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Tag: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

  • Renault finds electric-hydrogen hybrid idea automobile, says it’s going to have vary of as much as 497 miles

    Main points of Renault’s Scénic Imaginative and prescient idea automobile had been introduced to the general public on Would possibly 19, 2022. The company’s thought of growing a passenger car that makes use of hydrogen era isn’t distinctive.

    Benjamin Girette | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

    Renault has launched main points of an electric-hydrogen hybrid idea automobile, with the French automaker describing hydrogen era as being “one of the crucial choices to make electrical automobiles extra handy.”

    The design for Renault’s Scenic Imaginative and prescient contains a hydrogen engine, electrical motor, battery, gas cellular and a hydrogen tank. The two.5 kilogram tank is situated on the car’s entrance and, Renault mentioned, would take round 5 mins to fill.

    In keeping with a record revealed on Thursday that defined the concept that, the Scenic Imaginative and prescient’s 40 kilowatt hour battery is recyclable and shall be produced at a facility in France through 2024.

    In a remark, Gilles Vidal, who’s director of design at Renault, mentioned the concept that “prefigures the outside design of the brand new Scénic 100% electrical type for 2024.” The corporate mentioned the electric-hydrogen powertrain used to be “a part of a longer-term imaginative and prescient, past 2030.”

    The vast thought is that the Scenic Imaginative and prescient’s hydrogen gas cellular would lend a hand prolong the car’s vary throughout longer journeys. “In 2030 and past, as soon as the community of hydrogen stations is huge sufficient, it is possible for you to to power as much as 800 km [a little over 497 miles] … with out preventing to price the battery,” Renault mentioned.

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    Described through the World Power Company as a “flexible power provider,” hydrogen has a various vary of programs and may also be deployed in a variety of industries.

    It may be produced in a variety of techniques. One way contains the usage of electrolysis, with an electrical present splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen.

    If the electrical energy used on this procedure comes from a renewable supply corresponding to wind or sun then some name it inexperienced or renewable hydrogen.

    It is envisaged that Renault’s hybrid would use inexperienced hydrogen, despite the fact that nearly all of hydrogen era is lately in accordance with fossil fuels.

    Renault’s electric-hydrogen idea illustrates how automobile firms wish to to find techniques to expand low and 0 emission choices that may compete with the variety of gas and diesel automobiles.

    “A number of techniques to counterpoint electrical motors are being explored lately to deal with the necessities related to long-distance using,” Renault mentioned. “Hydrogen era is likely one of the choices to make electrical automobiles extra handy.”

    Within the box of hydrogen mobility, the Renault Team has already arrange a three way partnership with Plug Energy referred to as Hyvia. Amongst different issues, it’s serious about hydrogen gas cells in mild business automobiles and the rollout of hydrogen charging amenities.

    Renault’s thought of growing a passenger car that makes use of hydrogen era isn’t distinctive.

    Toyota, as an example, set to work at the construction of fuel-cell automobiles — the place hydrogen from a tank mixes with oxygen, generating electrical energy — again in 1992. In 2014, the Jap trade introduced the Mirai, a hydrogen gas cellular sedan.

    Different main firms like Hyundai and BMW also are having a look at hydrogen, in addition to smaller issues corresponding to U.Ok.-based Riversimple.

    Whilst the above firms are having a look at the possibility of hydrogen, some high-profile figures within the car sector aren’t so positive. In Feb. 2021, Herbert Diess, the CEO of Germany’s Volkswagen Team, weighed in at the matter. “It is time for politicians to just accept science,” he tweeted.

    “Inexperienced hydrogen is wanted for metal, chemical, aero … and must now not finally end up in automobiles. A ways too dear, inefficient, gradual and hard to roll out and shipping. In spite of everything: no #hydrogen automobiles in sight.”

    In spite of Thursday’s unveiling of the Scenic Imaginative and prescient idea, even Renault CEO Luca de Meo would seem to be wary relating to speaking about hydrogen’s potentialities, consistent with feedback revealed through Autocar.

