BMW Shifting Focus of i Brand

fecurtis · 06-03-2016, 11:27 AM

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from the article...

Quote:

“The company has changed tack after its only fully battery-powered car, the i3, failed to gain traction with the public, with only 25,000 sales last year. By contrast, Tesla has already received more than 370,000 orders for its Model 3.

Now, rather than seeking to match the likes of Tesla and Porsche with a new zero-emissions sports limousine for release within the next two years, its main focus will be on developing an electric car with the next generation of technology: autonomous driving.”

http://electrek.co/2016/06/02/bmw-i-...-driving-cars/

ShocknAwe · 06-03-2016, 11:59 AM

Haha, not even going to try to compete huh? BMW just officially gave up.

fecurtis · 06-03-2016, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Haha, not even going to try to compete huh? BMW just officially gave up.

Pretty much.

MSteve5036 · 06-03-2016, 12:18 PM

Gavin Belson must be running the i division

Viffermike · 06-03-2016, 12:48 PM

"i" is to self-driving cars what "warhead" is to an ICBM: It pretty much does nothing unless it gets to its destination.

Time for a re-brand!

TBN54 · 06-03-2016, 12:54 PM

Congrats BMW, you played yourself.

Law · 06-03-2016, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBN54

Congrats BMW, you played yourself.

TBN54 · 06-03-2016, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Law

Exactly what I had in mind when I posted that lol. Don't know how to post pictures or vids though.

Chihuahua · 06-03-2016, 03:02 PM

It didn't gain traction because it is hideous, range isn't that great, it's hideous, it's not cheap, and it's hideous. Did I mention it's hideous? A shame, because it actually drives decently.

fravel · 06-03-2016, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle B

It didn't gain traction because it is hideous, range isn't that great, it's hideous, it's not cheap, and it's hideous. Did I mention it's hideous? A shame, because it actually drives decently.

For real. What executive looked at that thing and went "Yeah, that'll sell"?

Bbb34 · 06-03-2016, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fravel

For real. What executive looked at that thing and went "Yeah, that'll sell"?

Same one who approved "iPad like" sticking out navigation display I'm sure.

Dog Face Pony Soldier · 06-03-2016, 05:33 PM

Wait- We were told that this was the inevitable future. We were told that if we remained bitter (internal-combustion) clingers we would be relegated to the sidelines.

zenmaster · 06-03-2016, 08:00 PM

BMW will start losing significant sales of their bread and butter 3-series to Tesla in 2 years, yet no plans to introduce a competitive EV platform for 5 years? I'd be a pissed-off shareholder.

antzcrashing · 06-03-2016, 08:49 PM

Apologize if this is a repost, but i searched.

http://flip.it/ykz8y

http://blog.caranddriver.com/forget-...ts-i-division/

I don't like the move, I am somewhat bullish on electric cars, but bearish on autonomous tech - I think its going to be a disappointment and/or take awhile to mature

antzcrashing · 06-03-2016, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenmaster

BMW will start losing significant sales of their bread and butter 3-series to Tesla in 2 years, yet no plans to introduce a competitive EV platform for 5 years? I'd be a pissed-off shareholder.

Tesla is going to botch the model 3 so bad and so publicly it will be entertaining. And when people realize that the model 3 is a bate and switch the same will happen to the 1000 dollar "pinky-swears" that they sold. That said, bmws failure with their own electric division is seeming more apparent

Fundguy1 · 06-03-2016, 09:26 PM

Hurray!

klrgoten · 06-04-2016, 08:41 AM

At least someone knew when to cut their losses and move on...

zenmaster · 06-04-2016, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

Tesla is going to botch the model 3 so bad and so publicly it will be entertaining. And when people realize that the model 3 is a bate and switch the same will happen to the 1000 dollar "pinky-swears" that they sold. That said, bmws failure with their own electric division is seeming more apparent

So what you're basically saying is BMW has no concern about Tesla, because the Model 3 won't sell. We'll see how BMW's gross market ignorance works out for their bottom line.

Chihuahua · 06-04-2016, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fravel

For real. What executive looked at that thing and went "Yeah, that'll sell"?

I don't know.

When I went to the launch test drive at Fields BMW, they had the i3 parked next to an Isetta. It's almost as if BMW was apologizing in advance for its hideous aesthetics.

The i3 frustrates the bejeezus out of me. If it looked like a normal BMW, there would be one sitting in my driveway right now. I am a total BMW fanboy. I need a car that we can use 2 to 3 times per week, with no more than 50 miles per day of use, that requires little to no upkeep on my part (the E30 and E60 use up enough of my time). The i3 would tick all of those boxes, but it is absolutely the most atrocious looking car to come off of the assembly line since the Pontiac Aztek, and it is too damn expensive for what you get. A shame too, because the interior is pretty cool and it doesn't drive too badly. Fatter (read:normal) tires and a lower/stiffer suspension would do it wonders. I've tried as hard as I can to warm up to the looks of it, but I concede defeat.

Fundguy1 · 06-04-2016, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenmaster

BMW will start losing significant sales of their bread and butter 3-series to Tesla in 2 years, yet no plans to introduce a competitive EV platform for 5 years? I'd be a pissed-off shareholder.

