BMW expands pioneering X family lineup in China, demonstrating confidence in market
The all-new BMW X5 will hit the market at the end of this year, which will mark a happy ending for BMW’s Year of X.” Liu Zhi, president of BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd
BMW Group is showing its compelling product lineup at the ongoing Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, held from Nov 16 to 25, demonstrating the German automobile giant’s confidence in the Chinese market and its determination to enhance its comprehensive competitiveness.
“We are proud to unveil the all-new BMW X5 today at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, which has been substantially upgraded in design, appearance, intelligent connectivity and power performance,” said Liu Zhi, president of BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd on Nov 16 at the exhibition.
As a pioneer and leader of the sport activity vehicle segment, the BMW X5 has achieved a total sales volume of more than 2.1 million units globally with its first three generations in the past 20 years, according to the automaker.
Equipped with an inline 6-cylinder gasoline engine and an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, the fourth-generation BMW X5 improves on control and performance.
Benefiting from the strong power system, the new model can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.5 seconds, ranking top in its segment, according to the automaker.
Coupled with an upgraded intelligent all-wheel drive system, which can efficiently allocate the driving force between the front wheels and rear wheels, the all-new BMW X5 is granted with ride comfort, cross-country performance and an outstanding control experience.
The all-new BMW X5 is the carmaker’s first model that adopts the seventh-generation BMW iDrive connectivity system.
By paying more attention to drivers’ needs and being supported by an intelligent display system, the new BMW iDrive system enhances the smart interaction among the driver, passengers and the car, according to the automaker.
The professional driver assistance system adopted by the all-new BMW X5 caters to the driver with 11 advanced functions, including driving assistance in traffic congestion, on narrow paths and when changing lanes.
The reverse driving assistance system innovated by BMW can record the wheel path in real time and enable the car to move backward by 50 meters automatically when necessary.
With an upgraded exterior and interior appearance, the all-new BMW X5 demonstrates its luxury and sporty distinction.
“The all-new BMW X5 will hit the market at the end of this year, which will mark a happy ending for BMW’s Year of X,” said Liu.
BMW’s Year of X means that the automaker is introducing more models in its X family into China — its largest single market worldwide.
So far this year, BMW has unveiled the all-new X2 in June, the all-new Chinamade X3 in July, the allnew X4 in August and the all-new X5 in China, further enriching its product lineup in the country.
BMW is scheduled to present its largest SAV X7 to Chinese consumers in 2019, according to the automaker.
“We have confidence in the BMW X family. At present, one third of BMW’s total sales comes from the models in the X family,” said Liu.
Owing to the consumption upgrade among Chinese customers, the luxury automobile market is witnessing significant growth, although there is a decrease in China’s overall automobile market, Liu added.
From January to October this year, BMW sold more than 516,000 BMW and MINI cars to the Chinese market, a 6 percent increase from the same period last year, according to Liu.
BMW’s ambition is not limited to the SAV segment, nor even to conventional vehicles. The automaker attaches great significance to the new energy vehicle industry.
The automaker is presenting its seventh electrified model — the BMW i8, a plug-in hybrid roadster — at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition.
The BMW i8 is endowed with the roadster’s driving pleasure, power performance and zero emissions, demonstrating the automaker’s latest achievements in the new energy vehicle industry, according to the carmaker.
The BMW i8 began taking orders on Nov 16, the first day of the automobile exhibition, and the model will launch next year.
As one of the first international carmakers to introduce electric cars into China, BMW has established a new energy vehicle ecosystem in the country, covering research and development, charging facilities, innovative technologies, brand and products, and mobility services, according to the automaker.
In the first 10 months this year, BMW sold more than 16,000 new energy vehicles in China, and expects to exceed 20,000 units by the end of 2018, according to Liu.
By the end of this year, BMW will have built 80,000 charging poles in total in more than 150 cities across China, and will offer free charging facilities and services to individuals in more than 135 cities across the country, Liu noted.
According to the automaker, its fully electric BMW iX3 will be produced in China by 2020 and be exported globally from the country.