OneShift Presents Award for Overall Car Of The Year 2021 to BMW for the iX3

In an awards presentation ceremony on 23 February at the BMW Showroom, OneShift by Carousell handed over an official plaque as well as a certificate to Arnt Bayer, Managing Director of Performance Motors Limited (PML), to congratulate BMW on winning Overall Car Of The Year 2021 with the BMW iX3.

Other plaques were also presented to BMW for its other wins - namely the BMW 1 Series (Best Premium Compact Hatchback), BMW 5 Series (Best Executive Sedan), BMW M3 Sedan (Best High Performance Luxury Car) and the BMW 4 Series Convertible (Best Compact Luxury Convertible). Mini, part of the BMW Group, also took home a win for the Mini Cooper Countryman (Best Premium Compact SUV).

It was a bumper crop of wins for the Group this year. We sat down with Lars Nielsen, Managing Director of BMW Group Asia, to discuss the successes and what to look forward to in 2022. In particular, the iX3’s win is no coincidence, a sign that we are approaching the tipping point for more and more people to choose electric vehicles. As we will find out, BMW’s sustainability and electric vehicle strategy is paramount to the company’s future.

LN: Thank you very much! It’s amazing how many of our models were recognised this year, and to receive the Car of the Year award was the cherry on top. It was unexpected and shows the support we have of our customers and the team at OneShift.

LN: The feedback on the iX3 was overwhelmingly positive from the start. Therefore, while it wasn’t expected, it wasn’t a surprise given what we’ve heard from customers and the media. We always strive to be the best, and it’s great to see one of our most popular models take the crown this time around.

LN: I think we are approaching the tipping point for more and more people to choose electric vehicles (EVs). Drivers like EVs because they are quiet, have excellent acceleration, and are perfect for city driving. They also have lower operating and maintenance costs compared to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine.

Of course, charging is always top of mind. However, it is heartening to see steps being taken to accelerate the maturity of Singapore’s charging infrastructure by the government and private companies. To further understand the familiarity and perspectives towards EVs, BMW Group Asia conducted a survey with 1,000 participants in Singapore in August last year. We observed that 46% of the respondents indicated they are looking to purchase an electrified vehicle as their next car.

What I personally found interesting was that there was an almost even split between plug-in hybrid vehicles (24%) and full EVs (22%). This growing appetite for electrification is also reflected on the showroom floor where we’ve been seeing great interest in our electrified offerings over the past year.

LN: I think it’s important to point out that when it comes to preserving the environment and its resources, it’s not just about making EVs – we need to look at the entire value chain and incorporate sustainability in all aspects. This includes everything from sourcing the right materials, to using them in a socially responsible manner.

With this guiding principle, the BMW iX is produced with a high proportion of recycled materials – from secondary aluminium, to recycled plastic. The BMW Group is also working on incorporating more secondary materials into the production of all cars – such as recycled and renewable raw materials for interior trims and sound insulation. We’re also proud to highlight that all of our plants worldwide are running on 100% renewable energy.

First and foremost, we raised the bar when it came to customer service and engagement. In order to successfully move from a pandemic to an endemic, we had to provide our customers with exciting touch points across both physical and digital platforms to build and further strengthen our relationships with them. This will become even more apparent in 2022.

Just as important is the portfolio of models we provided customers. In addition to our existing range, we introduced nearly 10 new models in 2021 targeting all segments – from the BMW 1 Series to the BMW 4 Series Convertible, upwards to the BMW M3 Competition and BMW M4 Competition, and of course the electric BMW iX3 and BMW iX.

Finally, at the base of it all was a highly motivated team that shares values and a common vision. Our success is a testament to the strong ongoing collaboration between both BMW Group Asia and Performance Motors Limited.

Sustainability will definitely help the bottom line in the end. As we all know, sustainability already plays a major role in our daily lives and it will determine the future of our society. For the BMW Group, the concepts of premium, sportiness, luxury, and power go hand in hand with sustainability.

Being sustainable is not necessarily making a product more expensive or cost less. It’s our job to make those ends meet, to create a high level of sustainability with full driving pleasure – these two concepts are not mutually exclusive. By accepting our responsibility, we will increase our long-term success as a premium carmaker – because in the future, premium and sustainability will be more inseparable than ever.

We will soon be introducing the first-ever BMW i4, our offering in the premium midsize segment, and later this year we’ll be launching the first-ever BMW i7, the fully electric flagship of the BMW brand.

Definitely the BMW i4. I had a chance to drive the i4 M50 in Munich last year, and it simply took my breath away. Imagine accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in sub-4 seconds, that’s always fun, and the excitement is accompanied by this special sound that BMW co-created with the world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer. Driving the i4 engages all your senses, it’s an incredible experience. Fair warning, the acceleration may also induce a little dizziness!

Credits: Text by James Wong; Photos by Horizon Drivers' Club and BMW