If tesla delivers, if the tesla is what theu say it is, if tesla fixes it's reliability issues, and if gas prices jump again because hillary gets the white house. Lotta ifs.

zenmaster · 06-04-2016, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

If tesla delivers, if the tesla is what theu say it is, if tesla fixes it's reliability issues, and if gas prices jump again because hillary gets the white house. Lotta ifs.

Tesla will probably have its share of challenges and shortcomings, but the momentum in the fast-growing EV market should have been clear to BMW much earlier. Gas prices are obviously only a factor when battery costs are non-competitive, but in the real world that is changing now: http://insideevs.com/falling-gas-pri...y-prices-wins/

Fundguy1 · 06-04-2016, 11:18 AM

EV still account for less than 1% of car sales nationally. Fast growing going from 0.4% to 0.8% is a double. Still insignificant. I picture the majority of tesla sales as the same people who want the latest iphone, etc. They rush out when the new model comes then sales plummet till the next new shiny object catches their attention. Going to be decades before EV sales start gathering meani market share and mass market acceptance.

06-03-2016, 11:59 AM	#2
ShocknAwe 1Addict 3233 Rep 7,892 Posts Drives: E82 Mutt, M57 Truck Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charleston iTrader: (22)	Haha, not even going to try to compete huh? BMW just officially gave up. __________________ 2010 135i 6MT Jet Black N54/3 FE82 Mutt \| BUILD THREAD \| GARAGE SALE
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06-03-2016, 12:18 PM	#4
MSteve5036 Captain 125 Rep 713 Posts Drives: 08/99 M3s Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: PA iTrader: (1)	Gavin Belson must be running the i division
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06-03-2016, 12:48 PM	#5
Viffermike Colonel 1753 Rep 2,942 Posts Drives: '18 black-n-blue 718 Cayman Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Big D iTrader: (0)	"i" is to self-driving cars what "warhead" is to an ICBM: It pretty much does nothing unless it gets to its destination. Time for a re-brand! __________________ --Life is a journey made more exciting with a fast car.-- --Helmets are for closers.-- <<Current: "Blackened" '18 NBM Porsche 718 Cayman ... Gone (but not forgotten): "Blackened" MG '15 228i M Sport w/aFe filter/scoop, Hertz drivers, P3Cars multigauge, other goodies>>
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06-03-2016, 12:54 PM	#6
TBN54 Captain 427 Rep 793 Posts Drives: 08' E92 335 -> 17' F30 340i Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	Congrats BMW, you played yourself.
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06-03-2016, 03:02 PM	#9
Chihuahua Brigadier General 4059 Rep 3,196 Posts Drives: E30 329iS, E65 Alpina B7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	It didn't gain traction because it is hideous, range isn't that great, it's hideous, it's not cheap, and it's hideous. Did I mention it's hideous? A shame, because it actually drives decently.
	Appreciate 3 Quote

06-03-2016, 05:33 PM	#12
Dog Face Pony Soldier 2006 TIME Person Of The Year 9720 Rep 6,445 Posts Drives: M Sport 335i Join Date: May 2013 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 335i [9.74]	Wait- We were told that this was the inevitable future. We were told that if we remained bitter (internal-combustion) clingers we would be relegated to the sidelines. __________________
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06-03-2016, 08:00 PM	#13
zenmaster Brigadier General 1577 Rep 3,888 Posts Drives: '17 M2 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (1)	BMW will start losing significant sales of their bread and butter 3-series to Tesla in 2 years, yet no plans to introduce a competitive EV platform for 5 years? I'd be a pissed-off shareholder.
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06-03-2016, 08:49 PM	#14
antzcrashing Brigadier General 1904 Rep 3,214 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW 440i GC Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Eastern MA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW 440i GC xD ... [9.75]	BMW I division change of path/vision Apologize if this is a repost, but i searched. http://flip.it/ykz8y http://blog.caranddriver.com/forget-...ts-i-division/ I don't like the move, I am somewhat bullish on electric cars, but bearish on autonomous tech - I think its going to be a disappointment and/or take awhile to mature
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-03-2016, 09:26 PM	#16
Fundguy1 Major General 2031 Rep 8,339 Posts Drives: 335 e93 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando, fl iTrader: (0)	Hurray!
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06-04-2016, 08:41 AM	#17
klrgoten Second Lieutenant 40 Rep 210 Posts Drives: /// Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: /// iTrader: (0)	At least someone knew when to cut their losses and move on...
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06-04-2016, 11:18 AM	#22
Fundguy1 Major General 2031 Rep 8,339 Posts Drives: 335 e93 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando, fl iTrader: (0)	EV still account for less than 1% of car sales nationally. Fast growing going from 0.4% to 0.8% is a double. Still insignificant. I picture the majority of tesla sales as the same people who want the latest iphone, etc. They rush out when the new model comes then sales plummet till the next new shiny object catches their attention. Going to be decades before EV sales start gathering meani market share and mass market acceptance.
	Appreciate 0 Quote