October 17th, 2008 — BMW
As many as 733 temporary workers at BMW’s Greer plant will be laid off in December as the German automaker begins to feel the effects of the world financial crisis.
Job reductions at the plant that is a powerful economic engine sustaining thousands of jobs in the Upstate and across South Carolina are limited for now to temporary workers the plant employs through the MAU Inc. staffing company.
The plant has a permanent work force of about 5,400 BMW-hired workers, in addition to hundreds of contract and contingent employees.
Those jobs have a potent multiplier effect. An estimated 23,000 jobs have been created through a network of companies in the Upstate that supply the automotive parts and services. How this reduction could play out through that network was unclear late Thursday.
The company said, however, it remains focused on its planned expansion of the plant, which now makes the X3, X5 and X6 models. It plans to launch a diesel-power X5 this year and a hybrid X6 next year.
Bobby Hitt, a spokesman for BMW, said the company “is not unlike any other manufacturing facility in that it is not immune to uncertain circumstances that we are all witnessing in the economy and, more specifically, the automotive industry.”
The layoffs come after a drop in BMW’s U.S. sales in September. Sales of BMW-branded vehicles plunged nearly 30 percent, compared to the same month last year, the company said. Counting Mini-brand vehicles, the sales drop was 25.8 percent.
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October 14th, 2008 — Auto show / Motor Show, BMW, spyshot
These latest spy shots of the 2009 BMW Z4 caught testing in Germany clearly show that the new two-seat roadster will be getting a folding metal roof in place of the current car’s fabric item.
The next Z4 will make its debut at the LA motor show in November before going on sale in the last quarter of next year.
Other changes to the popular convertible appear to be much more evolutionary than revolutionary but there are still some significant differences that can be easily seen. The central rear brake light has been moved inboard from the lip of the trunk lid to near the rear windscreen, and the shoulder line of the Z4 has been smoothed out considerably.
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September 30th, 2008 — Auto show / Motor Show, BMW
September 29th, 2008 — Auto show / Motor Show, BMW
BMW will launch Concept X1 premium sub-compact Crossover Suv world premier at 2008 Paris Motorshow .There are no competitor now.
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September 22nd, 2008 — Auto show / Motor Show, BMW
With 427 HP on tap, the 750i ActiveHybrid concept just revealed by BMW ahead of the Paris Motor Show isn’t exactly going to appeal to most treehuggers. The concept’s more along the lines of the Mercedes S400 BlueHYBRID and the Lexus LS600hL — looking green without in any way being green. Of course, while it may share essentially the same mild hybrid system as the Mercedes, the BMW has a throbbing 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 compared to the Benz’s sensible V6. That engine combined with a 20 HP electric motor means a total of 442 lb-ft of torque. So what exactly is ‘green’ about this power-barge?
No performance claims have been made for the ActiveHybrid yet, but BMW claims it returns 15 per cent better fuel consumption than the new 750i upon which it is largely based, suggesting a combined average of around 28mpg.
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September 10th, 2008 — Auto show / Motor Show, BMW, GM, Mini, spyshot
The MINI Crossover Concept.
The MINI brand is continuing its overwhelming story of success - now taking a new approach with the MINI Crossover Concept.
This Design Study offers a fascinating outlook at a new facet of the brand powerfully expressed by a truly innovative body concept - the fourth body variant, to be precise, following the classic two-door, the MINI Convertible, and the MINI Clubman.
The MINI Crossover Concept is a new model variant for the first time measuring more than four metres in length, with four drive wheels, four doors and four single seats. These features alone place the new car right in the line of vision of new target groups seeking to combine the individual style of the brand with enhanced versatility within the interior and innovative functionality throughout.
A universal, multifunction fastening rail, the MINI Center Rail, extending between the seats on the centre console of the MINI Crossover Concept, offers not only offers unconventional storage options, but also provides a consistent link between the front row of seats and the rear.
A further highlight within the MINI interior is the innovative central instrument in three-dimensional finish, the MINI Centre Globe.
