Skip to main content

BMW i3 could ‘boost electric vehicle market’

According to Frost & Sullivan, BMW's ibrand could have a halo effect as did the Prius for Toyota. It could boost the market for electric vehicles which has had a slow uptake rate and also position BMW's brand as the most innovative premium OEM. Commenting on the launch of the new BMW i3, the electric supermini for sale in November, Frost & Sullivan said: "BMW is the first of the traditional premium manufacturers to take a leap of faith into the EV space with the i3. Like most car companies, BMW also sells 7
July 31, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
According to Frost & Sullivan, 1731 BMW's ibrand could have a halo effect as did the Prius for 1686 Toyota. It could boost the market for electric vehicles which has had a slow uptake rate and also position BMW's brand as the most innovative premium OEM.

Commenting on the launch of the new BMW i3, the electric supermini for sale in November, Frost & Sullivan said: "BMW is the first of the traditional premium manufacturers to take a leap of faith into the EV space with the i3. Like most car companies, BMW also sells 70 to 80 per cent of its cars to urban customers so used the mega trend of urbanisation to develop a dedicated car brand tailored and tuned to the future urban driver. At an entry price point of £ 25,680, BMW has aggressively priced the i3 for early adopters in the market. The car has a number of industry innovations like it is partially made from Carbon reinforced fibres, it provides vehicle to infrastructure services like and comes with a flexible mobility package which is in line with the market trend to sell ‘mobility’ and not cars.

“Frost & Sullivan believes that the ride will be rough for BMW in the first few years just as it was for Nissan with its Leaf but it will get easier as market starts to accept electric cars. It for sure is the most innovative car of the 21st century so far."

Related Content

  • April 30, 2014
    FTA, BMW support UK government funding for green cars
    The UK government has announced plans to invest US$840 million ultra-low emission vehicle industry. It is hoped that this will help drivers both afford and feel confident about using electric cars. Announcing the funding during a visit to the Transport Research Laboratory, Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister said: “Owning an electric car is no longer a dream or an inconvenience. Manufacturers are turning to this new technology to help motorists make their everyday journeys green and clean.”
  • November 12, 2012
    Telematics in south-east Asia
    According to the latest report by independent technical consultancy SBD, End User Survey for Consumer Needs in South East Asia, 85 per cent of south-east Asian drivers already use some form of navigation each month. SBD surveyed 2,400 drivers in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand and implemented its consumer profiling tool to find out what connected services these drivers likely to need. South-east Asia has long been an afterthought market for the telematics industry, largely due to its poor road infrastruct
  • January 14, 2014
    Inrix Partners with BMW to introduce intermodal navigation
    Inrix is to partner with BMW with the introduction of what is said to be the industry's first in-car intermodal navigation system. Debuting in BMW ConnectedDrive systems in the new i3 and i8 electric vehicles, Inrix intermodal navigation integrates local public transport connections into journey planning. The service monitors real-time traffic conditions, alerting drivers to faster alternative modes of transportation when major delays occur along their route. Upon selecting an alternative mode, the sy
  • April 14, 2016
    Growing acceptance of autonomous driving ‘allows for growth opportunities’
    New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Strategic Outlook of Global Autonomous Driving Market in 2016, indicates that the autonomous driving market is all set to receive a huge boost with 80 per cent of automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) looking to finalise their automation technology roadmap in 2016. This trend is expected to pave the way for new business models in the automotive ecosystem. Once the market establishes a conducive testing environment and develops improved sensing capabilities, t