    Somewhere else, in Feb. 2020 Brussels-based marketing campaign workforce Shipping and Setting hammered house simply how a lot pageant hydrogen would face within the transportation sector.

    T&E made the purpose that inexperienced hydrogen would not handiest need to “compete with gray and blue hydrogen,” that are produced the usage of fossil fuels. “It’s going to compete with petrol, diesel, marine gas oil, kerosene and, after all, electrical energy,” T&E mentioned.

    “Anyplace batteries are a realistic answer — automobiles; vehicles; city, regional and possibly long-haul vehicles; ferries — hydrogen will face an uphill combat as a result of its decrease potency and, consequently, a lot upper gas prices.”

  • BMW provides an electrical i7 sedan to its flagship 7-Collection lineup, beginning at $119,300

    BMW 760i xDrive (Eu fashion proven)

    BMW

    BMW is including an all-electric fashion to its flagship 7-Collection sedan lineup because the German luxurious logo pivots to EVs to raised compete in opposition to business chief Tesla.

    The brand new EV, known as the i7, was once unveiled on Wednesday and is anticipated to reach at U.S. dealerships all over the fourth quarter. The i7 might be BMW’s 3rd all-electric car, following the iX crossover and i4 midsize sedan.

    Beginning costs for the 2023 BMW 7-Collection will vary from $93,300 for a 740i with a three.0-liter, twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, to $119,300 for the electrical i7 xDrive60. A 760i xDrive fashion powered by means of a V-8 engine will get started at $113,600. The non-EV variations function a light hybrid machine to strengthen efficiency and gasoline financial system, in keeping with the corporate.

    BMW 7-Collection i7 xDrive60 electrical sedan

    BMW

    BMW known as the brand new electrical i7 a “totally built-in member of the 7 Collection line” — from its luxurious-looking inside with a plethora of monitors to its trendy external. Preorders for the car opened Wednesday.

    The outside of the brand new 7-Collection lineup marks an evolution of BMW’s design language, which contains sleeker strains and bigger grilles. The automobiles additionally function a extra muscular design and stance in comparison to the smoother glance of the present fashions.

    The brand new 7-Collection includes a 12.3-inch knowledge show in the back of the steerage wheel and a 14.9-inch keep watch over computer screen. There is additionally the “BMW Interplay Bar” around the entrance software panel underneath the principle monitors to keep watch over local weather, air flow and different purposes.

    BMW 760i xDrive (Eu fashion proven)

    BMW

    The rear inside spotlight is the “BMW Theater Display screen,” which incorporates a 31.3-inch 8K touchscreen show with Amazon Hearth TV that was once previewed by means of the corporate previous this 12 months in an idea car.

    The efficiency of the brand new 7-Collection lineup varies in accordance with the fashion. The i7’s two electrical motors produce a mixed output of 536 horsepower and 549 pound-foot of torque. The car is estimated to have the ability to touring 300 miles on a unmarried price, and boost up from 0-60 mph in about 4.5 seconds, in keeping with BMW.

    Automobiles with the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine produce a mixed output of 536 horsepower and 553 pound-foot of torque. The V-8 fashion is anticipated to succeed in 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds.

    BMW 7-Collection i7 xDrive60 electrical sedan

    BMW

  • Mercedes-Benz unveils its new electrical EQS SUV constructed within the U.S.

    Mercedes-Benz electrical EQS SUV

    Mercedes-Benz

    Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday took the wraps off its new EQS SUV, its first absolutely electrical SUV constructed locally for the U.S. marketplace.

    The automobile is the sibling of the EQS sedan, launched ultimate 12 months, however with seating for as much as seven folks and a taller, bubblier stance. It’s anticipated to rival the Tesla Type X and BMW iX, in line with Mercedes-Benz.