This combined control and display unit formed as a globe featured for the first time in an automobile worldwide sets new standards for the integrated control of entertainment, communication, navigation, and vehicle functions.
The MINI Crossover reflects not only the potential of the MINI model family in growing further and further to new dimensions, but also the innovative power of MINI’s designers. In this case, the outlook at an additional MINI concept is enriched by a wide range of visions expressing a unique driving experience and way of life only a MINI is able to evoke.
All innovations presented in the MINI Crossover Concept are conceived to expand that characteristic MINI feeling by yet another new dimension.
The innovative character of the new car comprises its body design as well as the drivetrain, the interior and the control concept. Indeed, offering options and versatility of this kind, the MINI Crossover Concept opens up new dimensions in mobility also beyond urban life.
All-wheel drive - the foundation for a new MINI feeling.
A new MINI offers more - and does so in unique style every time.
The MINI Crossover Concept clearly expresses this principle, its all-wheel drive serving to give the new model an even wider range of practical use in new areas and a new experience on routes already driven. But in doing so the MINI Crossover Concept is not limited to the usual status of a conventional all-wheeler. Rather, to offer its additional mobility potential even more consistently, the Concept Car comes with numerous design features making it an all-round talent for a unique experience in everyday life, for enjoying leisure time to the utmost, for adventure travels of all kinds and for travel planning. Hence, the MINI Crossover Concept looks at new objectives and, at the same time, new target groups. Continue reading →
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September 6th, 2008 — Auto Sale Ranking, BMW
FRANKFURT, Germany– BMW’s sales in August increased 2% over the same period a year ago with the Mini and Rolls Royce brands the main contributors, the German carmaker said today.
August sales of BMW cars were flat versus a year ago, but Mini sales were up nearly 11%, while Rolls Royce car sales increased by 23% on the same month a year ago. Meanwhile, BMW motorcycles fell 9%.
For the first nine months, the group’s sales are up more than 4%, with BMW cars up 2.2%; Mini up 15% and Rolls Royce up more than 52%. Motorcycle sales continued to lag, down nearly 3% in the first nine months.
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September 4th, 2008 — China Automotive Movement News
Shanghai, September 5 (Gasgoo.com) BMW Brilliance Auto, German luxury carmaker BMW’s joint venture with Brilliance China Auto, will build a second plant in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, to meet growing demand in China, and the new facility is expected to make all-new BMW 5-Series models first, xinhuanet.com said yesterday.
At a ceremony marking the joint venture’s fifth anniversary and the rolling of its 100,000th vehicle on Thursday, Liu Guoqiang, vice-governor of Liaoning province, said that the new plant will double BMW Brilliance’s annual production capacity to 80,000 cars. Construction of the new factory is to kick off in October, and the facility will start operation by the end of 2009, with the new-generation BMW 5-Series (name-coded BMW F18) as the first models to be made there.
BMW Brilliance Auto chief executive officer Alfred Rupp confirmed that expansion work was planned, without commenting on the final capacity for the factory. A second plant was also under discussion, he said. The venture said in March that it was expanding its annual capacity to 41,000 vehicles this year from 30,000 through plant upgrades and other measures. BMW Brilliance, which yesterday had its 100,000th car rolling off line, makes 17 variants in total of BMW’s 3-Series and 5-Series models.
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July 7th, 2008 — BMW, spyshot
December 17th, 2007 — Mini
So far we’ve known the upcoming Mini SUV, or SAV, as the Mini Colorado. However in a recent conversation with Auto Motor und Sport, Mini’s CEO said that the Colorado is only the working title. When the next Mini variant hits the roads in 2010, it may carry the name ‘Crossman.’
Engine sizes for the Mini SAV are expected to start at 1.4 liter and will go up to 1.6 liter. A 2.0 liter variant could also be in the works.
BMW will be outsourcing production of the SUV to Magna International. The Mini Crossman is expected to hit the roads around 2010 with 80,000 units planned annually.
Source : egmcartech
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