According to media reports, BMW will produce both internal combustion engine and pure electric drivetrain systems on the same production line to mitigate the risk of relying solely on a single power system. Thus, even as electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain popularity, the company's gasoline-powered models still have significant development potential.
BMW's production chief, Bernd Körber, revealed that the company has always been aware that the transition to electrification would be a very bumpy road. Körber believes that two years ago, the industry's sales estimates for EVs were overly "optimistic," while current estimates are overly "pessimistic." By continuing to invest in all types of powertrains, BMW can quickly respond to changes in consumer demand and evolving regulatory requirements.
In an interview, Körber stated: "This is our strategy. For us, it has always been clear that the development of electric vehicles will be very unstable because it depends on regulations and customer demand. In the foreseeable future, we will adopt a more flexible approach in terms of technology, which is why we plan to manufacture all powertrains on the same production line."
Körber explained that assembling all powertrains on a single production line means that if the market shifts in one direction, the company won't have to "shut down any plant or cut any production shifts," but can simply pivot production "to another powertrain system." BMW's approach is already evident in its current product lineup. For example, in some markets, the electric versions of the BMW X1, X2, and X3 are sold alongside their internal combustion engine counterparts.