    Just like the sedan, the EQS SUV includes a tech-savvy inner that incorporates 3 displays overlaying just about all of the software panel. A unmarried 56-inch curved glass floor covers the displays, one in all which is a passenger display that isn’t visual to the motive force.

    Mercedes-Benz electrical EQS SUV

    Mercedes-Benz

    “With the posh EQS sedan and the sporty government EQE sedan, Mercedes-Benz has entered a brand new, all-electric technology within the higher marketplace segments,” the corporate mentioned in a liberate.

    The SUV is anticipated to enter manufacturing at Mercedes-Benz’s plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, within the coming months and arrive in U.S. showrooms in past due 2022, the corporate mentioned. The U.S. manufacturing is a part of the German automaker’s plans to supply 8 new all-electric cars at seven websites on 3 continents.

    Mercedes-Benz didn’t liberate pricing for the EQS SUV, however it is more likely to best $100,000. The EQS sedan fashions get started at kind of $102,000 and $126,000.

    Mercedes-Benz electrical EQS SUV

    Mercedes-Benz

    The EQS SUV, just like the sedan, will to begin with be presented in two fashions, together with a “580 4MATIC” model that includes two electrical motors able to 536 horsepower and 633 pound-foot of torque.

    Mercedes-Benz didn’t liberate the anticipated electrical vary of the EQS SUV for the U.S., however the sedan model can achieve as much as 350 miles on a unmarried rate, in line with the U.S. Environmental Coverage Company.

    The EQS SUV is supplied with a number of protection and comfort options, together with Mercedes-Benz’s newest driver-assist device that may regulate portions of the automobile equivalent to acceleration and braking when enabled.

    Just like the sedan, the EQS SUV has its personal not obligatory air-freshener perfume, referred to as “No. 6 Temper Mimosa.” Mercedes-Benz says it’s “an earthy perfume with a slightly of sensuality” that was once specifically designed for the cars.

    Mercedes-Benz electrical EQS SUV

    Mercedes-Benz

  • Eastern automotive massive Honda goals EV enlargement, earmarks billions for R&D

    With a number of main economies taking a look to chop the selection of diesel and gas cars on their roads, Honda and different carmakers are making an attempt to increase electrification methods that can permit them to stay aggressive going ahead.

    Aimur Kytt | Istock Editorial | Getty Pictures

    Honda plans to speculate round 5 trillion yen ($39.9 billion) in electrification and tool applied sciences over the following 10 years, with the Eastern automobile massive aiming to release 30 electrical car fashions international by means of 2030.

    In a remark Tuesday, the corporate stated roughly 3.5 trillion yen would cross towards analysis and building bills, with 1.5 trillion yen taken with investments.

    Honda stated it might goal an EV manufacturing quantity of over 2 million devices in line with 12 months in 2030. Its general funds for R&D bills on this time-frame would quantity to kind of 8 trillion yen, or roughly $63.9 billion, it stated.

    On the subject of manufacturing, Honda stated it might glance to arrange what it referred to as a “devoted EV plant” within the Chinese language towns of Guangzhou and Wuhan. The company stated it used to be additionally “making plans for a devoted EV manufacturing line” in North The usa.

    At the battery entrance in North The usa, the corporate is to “procure Ultium batteries from GM. One after the other, except GM, Honda is exploring the opportunity of making a three way partnership corporate for battery manufacturing.”

    Simply final week, Honda and GM introduced they’d increase a sequence of reasonably priced electrical cars in response to a brand new international platform.

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    With a number of main economies taking a look to chop the selection of diesel and gas cars on their roads within the years forward, Honda and different carmakers are making an attempt to increase electrification methods to permit them to stay alongside of new rules and stay aggressive.  

    Closing month, for instance, Ford defined plans to roll out 3 new passenger electrical cars and 4 new business EVs in Europe by means of 2024, with the corporate pronouncing it anticipated to promote over 600,000 EVs in line with 12 months within the area by means of 2026.

    In March 2021, Volvo Automobiles stated it deliberate to turn into a “totally electrical automotive corporate” by means of the 12 months 2030.

