BMW Group South Africa announce the first BMW i3 customer.

Midrand. BMW Group South Africa announced today its first BMW i3 customer. The new BMW i3, the world’s first premium car conceived from the outset to incorporate an all electric drive system, went on sale in South Africa on Monday, 2 March 2015.

Mr Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW Group South Africa, and Mr Antonio Antela Martinez, Director of Sales and Marketing, recently handed over the keys of a Solar Orange BMW i3 with a range extender (REX) to Mr Nicky Oppenheimer, one of South Africa’s leading philanthropists and businessmen, at BMW Group South Africa’s Head Office in Midrand.

˝The new BMW i3 presents the BMW Group’s first volume-produced model driven purely by electric power and introduces a new era of mobility for urban dwellers looking for alternative mobility solutions. We are very excited to launch this sub-brand in South Africa. We wish Mr Oppenheimer many happy memories in his new BMW i3,˝said Abbott.

Mr Oppenheimer, who describes himself as a technology enthusiast, says the BMW i3‘s originality and technological advancements are what appealed to him. ˝I have always enjoyed cars that introduce innovation and the new BMW i3 is taking electric motoring to the next level.˝

˝What I am really enjoying about my BMW i3 is its stealth and robustness on the road. It is an absolute pleasure to drive.˝

In 2014 the BMW i3 was named the 2015 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. The evaluation by Green Car Journal was based on BMW i3’s zero emissions at the point of use, its innovative lightweight design and the high percentage of sustainably produced materials in its production process.

In its mission to deliver driving pleasure in urban areas, the BMW i3 has come up with the perfect package. With a DIN kerb weight of 1,195 kilograms the car is lighter than most compact vehicles, yet offers significantly more space for up to four occupants. It also has the edge over conventionally powered models of a comparable size and sprints from 0 to 100 km, in 7.2 seconds, and 0 to 60 km/h in 3.7 seconds.

The BMW i3 battery electric vehicle (BEV) offers a range of up to 160 kilometres, while the BMW i3 with the REX offers a range of up to 300 kilometres.

In 2014, global deliveries of the BMW i3 totaled 16,052; nearly three-quarters of those sales occurred in the second half of the year, following the vehicle’s market launch in the second quarter in several major markets.

Both the BMW i3 and BMW i8 are available exclusively through four selected BMW i dealers announced earlier this year. They include:

• Club Motors Fountains, Pretoria
• Sandton Auto, Johannesburg
• SMG, Cape Town
• Supertech, Durban

For more information visit www.bmwi.co.za

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For media queries, please contact:

Ms Thando Pato

Manager: Product Communications (MINI, BMW i and BMW Motorrad)

BMW Group South Africa

Telephone: +27-12-522-2070

Mobile: +27-72-232-5624

Email: thando.pato@bmw.co.za

Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com/za.html

OR

Mr. Edward Makwana

Manager: Group Automotive Communications

BMW Group South Africa

Telephone: +27-12-522-2227

Mobile: +27-83-717-3184

Email: edward.makwana@bmw.co.za

Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com/za.html

The BMW Group

With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2014, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.118 million cars and 123,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2013 was € 7.91 billion on revenues amounting to approximately € 76.06 billion. As of 31 December 2013, the BMW Group had a workforce of 110,351 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

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