BMW Asia And Performance Motors Invest More Than S$5 Million In BMW i Facilities In Singapore

With the approaching launch of the all-electric BMW i3 and the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 slated for July 2014, BMW Asia and Performance Motors Ltd (PML) have jointly invested more than S$5 million in terms of BMW i facilities. As Singapore eagerly awaits the arrival of the first commercially-retailed Electric Vehicles (EV) in the coming months, the investment is by far the largest-ever made locally by any automotive brand pertaining to EVs and covers various key areas: sales, after sales, training, communication and infrastructure. The investment made provides PML with the necessary facilities and equipment to handle CFRP repair and high-voltage lithium-ion battery maintenance, which are the two major components required in servicing BMW i vehicles. Extensive technical expertise in these areas has also been gained by the local staff through rigorous training courses.

OneShift Editorial Team

19 Jun 2014

Built based on the unique LifeDrive architecture, the passenger cell of BMW i cars are made of CFRP, which is five times tougher than steel yet weighs only 50% of it. The drive module, which houses the high-voltage lithium-ion battery, is made of aluminium and offers significant weight-savings. The new CFRP repair and servicing facility is able to repair CFRP structure of the Life module effectively by enabling repair on an isolated area without having to change the entire panel if the impact inflicted does not compromise the structural integrity of the BMW i vehicle.

A dedicated BMW i sales corner will be set up on the second floor of the main BMW showroom at 303 Alexandra Road to deliberately position BMW i vehicles among the rest of the BMW models. Designed with a distinctive BMW i branding look and feel, the dedicated sales corner will display both the all-electric BMW i3 and the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 sports car.

“We recognize that EV ownership is a relatively new concept to a lot of consumers today. Additionally, BMW i cars have various unique features such as a Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) body and is powered by a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, which may pose as further perceived barriers to EV ownership for many. Indeed, BMW i cars will require special equipment and highly-skilled staff to handle them, but I’m proud to announce that we are ready for it,” said Mr. Sergio Solero, Managing Director of BMW Group Asia.

Product Geniuses, who will be based in the showroom, can be easily identified with their uniforms. They will guide customers through the ordering, buying, test drive and handover and handover processes, and will be on call to assist with any subsequent queries or service updates.

Credits: Oneshift News Team