    In different places, BMW Team has stated it needs totally electrical cars to constitute a minimum of 50% of its deliveries by means of 2030.

    Such goals will put those firms in pageant with Elon Musk’s Tesla, which produced greater than 305,000 cars within the first quarter of 2022.

    Every other carmaker with plans for electrification is Mercedes-Benz, which has up to now stated it “might be able to head all-electric on the finish of the last decade, the place marketplace stipulations permit.”

    On Monday, the company held an ESG convention for analysts and traders. Amongst different issues, it stated it sought after to hide over 70% of its power wishes with renewables by means of 2030.

    It could accomplish that, it stated, by means of “rolling out sun and wind energy” at its personal websites in addition to getting into into extra energy acquire agreements.

    In an interview with CNBC’s Annette Weisbach this week, Ola Kallenius, chairman of the board of control at Mercedes-Benz Team, laid out probably the most pondering in the back of his corporate’s technique.

    “The great factor with making an investment in renewables, particularly renewables in spaces that experience a prime yield, is that in case you have a look at the cent in line with kilowatt-hour as soon as you’re up and working, lots of the ones choices are in reality more cost effective than fossil-based power,” he stated.

    Making an investment in renewables, Kallenius added, used to be “just right trade.”

  • Normal Motors is developing an import trade to ship positive iconic cars to China

    GM President Mark Reuss proclaims a $2.2 billion funding within the automaker’s Detroit-Hamtramck Meeting plant in Michigan for brand spanking new all-electric vans and self sustaining cars on Jan. 27, 2020.

    Michael Wayland / CNBC

    DETROIT – Normal Motors is developing a brand new China-based top rate import trade taken with gross sales of high-margin, “iconic cars” from the U.S.

    The trade, which GM is asking a start-up throughout the automaker, will center of attention on cars and probably manufacturers which are these days no longer to be had within the Chinese language marketplace, in step with GM President Mark Reuss.

    “We are going to herald some lovely iconic cars into China,” he instructed CNBC right through an interview. “It is a technique that I feel is actually neat as a result of it is uniquely American, normally.”

    The goods will come with electrical cars in addition to ones with conventional interior combustion engines, Reuss mentioned. He declined to specify what cars shall be a part of the brand new trade however cited “a beautiful aspirational Cadillac” and different “iconic” SUV-like cars.

    “It is some iconic cars but additionally some iconic manufacturers as smartly,” Reuss mentioned. “It is thrilling. It is a other option to take into consideration it.”

    The brand new trade is a metamorphosis in technique for GM. The automaker has no longer exported many cars to China, which is the automaker’s greatest marketplace through quantity. It has as an alternative localized manufacturing for China thru three way partnership companions throughout the nation.

    GM didn’t export any cars from the U.S. to China in 2021, in step with an organization spokeswoman. That compares with GM’s total gross sales in China ultimate yr of two.9 million cars. The corporate in the past imported some U.S.-built cars to China, such because the Chevrolet Camaro, however in low volumes, in step with analysis company LMC Car.

    Automakers generally do not export many U.S.-built cars to China because of logistical prices and price lists, which devour away at benefit margins. The highest 5 U.S.-built cars despatched to China have been from German luxurious automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz, in step with LMC. Blended, they just totaled about 144,000 devices, LMC mentioned.

    The brand new import trade “is being constructed from the bottom up and can experience a excessive stage of autonomy,” GM mentioned in a remark. The automaker declined to expose different data in regards to the trade, pronouncing “further main points shall be shared at a later date.”

    The feedback practice native Chinese language media just lately reporting GM’s China leader, Julian Blissett, confirming plans to create a brand new, independently owned top rate logo within the nation in the course of the import of “halo vehicles.”

    Halo cars are steadily iconic merchandise which are distinctive in design and have high-performance portions. They are used to draw consideration to a automotive nameplate or logo.

