Sustainable Value Report 2001/2002 - BMW Group

Dr. Burkhard Göschel
Vice President,
Development and
Procurement
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The demand for sustainability has added a new
direction in all areas of industrial management.
At the same time public interest in this theme
still focuses on personal mobility – primarily
the automobile. Ecology and energy efficiency
are so firmly established in the minds of
customers that automobile designers can only
increase the safety, comfort, and performance
of their products if they pay close attention to
conserving natural resources.This has become
an increasingly important factor in the advancement
of automotive engineering. In the future,
the issue of sustainability will be determined by
the technology leaders in the automobile
industry.
For BMW Group engineers, sustainability
has become the main focus of product development
over the past few years.The Sustainable
Value Report 2001/2002 documents how
BMW engineering has reinforced the company’s
standing as a technology leader. Examples
of innovative BMW engineering include
VALVETRONIC, a new technology that eliminates
the need for mechanical throttle valves.The
new electronically controlled intake valves
improve fuel economy by up to 10 percent.
ConnectedDrive is another example of how
pioneering information technology is used to
set new standards in the interaction between
the driver, vehicle, and surroundings while
reducing traffic congestion and environmental
impact.
The spectacular success of the BMW Group
in Formula 1 racing represents the cutting edge
of high-tech engineering. Lower fuel consumption
and lighter vehicles are important success
factors in Formula 1. At BMW, this technology
flows into the development of today's series
production cars.
Success on the racetrack is not an end in
itself. But it proves that high-tech and genuine
innovations must be consistently placed in the
context of sustainability to ensure the ultimate
driving experience.
Munich, August 2001
Burkhard Göschel
Research & Development:
A step into the future