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BMW has committed to continue to invest in a combustion engine and hybrid technology because he warned of “roller roller skates” in US transition to electric vehicles after the return of Donald Trump as president.
Committee member Jochen Golfer said the group remained optimistic about the sale of gasoline and additional hybrids in the US, even if the demand for Evs Slow down over the next few years on the back of a change in policy under the new administration.
“I think it would be naive to believe that movement to electrification is a one -way road. It will be a rollercoaster ride,” said Goldler, who is in charge of the customer, brands and sales, he told the Financial Times at BMW Munich headquarters.
“That’s why we invest in our combustion engines,” he said. “We invest in modern additional hybrids. And we will continue to remove electric cars. “
BMWwho also owns Rolls-Royce and Mini brands, he has long been careful about the pace of global move to EVs, developing a wide range of products long before the growth of EV’s sales began to slow down.
Last year, the company issued a profit warning after hitting sliding sales in China and forced herself to recall 1.5 million vehicles due to the potentially defective brake systems developed by Continental.
But his wider strategy was mostly paid off at a time when the German Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz rivals fought to adapt to slowing demand for EVS, despite their earlier ambitions to become completely electric.
Although international peers, including Toyota and Stellantis, also took a more energy approach, BMW split because of a strong EV offer with the same design and appearance as their petrol and hybrid colleagues.
The sale of a group of electric cars completely increased 13.5 percent last year at 426,594 vehicles, making 17 percent of total sales. Including hybrids, the electrified share was 24 percent.
“We expected people not to want to be discriminated against because of the power supply,” Goldler said. “We headed the way that others follow.”
Analysts say BMW is better positioned than a rival to fulfill the goals of the EU’s stricter emissions without selling EV -as deep discounts. He is also less exposed to Trump’s tariff war Since 65 percent of his US cars are being built locally, which is a net exporter from the USA.
“From an operational point of view, I think BMW, outside China, is very well set up,” said UBS analyst, Patrick Hummel. “They are pretty where they need to be in terms of EV -U mix.”
Analyst Jeffersi Philippe Houchois described BMW, who in the past had criticized investors for protecting his Power Train technology, as “the most convenient [original equipment manufacturer] Over the years ”.
This year, the group will launch their platform Neue Klass for the next generation of EV with a longer range, faster charging and upgraded software capabilities, which Houchois said would “consolidate lead in vehicles defined by software, more energy train and battery”
But China has proven to be a challenging car manufacturer based in Munich. BMW and mini sales in the world’s largest car market have fallen more than 13 percent last year at 714,530 cars, which is a harder to fall than rivals like Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
Analysts at Citigroup warned that BMW remains vulnerable to China, where, enhancing the price pressure on the overcrowded market forces car manufacturers at discount prices. The sliding sales in the country, where BMW still delivers just below a third of its cars, “our key concern remains,” said Citi analysts.
Goller admitted that China was unlikely to return to explosive economic growth, which first attracted foreign car manufacturers to flood into the country.
“But we still see the increasing market. And therefore our ambition is obvious that we want to participate in the growing market,” he said.
Goller added that this should not be a “shock” of Chinese brands quickly taking a domestic market share of foreign car manufacturers.
“Cars are really good from a technological perspective,” he said. “But we’re not afraid.”