    Whilst the brand new trade can be uploading in low volumes, such cars may just raise hefty benefit margins for the automaker. GM’s Chinese language operations earned about $1.1 billion in 2021, up $586 million from 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic weighed extra closely at the trade.

    “It is Americana. It is low quantity, excessive margin; it is the complete perception of a halo,” mentioned Jeff Schuster, president of worldwide forecasting and the Americas at LMC. “I feel there nonetheless is a few aspiration to have Americana.”

    He added: “So long as that holds, and once more, the volumes are going to be small, I think that it is going to be a very easy play that is sensible.”

  • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will decrease automobile manufacturing by means of thousands and thousands of devices over two years, S&P says

    A employee attaches a wiring harness to the chassis of an X style SUV on the BMW production facility in Greer, South Carolina, November 4, 2019.

    Charles Mostoller | Reuters

    DETROIT – The warfare in Ukraine is predicted to decrease world light-duty automobile manufacturing via subsequent 12 months by means of thousands and thousands of devices, in step with S&P International Mobility.

    The car analysis company, previously referred to as IHS Markit, on Wednesday downgraded its 2022 and 2023 world gentle automobile manufacturing forecast by means of 2.6 million devices for each years, to 81.6 million for 2022 and 88.5 million devices for 2023.

    The struggle has led to logistical and provide chain issues in addition to portions shortages of crucial automobile elements. Maximum particularly, many automakers supply twine harnesses, that are utilized in cars for electric energy and verbal exchange between portions, from Ukraine. The issues upload to an already strained delivery chain because of the coronavirus pandemic and an ongoing scarcity of semiconductor chips.

    Ecu auto manufacturing is predicted to enjoy essentially the most disruption, in step with S&P. The company reduce 1.7 million devices from its forecast for Europe, together with slightly below 1 million devices from misplaced call for in Russia and Ukraine. The remainder of the cuts are from portions shortages involving chips and wiring harnesses led to by means of the warfare.

    That compares to S&P reducing its North The us light-duty automobile manufacturing by means of 480,000 devices for 2022 and by means of 549,000 devices for 2023.

    About 45% of Ukraine-built wiring harnesses are most often exported to Germany and Poland, hanging German carmakers at prime publicity, in step with S&P. Automakers corresponding to Volkswagen and BMW were some of the maximum impacted since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine about 3 weeks in the past.

    Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess previous this week mentioned the warfare has put the corporate’s 2022 outlook into query, because the automaker stories portions issues. He mentioned the corporate was once transferring a few of its manufacturing out of Europe to North The us and China in line with war-related supply-chain disruptions.

    BMW reduce its automobile department’s 2022 benefit margin forecast on Wednesday from 8%-10% to 7%-9%, because of the have an effect on of the unfolding Ukraine disaster.

    BMW’s crops can be again to complete manufacturing subsequent week following the posh automaker halting or reducing manufacturing output at some German crops after the invasion, mentioned the corporate’s leader generation officer, Frank Weber.

    Weber mentioned the corporate has labored with providers to replicate, no longer relocate, the twine harnessing manufacturing to try to stay jobs within the nation.

    “Whilst you have a look at Ukraine, this twine harnessing business provides paintings to perhaps 20,000 folks,” Weber instructed journalists Wednesday right through a far off roundtable. “We did not simply wish to remove the paintings there.”

    In general, S&P on Wednesday mentioned it got rid of just about 25 million devices from world light-duty automobile manufacturing from its forecast between now and 2030.

  • Hydrogen-powered educate a step nearer to passenger carrier in Germany

    A style of Siemens Mobility’s Mireo Plus photographed in 2019.

    Nicolas Armer | Image Alliance | Getty Pictures

    Plans to deploy a hydrogen-powered educate within the southern German state of Bavaria took a step ahead this week after Siemens Mobility and rail operator Bayerische Regiobahn put pen to paper on a leasing contract.

    The signing of the contract, which came about on Tuesday, builds upon a letter of intent from closing summer time.

