BMW Still In The Dark? Claims Electric Technology Isn't Up To "M" Standards

BMW M manager of product Carsten Pries says electric vehicle technology isn’t up to scratch to be used by the German automaker’s performance division.

Speaking with Cars Guide at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, Pries cited the weight of batteries as a key reason why he doesn’t think they can be used for M models just yet.

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mre30 - 12/3/2019 10:30:02 AM

+4 Boost

BMW knows their customer and knows their production costs. They are true to their values but they also did a business case that its a money-losing proposition for them to layer on a lot of weight, cost and (even for a BMW) complexity while still making a profit on the M cars.

Also - I'm not sure you can put a manual transmission in an EV and that being true to BMW"s core value of offering 'manuals' in the M-line outweighs any 'marketing' or minor performance benefit of being EV or Hybrid.

This is obviously a calculated decision as they know their customers.

SanJoseDriver - 12/3/2019 11:52:19 AM

-6 Boost

Just because they don't have EV tech better than their own ICE cars (or they are lying and don't want to cannibalize sales), doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The i3 is a joke.

malba2367 - 12/3/2019 2:00:35 PM

-3 Boost

He means that BMW can't build EVs with M level performance and sell them at reasonable prices.

supermoto - 12/3/2019 4:40:19 PM

+3 Boost

BMW is correct. The best Telsa lap time at Laguna is the same as a 10-year old M3.

SanJoseDriver - 12/3/2019 10:30:01 PM

+1 Boost

Tesla Model 3 Performance ($56k, 310 miles per tank) - 1:41.28
BMW M3 ($66k+, 300 miles per tank) - 1:42.96

LexSucks - 12/4/2019 10:13:25 AM

+2 Boost

The current "M"s aren't even up to "M" standards.