BMW Credits Buyers of Europe's Most Efficient Premium Fleet

MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA – October 8, 2009: Australian customers who purchase a vehicle from Europe’s most efficient premium fleet will be rewarded with a BMW EfficientDynamics Credit.

The initiative is based on successful fleet renewal and scrapping schemes developed in Europe and the United States that use rebates to encourage buyers to switch to new fuel efficient vehicles.

The BMW EfficientDynamics Credit has a minimum retail value of $4,000 and will be used to reduce the recommended manufacturer’s list price when customers purchase a new BMW from participating BMW dealers.

For example, BMW’s 118i Sports Hatch which is normally available from $38,900 will be priced from $34,900 with the credit. At the top end, BMW’s 730d flagship saloon, which consumes just 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres, will reduce in price from $198,800 to $194,800.

The credit is available, while stocks last, across the full BMW range of new vehicles ordered and delivered between 10 October and 30 November 2009.

BMW currently boasts the lowest CO2 emissions of any premium manufacturer and is, according to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the world’s most sustainable car company.

Recently BMW announced it is further expanding its range of efficient vehicles in Australia to offer 23 models which consume less than 7 litres of fuel per 100 km.

The Germany luxury car maker also recently confirmed its World Green Car of the Year winner will go on sale in Australia next month. The BMW 118d consumes just 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres.

Stavros Yallouridis, managing director of BMW Group Australia, says the company’s initiative will increase awareness of the fuel efficiency benefits of driving a BMW which do not sacrifice driving dynamics.

“At BMW, we believe in giving credit where credit is due. The BMW EfficientDynamics Credit is designed to reward drivers who choose a vehicle from Europe’s most efficient premium fleet.

“It builds on similar ideas from overseas fleet renewal schemes and is designed to generate customer awareness of the benefits of BMW EfficientDynamics,” he said.

According to the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA), BMW has the most efficient premium fleet in Europe, achieving fuel consumption and emission levels below the overall average of all European car manufacturers.

For example in Germany the fleet average for all new BMW’s sold last year was only 160 grams of CO2 per kilometre. This compares favourably to Lexus (207 g/km), Mercedes-Benz (189 g/km) and Audi (176 g/km) as well as the average for all new cars sold (165 g/km).

The most popular Australian-built six-cylinder sedans emit over 200 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre driven.

Between 2006 and 2008, BMW achieved a reduction in fuel consumption, according to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority, of 16 per cent – more than double the reduction achieved by the next best premium segment competitor.

Between 1995 and the end of 2008, the BMW Group cut fuel consumption of its vehicles sold in Europe by more than 25 per cent, exceeding the respective requirements for their brands stipulated by the ACEA commitment.

Consequently, the BMW Group is better prepared than other car manufacturers for the even more stringent regulations planned for 2012 and 2015 respectively, these resulting from the fact that not all manufacturers have been able to achieve the aspired reduction in fuel consumption.

At the same time, BMW vehicles are still well ahead of their competitors in terms of average engine output – clear evidence of the success of BMW EfficientDynamics.