    In a commentary Wednesday, Siemens stated checking out of the prototype educate would get started in mid-2023 on routes together with one between Augsburg and Füsse, with the educate slated to formally start a passenger carrier in Jan. 2024.

    The 2-car educate is based totally round Siemens Mobility’s Mireo Plus platform. It is going to use gasoline cells which are roof-mounted and incorporate underfloor batteries.

    Albrecht Neumann, rolling inventory CEO at Siemens Mobility — a one after the other controlled trade of Siemens — described the Mireo Plus H as that includes “prime using energy, superb acceleration capacity and a big working vary.”

    “The hydrogen-powered pressure is an emission-free, complex type of propulsion for trains that decarbonizes rail delivery and makes a considerable contribution towards achieving our local weather targets,” Neumann stated.

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    Described by means of the Global Power Company as a “flexible power service,” hydrogen has a various vary of packages and can be utilized in quite a lot of industries, together with transportation.

    In rail, Siemens Mobility is one among a number of corporations which have been operating on trains that use hydrogen. Others come with East Japan Railway and Ecu railway producer Alstom. Hydrogen trains from Alstom have already carried passengers in Germany and Austria.

    At the highway, automobile corporations like Toyota have dipped into the hydrogen gasoline mobile marketplace whilst smaller corporations corresponding to Riversimple also are creating hydrogen-powered automobiles.

    In aviation, Airbus launched main points in Sept. 2020 of 3 “hybrid-hydrogen” thought planes, announcing they might input carrier by means of the 12 months 2035. The similar month noticed a hydrogen fuel-cell airplane in a position to sporting passengers whole its maiden flight.

    Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury just lately advised CNBC that hydrogen planes represented the “final answer” for the mid and long run.

  • Ford to ramp up EV providing in Europe, plans primary battery facility in Turkey

    A Ford facility in Cologne, Germany, photographed in February 2021.

    Oliver Berg | AFP | Getty Photographs

    Ford has laid out plans to roll out 3 new passenger electrical cars and 4 new business EVs in Europe by way of 2024, with the corporate pronouncing it anticipated to promote over 600,000 EVs consistent with yr within the area by way of 2026.

    The automobile massive additionally needs all car gross sales in Europe to be zero-emission by way of 2035.

    In a observation Monday, Ford mentioned the ramp up would begin with the manufacturing of a medium-sized electrical crossover in Cologne, Germany, in 2023.

    Then the manufacture of some other electrical car in Cologne will get started in 2024, whilst an electrical model of the Ford Puma, produced in Romania, can be to be had the similar yr.

    Ford mentioned the EV manufacturing deliberate for Cologne used to be now slated to hit 1.2 million cars throughout a duration of six years. Funding within the EVs deliberate for Cologne will quantity to $2 billion.

    At the business car entrance, 4 new electrical variations in Ford’s Transit vary can be produced, beginning in 2023.

    In feedback made Monday, Ford of Europe’s chair, Stuart Rowley, mentioned electrification represented “probably the most transformative alternate in our trade in over 100 years.”

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    Ford additionally mentioned it had signed a non-binding memorandum of working out with South Korea’s SK On Co. and Turkey’s Koç Maintaining. The MOU pertains to the established order of a three way partnership targeted across the building of a business EV battery facility close to the Turkish capital of Ankara.

    If all is going to plot, it is was hoping manufacturing on the plant may just start by way of the center of this decade. Ford mentioned the JV had beef up from the Turkish govt and would have a capability ranging between 30 to 45 gigawatt hours consistent with yr.

    All of the above comes at a time when the Ecu Union is having a look to scale back the environmental footprint of transportation.

    The Ecu Fee, the EU’s government arm, is concentrated on a 100% relief in CO2 emissions from automobiles and trucks by way of 2035. Turkey, the place the battery facility could be situated, isn’t a part of the EU.

