BMW

BMW has revealed a new electric scooter concept, the Concept e, at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show as part of BMW Motorrad's focus on issues of individual single-track mobility.

The Concept e, which was presented alongside BMW's electric i3 and i8 vehicles, is designed to convey the importance that BMW sees in the emotional dialogue between the rider and the vehicle. The Concept e is immediately recognizable as a BMW motorcycle, with the ‘split face' running from the upper trim section to above the front wheel cover. The front and rear side trim sections are finished in 'light white' to contrast starkly the ‘black chrome light' and ‘black chrome dark' used on the upper trim section and side sills respectively. The design of the light alloy wheels is designed to link the Concept e to the BMW i cars.

The Concept e contains two video cameras in the rear light cluster casing, replacing rear mirrors by displaying all activity behind the rider on two LCD monitors located in the cockpit. Other information including vehicle speed is shown on a digital display in the cockpit, which BMW Motorrad has reduced to contain the bare minimum of equipment.

BMW, Brilliance break ground on second plant

100,000 BMWs annually before ramping up to around 200,000 units by 2012. BMW says that the plant’s maximum capacity is around 300,000 new cars – a figure nearly seven times the automaker’s current Chinese production capacity.

BMW’s year-to-date sales are up nearly 77 percent in China to around 22,000 units; combined with its MINI division, sales have climbed more than 100 percent over last year’s numbers. The automaker says that the new plant will significantly increase its available inventory.

BMW has struggled in China against Volkswagen’s Audi luxury brand, which has had the capability to build more cars in China.