Author | Wang Xiaojuan

Editor | Zhou Zhiyu

BMW, which emphasizes the fun of driving, has continued to make intelligent efforts since this year.

At the 22nd Guangzhou Auto Show, which opened on November 15, BMW and its three major brands, BMW, MINI, and BMW Motorrad, gathered in Yangcheng. This time, BMW chose to link the intelligence that Chinese consumers are interested in when it comes to the pleasure of driving at home.

Currently, BMW's research and development of intelligent driving technology has been fully accelerated.

Starting in January 2025, the new BMW 5 Series with the “Vehicle-Road Cloud Integration” V2X module will be mass-produced in Shenyang. This is the first time that BMW has launched a model equipped with V2X technology.

BMW believes that V2X technology is essential for high-quality signal transmission for advanced autonomous driving. Currently, BMW's V2X technology can implement three scene functions: Front Vehicle Emergency Braking Warning (EBW), Red Light Warning (RLVW), and Intersection Lateral Traffic Collision Warning (ICW).

The acceleration of intelligence is now also due to BMW's new understanding of the relationship between intelligence and driving pleasure. According to BMW, mass production of BMW's V2X technology not only provides “pure driving pleasure” with an additional layer of safety buff, but also provides an opportunity for BMW to advance advanced autonomous driving in the future.

Accelerating intelligence is also a concrete action taken by BMW after understanding the needs of Chinese consumers. In terms of smart cockpits, BMW is also doing local research and development. The latest BMW operating system is also specially customized for Chinese consumers.

In order not to affect driving pleasure, BMW places special emphasis on “Shy (hidden) technology” in terms of intelligence.

On the latest generation of operating systems, BMW uses a map as the base. The “zero-level” design has achieved “where you need to click”, and the learning cost is almost zero. 70% of the functions are developed locally by BMW and are customized for Chinese consumers, including mainstream applications currently on the market. They will also be specifically provided according to the scenario, such as reminders to close windows on rainy days and suggestions to turn on the air conditioner when it's hot.

The insensitive “Shy Technology” is also reflected in the BMW digital key. BMW is the first car brand to use UWB (ultra-broadband) technology. Vehicles equipped with the BMW Digital Key Plus do not require a physical key to unlock. When the car owner approaches the vehicle with a smartphone or smartwatch, the vehicle is automatically unlocked. Through the My BMW App, users can also check the vehicle status in real time, turn on the air conditioning remotely, and even park and exit the vehicle remotely.

Currently, in the Chinese market, the My BMW App already has 11 million registered users, and up to 0.7 million BMW users use the app every day.

Currently, BMW's intelligent systems, like those in the industry, are constantly being updated and iterated. The next generation BMW smart cockpit will be unveiled at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January next year, and will be officially launched along with the new generation of BMW models.

Mr. Gao Xiang, President and CEO of BMW Group Greater China, said, “In the future, we will continue to increase investment in R&D and work with China's innovative forces to provide Chinese consumers with a more user-friendly, smarter and more responsible travel experience through system integration.”

In addition to advances and investment in intelligence, BMW's second domestic BMW M performance car, the new BMW M235L four-door coupe, debuted at the Guangzhou Auto Show along with all models of the new BMW 2 Series four-door coupe.

The M series model is BMW's representative model, which emphasizes driving pleasure. Today, the number of M-arrays has been expanded to 23 models, including oil, electricity, and plug-in mixers. The new BMW M235L four-door coupe unveiled at this auto show is the youngest new member of the BMW M brand. It is equipped with a 2.0T “BMW's strongest four-cylinder engine” adjusted by BMW M, and all models are equipped with the M sports suit as standard.

Afterwards, the car will be manufactured in Shenyang, which is also the first time that a BMW four-door coupe has been produced in Shenyang.

Also, at the Guangzhou Auto Show, BMW also showcased the innovative cockpit and interior of the new BMW X3 in all its aspects for the first time. For the first time, the new BMW X3 is equipped with an active noise cancellation function, which generates sound waves through the car's speakers to counteract the engine's low-frequency interference noise. There is also an exclusive seat configuration specially designed for Chinese consumers. The new BMW X3 will be delivered in the first quarter of 2025, and the new BMW X3 M50 will also be introduced domestically in the second quarter of next year.

Of course, BMW's bigger new story in the domestic market is still about the “new generation.” BMW once again announced that the first domestic new-generation model will be launched in 2026 at the Lida plant at BMW's Shenyang Tiexi Plant.

Prior to that, BMW also needed to fully understand market needs and make changes to meet consumers, thereby protecting its territory and continuing to become a brand loved by Chinese consumers.