    The U.Ok., which left the EU on the finish of January 2020, needs to prevent the sale of recent diesel and gas automobiles and trucks by way of 2030. It is going to require, from 2035, all new automobiles and trucks to have zero-tailpipe emissions.

    Monday’s announcement follows on from Ford pronouncing ultimate week it could separate its electrical and inside combustion engine companies into other gadgets.

    Ford is one among a number of primary automobile firms making an attempt to enlarge its electric car providing and problem Elon Musk’s Tesla.

    In March 2021, Volvo Vehicles mentioned it deliberate to turn into a “totally electrical automotive corporate” by way of the yr 2030. Somewhere else, BMW Staff has mentioned it needs totally electrical cars to constitute no less than 50% of its deliveries by way of 2030.

    In Feb. 2022, the Leader Running Officer Ashwani Gupta of Nissan defined his corporate had determined to transport clear of the improvement of recent inside combustion engines in Europe as soon as a harder set of emissions requirements, referred to as Euro 7, come into power.

  • BMW says 2021 benefit surged because it appreciated higher-margin cars all the way through chip scarcity

    Spencer Platt | Getty Pictures Information | Getty Pictures

    German automaker BMW AG mentioned Thursday its income and web benefit hit all-time highs in 2021, in spite of larger spending on analysis and construction associated with electrical cars.

    In a preview of effects that it is going to provide at its annual assembly subsequent week, BMW mentioned its full-year web benefit jumped to twelve.46 billion euros, or kind of $13.7 billion, from simply 3.86 billion euros in 2020. Earnings jumped 12.4% yr over yr to 111.24 billion euros, or about $122.4 billion.

    Each benefit and income notched data for the corporate.

    The rise in BMW ‘s annual income was once pushed the old school manner: by means of larger gross sales of automobiles, SUVs and bikes. The automaker’s car deliveries, together with automobiles and SUVs, rose 8.4% from its coronavirus-challenged 2020 outcome, to simply over 2.5 million cars. That got here in spite of manufacturing disruptions associated with an ongoing world scarcity of semiconductor chips.

    About 13% of the ones 2021 deliveries had been “electrified” cars, that means plug-in hybrids or absolutely electrical fashions. Gross sales of BMW Crew’s electrified cars had been simply over 328,000 in 2021, up 70% from the corporate’s 2020 outcome, however nonetheless neatly wanting EV chief Tesla’s 936,000 2021 general.

    BMW is aiming to have absolutely electrical cars account for no less than part of its world deliveries by means of 2030.

    The EV push is coming at a price. BMW’s analysis and construction spending, a lot of which was once all for new EV architectures and parts, rose 10.7% to six.3 billion euros. Nevertheless it remained kind of in line with 2020 when expressed as a proportion of income, about 6.2%.

    BMW’s profitability additionally surged as the corporate prioritized manufacturing of its maximum successful car traces amid the chip scarcity, a just right signal for traders hoping that the corporate will have the ability to conveniently finance its transition to zero-emissions cars. The running benefit margin in BMW’s automobile phase, a broadly watched determine amongst auto analysts, rose to a wholesome 10.3% in 2021 from simply 2.7% in 2020 and four.9% in 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic roiled world industries.

    Gross sales of BMW bikes rose 14.8% in 2021, to simply over 194,000. The motorbike unit’s running benefit margin rose to eight.3% from 4.5% in 2020.

    “Our trade figures are evidence that we had been in a position to mix the underlying transformation and the most important funding it includes with robust operational luck in an excessively unstable setting in 2021,” mentioned Nicolas Peter, who holds a identify an identical to a U.S. corporate’s leader monetary officer at BMW. “We’re in a just right place and positive in regards to the long run.”

    BMW plans to percentage a few of that hefty benefit with its shareholders. The corporate mentioned that it is going to suggest an annual dividend of five.80 euros in line with percentage, up from 1.90 euros in 2020, in addition to a brand new percentage repurchase program, at subsequent week’s annual assembly.

