Building on our DVN library of automaker profiles, this report on BMW joins those covering PSA, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.
Following a very successful first half of 2012 with an admirable 8% sales increase, BMW are on course to achieve top figures once again in the total year 2012 with sales of higher than 1.8 million cars and a complete portfolio of passenger cars, SUVs, and sporty cars.
For years—decades—lights on BMWs gave performance that could diplomatically be described as “compliant with the regulations”. Starting in the mid-1980s, and at an accelerating pace, BMW have put steadily more attention and effort into their lighting systems and components such that now they are in the top tier of innovators in lighting technology, implementation, design, and performance. They’ve achieved this frontrunner position without sacrificing the core frontal elements of their visual brand identity, the quad-round headlamp configuration; in fact, this visual signature has gone from strength to strength with the infusion of increasing technology.
Christian Amann, who took charge of BMW’s department of Light and Visibility in 2011, has a clear vision for the evolutionary path ahead; lighting is now a strong core competence at BMW. This is evidenced by the arrival of the new models equipped with high tech lighting technologies. Examples are shown with LED headlamps and new functions in the 6 Series and 7 Series, as well as future lighting concepts—including laser beams—in context of BMW’s lighting past.
BMW strategy is examined in depth and details are provided on lighting engineering and the technologies used by BMW, including simulations. An important part of the report is dedicated the presentation of the systems used in the main car models of BMW, insisting on the last launched vehicles with recent LED and glare-free high beam technologies.
The report closes with précis of BMW lectures from ISAL, VISION, and interviews with Christian Amann, Artur Russ, Anders Warming, and Martin Enders.