Four Positive Surprises from BMW in 2023: A Change in Strategy?
Since I have been quite critical about some aspects of BMW's Vision Dee concept (especially in terms of practicality and design) in spring, it is only fair to highlight also four very positive surprises from BMW this year. So let's dive right into them:
- BMW is switching to the open source variant of Android Auto OS in the 9th major version of its car operating system. This is a significant change of strategy from a car manufacturer that when Apple CarPlay first launched created one of the largest shitstorms on Twitter at that time with their opinion that they can do this better than Apple or Google. Note also that they seem to only switch for the user facing part -- the backend system stays on pure Linux meaning that they will still have full control over all low-level functionality. I think this is quite smart; I am however not so sure about the decision to not include Google's PlayStore, but go for their own app store
- With the new BMW 5 series sedan they managed to build a plug-in hybrid car that features a full-sized trunk (with 520L the same size as for the non-hybrid versions) and a sensibly sized fuel tank (60L). For someone with two small kids this is a big deal: we finally get a plug-in hybrid with sufficient storage space and competitive range. I have never been a fan of hybrids, as until now they have been neither fish, nor fowl. But this might change with the new BMW 5
- BMW has finally given up on the idea of charging a monthly or yearly service fee for things such as heated seats. I always thought this was one of the most stupid ideas ever that came out of the automotive sector. Thankfully, they realized this now themselves -- though the major backlash from customers probably helped. This was also for me the main reason for switching from BMW to Audi at that time, because I thought that with a management that comes up with such ideas and thinks that their infotainment has better usability than iOS, we cannot expect solid, forward-looking car technology in the years to come (back then)
- Real BMW-style design and practicality seems to be coming back to the latest BMW cars. This might be more personal taste than an objective analysis, but at least in my opinion, design is now also going into the right direction again and I don't see major design flaws looming like the i3's rear doors :-)
So all in all (at least in my humble opinion) very positive signs from BMW in terms of design, practicality and forward-thinking. Also a sign that at least some German car makers are starting to react to the increased competition from Tesla and China in the right ways.
"If you were to buy a 6-series, I recommend you select reverse when leaving friends’ houses so they don’t see its backside." [Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear in 2004]
Also a sign for me to seriously think about switching back to BMWs: the new BMW 5 Touring that should be out early next year looks pretty cool. The only drawbacks being that it probably will not get the new Android Auto-based OS 9 yet [why?], it is more than 5m long with only 2.5 degrees rear steering resulting in a minimum turning radius of 11.7m.
[For my readers in the US: yes, in the small parking garages here in central Europe this is something that is actually worth considering... ;-]