1-Series Sedan - What the core brand needs desperately!
Both the CLA and A3 Sedan will be best sellers.
China and the US love sedans and the latter has no love for hatchbacks.
EU loves small sedans! Enough reasons IMO!

UPDATE: "Sedan is coming in FWD version of next gen 1er, 2er GC not very likely (if, then in 5dr hatchback form like 4er GC and as FWD)." - Eni

# Rolls Royce

*RR SAV - It will share its platform with the X7.

# BMW-Toyota sports car

Does the success of the GT86/BRZ indicate anything? What will this project return/take in the long term?

# Facilities and expansion

"The further downsizing will be crucial (UKL expansion incl sub-1er models). And the X7 - the platform will be shared with Rolls-Royce SAV.

Product expansion also depends of production capacity expansion mainly. Some current facilities are getting bigger, and there will be some completely new ones: Latin America, Central / East Europe." - Eni

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*HOT Topic - What BMW needs to remain the world's Nr.1 Premium Manufacturer and/or further extend its lead! Feel free to share your opinion on the matter!

 

[EKaru]

IMO, BMW has already over expanded

 

[mini_cooper4]

IMO, BMW has already over expanded

Feel free to add an explanation
From a customer point of view or a business point of view?

 

[EKaru]

Feel free to add an explanation
From a customer point of view or a business point of view?

I feel that some of the niche vehicles like the X6, X4, 3 & 5 series Gran Turismo models are unnecessary and redundant. How does a BMW salesman get a buyer to pick between an X1, X4, 3-series Touring, 3-series Gran Turismo, 4-series gran coupe.. They're all so similar

Since its inception, the X6 was never a strong seller

 

[mini_cooper4]

A niche vehicle was never meant to be a "strong seller"... it's just there to add more choice and more sales.
It does no harm. It's a win-win situation for both customers and the brand. If you don't like it you simply don't buy it.

 

[Human]

A niche vehicle was never meant to be a "strong seller"... it's just there to add more choice and more sales.
It does no harm. It's a win-win situation for both customers and the brand. If you don't like it you simply don't buy it.

Absolutely true!

 

[LaArtist]

Whats next?

Probably some X model

 

[mini_cooper4]

Whats next?

Probably some X model

I really hope so

 

[Merc1]

Just show me the M4 convertible so I can start getting ready to get one.

M

 

[EKaru]

A niche vehicle was never meant to be a "strong seller"... it's just there to add more choice and more sales.
It does no harm. It's a win-win situation for both customers and the brand. If you don't like it you simply don't buy it.

My point is that there are too many choices and a lot of overlap

 

[SCOTT27]

I feel that some of the niche vehicles like the X6, X4, 3 & 5 series Gran Turismo models are unnecessary and redundant. How does a BMW salesman get a buyer to pick between an X1, X4, 3-series Touring, 3-series Gran Turismo, 4-series gran coupe.. They're all so similar

Since its inception, the X6 was never a strong seller

Yes but BMW sell products globally and not just in North America.
What does not work in one market , works in another.

The FWD cars are going to be the most interesting as it embodies a whole new approach I the same way as BMWi . Volume is what matters here and the Active Tourer will provide a family not only with a BMW for the first time but an entirely new take on the MPV segment.
The finished production car can be well specified to a high level in technology and features that for several markets the Active Tourer could very well be that second BMW if they do not want an SAV.

 

[EKaru]

Yes but BMW sell products globally and not just in North America.
What does not work in one market , works in another.

In which markets does the Gran Turismo work?

 

[mini_cooper4]

My point is that there are too many choices and a lot of overlap

There will always be overlap but the end result is more sales for BMW and more choice for the customers. And that's what we saw during the last few years.
Most of the time the niche product is more expensive(makes more profit) than the core model so stealing sales from it isn't a bad thing tho stealing sales isn't exactly the case with BMW models as sales prove that core models are still selling in great numbers. BMW is selling more and more vehicles every year while keeping its profit margins pretty damn high.
To consider this a bad decision is something I'll never be able to understand

 

[EKaru]

There will always be overlap but the end result is more sales for BMW and more choice for the customers. And that's what we saw during the last few years.
Most of the time the niche product is more expensive(makes more profit) than the core model so stealing sales from it isn't a bad thing tho stealing sales isn't exactly the case with BMW models as sales prove that core models are still selling in great numbers. BMW is selling more and more vehicles every year while keeping its profit margins pretty damn high.
To consider this a bad decision is something I'll never be able to understand

Expansion is a bad decision with regard to vehicle dependability.. Mercedes-Benz is now towards the top of J.D. Power dependability surveys, but around 2003-2004, they too focused on model expansion and as a result they were near the bottom in terms of dependability and it took them a long time to recover from this. They had to cut their profit margin from 3 billion to 1 billion to improve the dependability of their products.

 

[SCOTT27]

In which markets does the Gran Turismo work?

China , Europe and Russia.

 

[SCOTT27]

Again that is the USA. BMW X6 has outsold its initial projection of 40,000 units from its launch to two years on the market.
It made double its initial sales forecast to 80,000 units. It has now surpassed expectations since its launch and this is significant because its a niche - low volume vehicle.

The X6 is why the competition are rushing to get their Sport Activity Coupe to the market.
With X6 it was expected North America would be the largest market , its actually the fifth. The top four are China , Russia , Brazil and the Middle East.

 

[mini_cooper4]

Dependability proves NOT to be a major deal maker/breaker when we're are talking about brand new cars with warranty.
Why does BMW still sell more cars when some of them are "unreliable" and even rusty(proved)?
Most important is the dealer's treatment to the customers not much else

PS: I don't take JD too seriously.
ADAC on the other hand is known to be a reliable source for ages.
Some BMW cars are doing better than many other according to them

 

[Merc1]

There is something to be said about that, because cars like Land Rover, Mini and others stay at the bottom and their popularity is sky-high.

I just love it how BMW apologists rag on JD Powers though, when all the other U.S. surveys say the SAME THING about BMWs. Classic case of throwing out the bad surveys or labeling them as inaccurate, but the ADAC is a god.

BMW was never known for reliability/dependability and neither are those brands that live at the bottom of the survey. As long as they aren't literally breaking down by the side of the road all the time they will always sell because they nail other things that their customers prize. Mercedes on the other hand was known for being dependable so they can't drop that because it is one of their core valures vs BMW, Jaguar, Audi etc. Mercedes would be gone by now if they were still at 2005 levels of dependability/reliability.

M

 

[mini_cooper4]

There is something to be said about that, because cars like Land Rover, Mini and others stay at the bottom and their popularity is sky-high.

I just love it how BMW apologists rag on JD Powers though, when all the other U.S. surveys say the SAME THING about BMWs. Classic case of throwing out the bad surveys or labeling them as inaccurate, but the ADAC is a god.

BMW was never known for reliability/dependability and neither are those brands that live at the bottom of the survey. As long as they aren't literally breaking down by the side of the road all the time they will always sell because they nail other things that their customers prize. Mercedes on the other hand was known for being dependable so they can't drop that because it is one of their core valures vs BMW, Jaguar, Audi etc. Mercedes would be gone by now if they were still at 2005 levels of dependability/reliability.

M

The bold part is what I agree with.
BMW is reliable enough to not hurt its sales.
Pre-2007 levels of MB are unacceptable, yes.
As long as you are not selling cars that are totally unreliable(as was the case with MB) you should be good

 

[Merc1]

As long as you are not selling cars that are totally unreliable(as was the case with MB) you should be good

If that is the case then BMW is there now, because they're in the same boat as Mercedes was.

M