ANDREA CASTRONOVO, BMW: ELECTRIC CARS ARE THE INVESTMENT OF THE FUTURE
GREECE AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC WILL BE AMONG THE FIRST GETTING THE REVOLUTIONARY I3. BULGARIA WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND BE PRAPARED FOR THAT STEP The world is changing rapidly, the electric mobility is the future, and those who does not realize it today, tomorrow will be in the position of Kodak and Nokia, said Andrea Castronovo, president of BMW Group Central and Southeast Europe. The examples indicate improvidence. Kodak – a leader in photographic materials has missed the oncoming of digital photography, and Nokia has lost its market leadership after the invasion of the smartphones. Currently, BMW took the leadership in the development of electromobility by the city electric vehicle i3 and the sporty plug-in hybrid i8. In both cases it is revolutionary approach. They are not standard models with added battery and electric motor but models entirely designed in accordance with their intended purpose. Lightweight materials, new carrosserie design, advanced engines and batteries to achieve relatively low cost and high run are used. In combination with the models entire complex support services are launched that aim to make their use more acceptable to customers now and in the future. Such are mobile applications that allow the battery charging to be monitored and managed over the phone; the navigation will register not only charging boots, but stops and timetables of public transport, to provide integrated transport solution. Customers will have the opportunity to rent appropriate cars for holiday needs. The investment in the BMW project “i” project is significant and returns on it will be on a later stage. Thanks to that technologies that will bring great benefits in the future are now being developed, said Castronovo. The launch of the BMW i3 begins in the countries that express interest in and are prepared for electric vehicles in terms of legal issues and charging infrastructure. Among these countries are the Czech Republic and Greece. In Bulgaria, this advent-guard model will come later, when the country is ready. Speed-Press Agency
