by Staff Writer
BMW is on track to sell more than 100 000 electric vehicles in 2017 after the German carmaker announced on Wednesday good sales for the electrified cars.
BMW is targeting to sell 100, 000 electric-powered cars this year as its battle with Mercedes-Benz for the number one spot as the leading premium brand automaker.
The carmaker announced on Wednesday that it has sold almost 20,000 electrified vehicles worldwide in the first quarter of 2017.
BMW launched the BMW i3 in November 2013.
The Munich-based firm said in a statement that since the beginning of the year, almost 20,000 electrified vehicles have been delivered to customers worldwide, double the number sold by this time last year.
The carmaker added that the first quarter production of electrified vehicles totalled more than 24,000 vehicles.
Scandinavia continues to be a strong region for electrified vehicle sales, said BMW.
“As of early April, over 10,000 BMW i3 vehicles have been delivered to customers in Norway since launch,” the company said.
March also saw the launch of the plug-in hybrid BMW 530e iPerformance in most markets.
“That model is expected to be a strong growth driver for electrified vehicle sales, as is the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid which will start delivery in June,” BMW said.
Also read: BMW to pump R400 million in SA to build a regional distribution centre
BMW is investing a further R400 million in South Africa to build a new regional distribution centre at the Waterfall Distribution Campus in March 2017 and revamp its headquarters.
The investment project will be multi-phased.
It will also expand its Midrand Headquarters over the next two years.
The car maker said in a statement that this customised warehouse will double in size and further refine the service to customers of the BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad brands not only in South Africa, but also to tap into the growth potential of Sub-Saharan Africa.
It added that relocation of parts warehousing to this new site in 2018 opens space on the Midrand campus to build a state-of-the-art dealer training centre, where BMW Group South Africa dealer staff will be empowered to take premium customer service to the next level.
The R400m investment is in addition to the R6 billion injection announced in November 2015, preparing the company’s Rosslyn Plant to build the next generation BMW X3.
