Both BMW Group and PSA Group have put operations on hold at their UK manufacturing plants, as they prepare for disruptions from Brexit. According to the Oxford Mail, the Mini factory in Cowley will be put on hold for four weeks...
BMW Australia has recalled the current-generation 'F60' Mini Countryman with the three-cylinder petrol engine, over concerns about the high-pressure fuel pump. According to the company a crash protection plate wasn't installed for the high-pressure fuel pump, meaning the pump could be damaged in a severe front-end accident...
BMW Group has announced Vikram Pawah will take over from Marc Werner as Australia/New Zealand CEO on August 1. He'll be moving on from his role as BMW India's president, having joined the BMW Group in January 2017. His career in the auto industry spans more than 25 years. “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Vikram to his expanded role," said Hildegard Wortmann, senior vice president of BMW Group, Asia Pacific...
The BMW Group and Great Wall Motor have signed a joint venture agreement to produce electric vehicles for Mini in China, under the company name Spotlight Automotive Limited. Along with the upcoming electric Mini models, the joint venture will also produce EVs for Great Wall, with the facility to be located in the Chinese province of Jiangsu, north of Shanghai...
Rolls-Royce head of design, Giles Taylor, has left the British luxury marque at short notice, with little explanation for the sudden departure provided. Taylor is the man responsible for the new Phantom and the first Rolls-Royce SUV, the Cullinan – not to mention the dramatic, forward-looking Vision Next 100 Concept, launched as part of BMW's centenary...
The upcoming BMW iX3 electric SUV has been confirmed for production in China from 2020, alongside the combustion-powered version. During the company's annual general meeting this week, CEO Harald Krüger confirmed BMW will extend its partnership with regional partner Brilliance Auto...
BMW Group has become the first worldwide carmaker to obtain a Shanghai Intelligent Connected Autonomous Driving Test License, allowing it to put self-driving vehicles through their paces on Chinese roads. Although it has demonstrated Level 3 autonomous technology under closed, Government-supervised conditions on a stretch of Chengdu highway in 2016, the license opens the door for more advanced testing...
BMW's boss, Harald Krüger, has confirmed the new X5 SUV will debut "later this year" – the first official confirmation of the new model's timing. Speaking at the 98th Annual General Meeting for BMW AG in Munich, Krüger said "2018 will be our X year", detailing the rollout of the X2, X3, X4, and "a successor to the X5"...
Mini Australia has announced pricing and specs for the facelifted Hatch and Convertible ranges, which touch down locally on July 1. After being treated to a mid-life spruce-up (or a Life Cycle Impulse in BMW-speak), the Cooper Hatch 3 Door will be priced from $29,900 before on-road costs, up $1990 on the current model – although Mini says you get $3600 worth of extra gear...
Hot on the heels of BMW Access in the the USA, BMW UK has teamed up with Drover to offer a flexible, monthly subscription plan for its vehicles. As is the case with similar plans from Volvo, subscribers pay a single, monthly fee covering insurance, servicing, taxes and roadside assistance, along with access to the BMW 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5 Series model lines, along with the brand's X models and iPerformance offerings...
BMW has committed to boosting its spend on electric vehicle development this year, with board members revealing the planned investment in a press conference last month. Harald Kruger, chairman of the BMW Group board of management, used his time at the microphone to outline the brand's planned electric rollout. It'll start with the iX3, before expanding to include the iNext and i4...
Pricing and specifications for the upgraded 2018 Mini Clubman range have been announced this week, bringing more technology and equipment to the funky six-door wagon. Headlining changes include the standard inclusion of the Driver Assist package across the range - which includes active safety tech like autonomous emergency braking (AEB), highbeam assist and traffic sign recognition - along with the Mini Connected infotainment package and Navigation System Business...
The BMW Group has announced Oliver Heilmer as the new head of design for the Mini brand, almost a year since his predecessor Anders Warming moved on. Heilmer is the current president of Designworks, a subsidiary of the BMW Group - with design studios in California, Munich and Shanghai - and has been part of the group's design team for 17 years...
Mini has announced a number of range-wide updates this week for July production, including the addition of Apple CarPlay mirroring, along with a new driver's cluster and head-up display. All models in the line-up - which includes the Hatch, Clubman wagon and Countryman SUV - will get a new cockpit instrument layout with an additional "night" design and a revised fuel level display...
BMW Group has announced an additional £250 million ($380 million) investment into its three UK-based Mini production facilities as it prepares to expand its line-up to 10 different models in the medium-term...
