Hot! BREAKING NEWS: BMW Officially Buys ALPINA

[PanterroR]

BREAKING NEWS: BMW Officially Buys ALPINA

The BMW Group is officially expanding, as BMW has officially acquired ALPINA, adding the famed boutique manufacturer to its portfolio of premium brands. BMW AG and ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. have officially reached an agreement to secure the long-term future of ALPINA. Though, both brands have agreed to not publicly discuss the financial details of the acquisition.

For more than half a century, BMW and ALPINA have worked closely with one another, creating some of the most special premium sports cars on the market. Business will continue as usual; with ALPINA developing, manufacturing, and selling modified BMW products; until 2025, as both brands extended their long-term agreement for five years, back in 2020. As per that agreement, ALPINA products will still be pre-assembled on BMW production lines, before being transferred to Buchloe, just outside Munich, for the ALPINA treatment. That agreement won’t change until 2025 but, after that, both brands will look to the future.

In a recent press release, BMW and ALPINA have left no doubt that the future of mobility; both in terms of electrification and automation; was one of the main factors in this acquisition. As a small manufacturer, such drastic changes in the nature of mobility are difficult for ALPINA. But being part of the BMW Group, and having access to all of its resources and engineering might, will help ALPINA move into the future.

After 2025, the current vehicle program at ALPINA’s headquarters in Buchloe will end. Service, parts, and accessories businesses will continue on in Buchloe but the main vehicle manufacturing will not, which will affect jobs. BMW will work to find many of those ALPINA employees jobs with BMW, as well as other suppliers and development partners.

Last year was the most successful year in ALPINA’s history. Being part of the BMW Group will keep ALPINA alive and prosperous through the coming changes. Burkard Bovensiepen founded ALPINA in 1965 and has been developing, manufacturing, and racing modified BMWs ever since. Now, 57 years later, the two brands are officially one.

https://www.bmwblog.com/2022/03/10/...DaWa6ApNZ9cqpFpBlHVQ64kpIGRTmGmO6BtecH2RJdNkc

 

[Deleted member 57437]

BREAKING NEWS: BMW Officially Buys ALPINA

This was inevitable, I reckon.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

In the EV age, I guess ALPINA will provide a more bespoke experience?

 

[Serpens]

Awesome! Can't wait to see what they do with the brand. Hopefully we get expanded availability of models here in the U.S.

 

[dalab]

Awesome! Can't wait to see what they do with the brand. Hopefully we get expanded availability of models here in the U.S.

This is in my opinion, the way to make "BMW Maybach", now also the "Horch" of Audi.
It was even discussed here and it was put on the table what the name would be, we said "Bavaria", L-7 and Alpina among others.

It seems very good to me and it will greatly enhance what Alpina will be from now on for BMW

 

[Deleted member 57437]

Can't wait to see what they do with the brand.

Me too !

Maybe some sort of a retromodern, dedicated electric E9 Alpina 3.0 CSi successor will be in the cards. Not unsimilar to the BMW CSL Hommage concept, but devoid of the excessive aero bits and with a bit more emphasis on elegant refinement.

 

[Centurion]

This was inevitable, I reckon.

I wonder whether electrification(24v, PHEV & BEV) make it unviable for the business to continue as an independent. Correct me if I'm wrong but electrified vehicles aren't easy to tune.

My takeaway from the statement is that this is an acquihire: Alpina car production will close in 2025, BMW will own the brand name and the staff will transfer to BMW AG.

 

[Rolf]

This is a great move, I hope that BMW allows Alpina some freedom with the modifications, especially as they are sometimes rivals for the M-models. The Alpinas could be something of a Maybach rival I guess as Alpina can also be the luxury performance division of BMW.

 

[SCOTT27]

In Munich discussing the deal there at least a passion that retains a sense of honour to maintain Alpina’s historic exclusivity.

Bespoke? Always. Exclusivity? Of Course. Individuality? An Alpina owner knows that his car is one of a kind.

I don’t think we will see Alpina models of every model? I can visualise Alpina sitting at the luxury end of each model applied.
I can see the potential for something stand alone the question is? Design wise How can it differ from a BMW?
One thing it does is answer the Electric question.
Always a thing of debate in Alpina. This acquisition illustrates this question will be finally answered.

 

[Merc1]

Ultra luxury BMWs with more performance should be further improved up while the M division goes even harder core. It could absolutely work.

M

 

[dalab]

This is in my opinion, the way to make "BMW Maybach", now also the "Horch" of Audi.

I hope that BMW allows Alpina some freedom with the modifications, especially as they are sometimes rivals for the M-models. The Alpinas could be something of a Maybach rival I guess as Alpina can also be the luxury performance division of BMW.

Today they had all the freedom in the world being independent but they always remained quite conservative, this step I suppose will change that radically, with infinite resources
I agree, today they are seen very much on a par with M, will BMW take the opportunity to create a new concept? more luxury oriented, "luxury performance division of BMW" it suits me quite a bit.

