“No demand” for electric Alpina BMWs, says company CEO

BMW-backed tuner Alpina claims there is "no demand" in the short term for high-performance electric vehicles, despite BMW committing billions into development of the technology.

Speaking to German website BimmerToday, Alpina CEO Andreas Bovensiepen claimed Alpina customers don't use their cars in a way that is compatible with the shortcomings of today's electric vehicles.

"We have customers especially in Europe who drive 30,000 to 50,000 kilometers a year. [Nine months] ago we carried out a customer survey on the subject of hybrids and BEVs (battery-electric vehicles. Our customers currently feel no demand for battery-electric models," said Bovensiepen, when asked about the potential for an electric Alpina.

"This is also due to the high mileage: Alpina customers, especially in Germany, want to drive fast and accelerate hard – then, of course, range is still an issue. Our customers usually use their BMW Alpina as their first vehicle, as a "daily dream car".

"If you were to transfer an eight-cylinder [engine's] driving behaviour to a BEV, then the range would probably be a maximum of 200 kilometres. Especially when I want to drive fast, that simply doesn't work. That's why we are deliberately holding back. The market is not yet ready for our customers."

The Alpina CEO's comments come as BMW plans to launch two new M-badged electric vehicles within the next 12 months: a 400kW M50 version of the mid-size i4 sedan, and a 440kW-plus M60 variant of the iX SUV.

When asked if the BMW M electric vehicles could get the Alpina treatment, Bovensiepen said: "Many things are conceivable. But as I said, our resources are limited. First of all, we want to build what our regular customers want. We are observing the market and looking at new technologies, but we cannot expect a BMW Alpina as a [battery-electric] vehicle in the short term.

"That also depends on how many XB7s (Alpina's large V8 SUV) we sell. We have negotiated our own CO2 limits with the EU commission. If the XB7 does extremely well in Europe, we may come into conflict with our target values. Then we might have to offer a hybrid or a battery-electric vehicle in the medium term.

"But at the moment we are well-positioned. Of course, we are taking a close look at the demand for the BMW i4 and the iX3. With the BMW iX, we are not sure whether it is really aimed at our target group.

Alpina's line-up in Europe currently comprises the B3 petrol and D3 S diesel mid-size sedan and wagon families, B5 and D5 S large sedan and wagon families, B7 flagship limousine, B8 large sedan, XD3 and XD4 diesel mid-size SUVs, and the XB7 flagship SUV.

Of those, only the B3 sedan and wagon, B8, XD3 and XB7 are available in Australia.

BMW has committed to offering electric options in 90 per cent of its segments by 2023, comprising 12 electric models – including electric versions of the next 5 Series and 7 Series, which could in time be converted into Alpina-badged models.

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