BMW CFO sees ‘very good order’ situation with EVs, projects 400,000 pure electric vehicle sales
BMW is the latest automaker suggesting a wave of EV buyers is expected to hit the market in the coming year. The German automaker’s CFO, Nickolas Peter, said in a video conference Monday he expects pure electric vehicle sales to reach 400,000 next year as demand continues building and supply chains ease.
BMW set to hit higher end of electric vehicle sales goal
BMW’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) says it’s been a turbulent year for the German automaker, but things are looking up from here.
Lockdowns in China and supply chain issues during the first half of the year cut into profits. Furthermore, Germany and the UK saw demand slow as rising energy prices shook the markets, while France, Italy, and Spain remained stronger.
When asked about gas prices and energy supply due to the war in Ukraine, the German automaker’s CFO responded, saying, “the gas issue will not have any direct impact on us this year,” as BMW has already cut back its gas usage in Germany and Austria by 15% and will reduce further if needed.
BMW expects to continue seeing pressure this year, yet in 2023, it believes it can take another massive leap in electric vehicle sales. The automaker expects between 240,000 to 245,000 electric vehicle sales this year, more than double that of 104,000 in 2021, and it is hitting its goal of a 10% EV share of overall sales.
The luxury automaker expects that number to rise even further to about 400,000 in 2023 as buyers continue demanding pure electric vehicles.
In North America, BMW currently offers two pure EVs, the BMW iX SUV and the BMW i4. In China, the automaker also offers the BMW i3 and its first-ever fully electric 7-series, the BMW i7 sedan, which is slated to release in North America in 2023.
On top of this, BMW is launching its Neue Klasse (new class) vehicle platform specifically for electric vehicles in 2025 for its “next-generation” EVs.
By the end of the decade, BMW looks to achieve 50% electric vehicle sales of its overall total.
Electrek’s Take
BMW said it sold 75,891 electric vehicles in the first half of 2022, more than doubling from 2021. The automaker’s CFO seems confident that electric vehicle sales will continue picking up this year and into 2023 after mentioning demand picking back up in the third quarter.
With several highly anticipated EV releases (Rolls Royce Spectre, BMW i5, MIINI Countryman) next year, I wouldn’t doubt BMW’s ability to meet its target. However, the question going forward will be how well it can manage its supply chain and ramp production of these vehicles.
Demand isn’t the issue. BMW mentioned the “high desirability of its pure electric models among customers worldwide” in its first half electric vehicle sales release. The issue will come down to resolving the supply chain bottlenecks, which have been disrupted since the pandemic.
The energy crisis in Europe is adding fuel to the fire, as several critical auto parts suppliers are being affected and passing on higher costs to automakers.
Other German automakers, including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, have both prepared for the worst, increasing orders from suppliers outside the affected area, according to Reuters. Will BMW be next to follow? If they are going to hit their aggressive electric sales targets, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them do the same in the near future.
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Tesla’s retro-futuristic diner with Superchargers and giant movie screens is ready to open, and I have to admit, it looks pretty sick.
This project has been in the works for a long time.
In 2018, Elon Musk said that Tesla planned to open an “old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in Los Angeles.” It was yet another “Is he joking?” kind of Elon Musk idea, but he wasn’t kidding.
A few months later, Tesla applied for building permits for “a restaurant and Supercharger station” at a location in Santa Monica. However, the project stalled for a long time, apparently due to local regulations.
Nevertheless, Tesla still moved forward with a Supercharger at the location, but it had to move the diner project to Hollywood. In 2022, Tesla filed the construction plans with the city, giving us the first look at what the automaker intends to build.
In 2023, the automaker broke ground on the site of the diner.
7 years after being originally announced, the project appears now ready to open:
Musk said that he ate at the diner last night and claimed that it is “one of the coolest spots in LA.” He didn’t say when it will open, but Tesla vehicles have been spotted at Supercharger and people appear to be testing the dinning experience inside.
A Tesla Optimus Robot can be seen inside the diner on a test rack. It looks like Tesla might use one for some tasks inside the diner.
Earlier this year, Tesla integrated the diner into its mobile app – hinting at some interaction through the app – possibly ordering from it.
Electrek’s Take
I think it looks pretty cool. I am a fan of the design and concept.
However, considering the state of the Tesla community, I don’t think I’d like the vibes. That said, it looks like Tesla isn’t prominently pushing its branding on the diner.
You can come and charge there, but it looks like Tesla is also aiming to get a wider clientele just for dining.
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Hyundai’s electric minivan is finally out in the open. The Staria EV was caught without camo near Hyundai’s R&D center in Korea, giving us a closer look at the electric minivan undisguised.
Hyundai’s electric minivan drops camo ahead of debut
The Staria arrived in 2021 as the successor to the Starex, Hyundai’s multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Although the Staria has received several updates throughout the years, 2026 will be its biggest by far.
Hyundai will launch the Staria EV, its first electric minivan. Like the current model, the 2026 Staria will be available in several different configurations, including cargo, passenger, and even a camper version.
We’ve seen the Staria EV out in public a few times already. Last month, we got a glimpse of it while driving on public roads in Korea.
Despite the camouflage, new EV-like design elements were visible, including updated LED headlights and a full-length light bar. Although it’s still unclear, the electric version appears to be roughly the same size as the current Staria from the side, but slightly wider from the front.
New images posted on the South Korean forum Clien reveal a test car, expected to be Hyundai’s Staria electric minivan, without camo.
Like most Hyundai test cars, the prototype has a black front and a grey body. It still features a similar look to other prototypes we’ve seen, but you can clearly see the new facelift.
Earlier this year, a Staria EV was spotted in a parking lot in Korea, featuring a similar look. The electric version is nearly identical to the Staria Lounge, but with an added charge port and closed-off grille.
The Hyundai Staria EV is expected to make its global debut later this year. Technical details have yet to be revealed, but it’s expected to feature either a 76 kWh or 84 kWh battery, providing a range of around 350 km (217 miles) to 400 km (249 miles).
Hyundai’s electric SUV arrives after Kia introduced its first electric van, the PV5, which launched in Europe and Korea earlier this year.
In Europe, the Kia Passenger PV5 model is available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh, providing WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo version has a WLTP range of 181 miles or 247 miles.
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, Clien
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