An Alpina owner knows that his car is one of a kind.

Yes but 2,000 owners a year? If they bought it, it is to take it to the 15,000 to 20,000 that Maybach sells

Design wise How can it differ from a BMW?

Who knows how far they will go, but if the 3 series is a so different car compared to the 4 series, I imagine that it is very possible to generate something unique, it would be great by the way, maybe they will start with the details and end with something like "Lagonda"

As the official statement says, "There is no transfer of shares in the transaction" They only bought the brand rights, this means that they will enhance it for the better for several reasons basically:
1- It is not popular, nor known, nor charismatic for almost anyone, because 98% of people do not even know what it is, only the very fanatical and connoisseurs, so the logos added massively will be for after 20 years of marketing and work.
2- What occurs to me is that they add more models and series to this sub-brand.
3- They will preserve the current characteristics and roots (because for radical sports there is already "M"), but it will have a deeper differentiation in design, grills, visually important details to be between BMW and Rolls Royce, (today to the uninformed eye only they change the wheels), leading it to be (I think) the BMW Maybach, but more complete, with "sport" models like the current ones and more luxurious versions, super long wheel base and chrome.

 

[Tuffode]

Cannot wait to buy a A235i Gran Coupe Alpina Sport.

 

[KiwiRob]

I think this is a sad day for Alpina.

 

[Deleted member 57437]

The upcoming Neue Klasse electric toolkit could open myriad possibilities for an Alpina-branded BMW.

My take: We will see a bespoke Alpina luxury segment 4 door GT, perhaps one of the first Neue Klasse cars to feature solid state battery technology. Hence, a successor to the BMW 8 series per se will be rendered redundant. It will be joined by a bespoke, electric Alpina sport/luxury crossover, the Ferrari Purosangue being a source of "inspiration".

 

[Centurion]

1- It is not popular, nor known, nor charismatic for almost anyone, because 98% of people do not even know what it is, only the very fanatical and connoisseurs, so the logos added massively will be for after 20 years of marketing and work.

This is why I don’t think that there will be new Alpina models beyond 2025. It’s a niche brand that has been cannibalised by BMW’s aggressive expansion of m-lite models.

It would cost BMW many millions and market Alpina to a level that makes it viable to introduce new models. They have bought the brand to prevent a random entreprenueur buying to flog a gazillion car parts that people will think have affiliation with BMW because of the relationship with Alpina.

 

[Giannis]

Did anyone mention how much BMW actually paid for Alpina?

 

[Mick Briesgau]

One can only hope Alpina is not ending up like AMG. Nothing more than a badge, a few spoilers and a over tweaked 4 cylinder engine and in future an electric engine.
I for one have difficulties in stomaching a, let’s say 1er with Alpina badges, wheels, the full monty and then noticing it has a normal BMW 3 cylinder engine. Just the way MB ridiculed AMG with an AMG-line A class.

Unless… it’s going to be a more refined, noticable more luxurious and noticable better materials used for the interior car, only for the 5er upwards. That ignites my enthusiasm! Imagine a 7er in Alpina disguise, a bit less sporty than currently, a bit more luxury and opulence, a better car than the standard 7er. Wouldn’t mind at all paying extra money for it, not at all.

 

[Laurent T]

Ultra luxury BMWs with more performance should be further improved up while the M division goes even harder core. It could absolutely work.

M

That would be a sensitive move and a way to offer a solution for every taste.

 

[Centurion]

Did anyone mention how much BMW actually paid for Alpina?

Financial terms have not been disclosure, nor when the acquisition will complete whether in 2022 or in 2025.

 

[Merc1]

One can only hope Alpina is not ending up like AMG. Nothing more than a badge, a few spoilers and a over tweaked 4 cylinder engine and in future an electric engine.
I for one have difficulties in stomaching a, let’s say 1er with Alpina badges, wheels, the full monty and then noticing it has a normal BMW 3 cylinder engine. Just the way MB ridiculed AMG with an AMG-line A class.

Unless… it’s going to be a more refined, noticable more luxurious and noticable better materials used for the interior car, only for the 5er upwards. That ignites my enthusiasm! Imagine a 7er in Alpina disguise, a bit less sporty than currently, a bit more luxury and opulence, a better car than the standard 7er. Wouldn’t mind at all paying extra money for it, not at all.

I get that you (and me too) have this thing with Mercedes-Benz right now, but saying that AMG is nothing more than a badge is just complete nonsense man. Yeah 4-cylinders in the C-Class AMG models, the V8 is still around in other vehicles. The AMG GT63e performance is not just a badge, neither is the track monster AMG GT Black Series. As far as electrics go, it's the future whether we like it or not, what would have Mercedes-AMG do? Wheel out a new V12 and just stick their head in the sand?


M