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BMW developing electric 5 Series and X1 in a company-wide push for sustainability

BMW has announced a new, bolder direction for the company, with policies designed to reduce environmental impacts from the manufacturing of new cars.


At the forefront of the new climate-change strategy is a range of electric models, confirming for the first time a fully-electric 5 Series and X1 SUV are in development.

The i5 sedan and iX1 SUV (possibly the recently spied 'iNext'), as they're expected to be named, will join 23 other electrified models expected in the next three years as part of BMW's 'Power of Choice' strategy – half of which will be fully-electric.

Although yet to be announced, a camouflaged 3 Series sedan has been spied this week with notably absent exhaust pipes – suggesting a mid-sized electric 3 Series will slot-in next to the anticipated i4. As BMW already offers an i3 electric model, it's not yet known what the electric 3 Series will be named.

“The advent of new electrified models in the future perfectly complements our Power of Choice strategy, where we aim to give customers the opportunity to purchase a particular model with either a petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid or full electric drive system," a spokesperson for BMW Australia told Drive.

 

Drive

BMW Group's Board of Management has set CO2 targets for the entire company to meet by 2030, affirming the organisation's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.

One of the most significant targets is reducing the CO2 emissions per vehicle by at least 33 per cent. The figure includes production and shipping, as well as the emissions produced by the vehicles themselves.

"We are not just making abstract statements – we have developed a detailed ten-year plan with annual interim goals for the timeframe up to 2030,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management.

“We will report on our progress every year and measure ourselves against these targets," he said. "The compensation of our Board of Management and executive management will also be tied to this.”

 

Drive

Within the manufacturing process, BMW says it has reduced the emissions per vehicle produced by more than 70 per cent since 2006. It is now aiming to cut those production emissions by a further 80 per cent from 2019 figures, and will offset the remainder from next year.

While 95 per cent of the material in BMW cars can be recycled, the company says it will be increasing the amount of already-recycled material used.

BMW will also define the carbon footprints across its supply chain, requiring suppliers to meet CO2 targets defined in its contracts. Those supply chain contracts amount to €60 billion (AU$99B) per annum.

The German automaker says it has already put in place contractual agreements with the companies responsible for producing batteries for its electrified models, ensuring all factories use 'green' power.

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Ben Zachariah

Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, having worked in the automotive industry for more than two decades. Ben began writing professionally more than 15 years ago and was previously an interstate truck driver. He completed his MBA in Finance in early 2021 and is considered an expert on classic car investment.

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