    One after the other, BMW introduced on Thursday that it has agreed to buy Alpina, the emblem of an established builder of higher-performance variations of BMW automobiles, a few of that have been presented once in a while by the use of BMW’s personal dealership community. The Alpina logo will ultimately transform an in-house trim line for BMW, very similar to the AMG logo at rival Mercedes-Benz.

    BMW will document its whole fourth-quarter and full-year effects at its annual convention for shareholders, set to start on March 16.

  • Toyota and Yamaha are creating a hydrogen-fueled V8 engine

    A Yamaha Motor Co., V8 hydrogen engine displayed in Japan, on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.

    Toru Hanai | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

    Toyota has commissioned Yamaha Motor to broaden a hydrogen-fueled engine, with the president of the latter declaring that his corporate was once dedicated to the inner combustion engine.  

    In a statement towards the top of ultimate week, Yamaha mentioned the 5.0-liter V8 engine could be advanced for vehicles and in line with the only utilized by the Lexus RC F coupe, with alterations made to its cylinder heads and injectors, amongst different issues.

    In keeping with Yamaha, the unit is in a position to ship up to 450 horsepower at 6,800 revolutions in keeping with minute. The corporate mentioned it have been operating on a hydrogen engine for vehicles for more or less 5 years.

    Yamaha Motor President Yoshihiro Hidaka mentioned that whilst his corporate was once aiming to succeed in carbon neutrality by way of the yr 2050 it additionally had “a robust hobby for and degree of dedication to the inner combustion engine.”

    “Hydrogen engines space the prospective to be carbon-neutral whilst maintaining our hobby for the inner combustion engine alive on the similar time,” Hidaka went on to mention.

    Closing week’s observation builds on one from Nov. 2021 when Yamaha Motor, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Toyota, Subaru and Mazda launched main points of what they described as a “problem to amplify gas choices for the usage of inside combustion engines.” It was once at this announcement that the V8 engine advanced for Toyota was once proven to the general public.

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    The perception of powering an inside combustion engine with hydrogen isn’t a brand new one. Toyota has already advanced a GR Yaris which has a 1.6-liter ICE and makes use of hydrogen as its gas.

    In keeping with the corporate, the GR Yaris makes use of the similar powertrain as a hydrogen-powered Corolla Recreation. The company has categorised either one of those cars as “experimental.”

    Corporations equivalent to BMW have additionally produced cars such because the BMW Hydrogen 7. In keeping with the German automaker, the Hydrogen 7 used an inside combustion engine and was once ready to run on gas or liquid hydrogen. Manufacturing of the car started in 2006 and a restricted run was once made.

    The usage of hydrogen to energy an inside combustion engine is other to hydrogen gas cellular generation, the place gasoline from a tank mixes with oxygen, generating electrical energy. Because the U.S. Division of Power’s Choice Fuels Knowledge Middle notes, gas cellular cars emit “simplest water vapor and heat air.”

    In contrast, hydrogen ICEs do produce emissions. “Hydrogen engines unlock close to 0, hint quantities of CO2 … however can produce nitrogen oxides, or NOx,” Cummins, the engine maker, says.

    Hydrogen ICEs also are “much less environment friendly” in comparison to gas cellular electrical cars, in step with the Choice Fuels Knowledge Middle.

    Whilst there may be pleasure about the potential for hydrogen gas cellular cars and corporations equivalent to Hyundai, BMW and Toyota have all advanced vehicles in line with the generation, others throughout the business have taken a unique view.

    In June 2020, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted “gas cells = idiot sells,” including in July of that yr: “hydrogen idiot sells make no sense.”

    In February 2021, the CEO of Germany’s Volkswagen Staff additionally weighed in at the topic. “It is time for politicians to just accept science,” Herbert Diess tweeted.

    “Inexperienced hydrogen is wanted for metal, chemical, aero … and must no longer finally end up in vehicles. Some distance too dear, inefficient, sluggish and tough to rollout and delivery. In any case: no #hydrogen vehicles in sight.”