BMW works council backs electric-only platform-report
June 26, 2020
BERLIN (Reuters) - BMW (BMWG.DE) should shift course and establish a technology platform just for electric cars, moving away from developing cars that can be fitted with either electric or combustion engines, the head of the influential [BMW] works council said.
[The BMW Works Council is a body elected by the workforce.]
“Only with our own e-architecture can we fully exploit the advantages of an electric vehicle,” Manfred Schoch told Der Spiegel magazine.
Schoch said a dedicated electric platform is needed if the German luxury carmaker is not to be overtaken by competitors from California - like electric car company Tesla (TSLA.O) - or from China.
Spiegel said Schoch’s call comes after some BMW managers have pushed for a new electric strategy internally for some time.
Those managers hope that the company will now quickly shift to develop a pure e-platform, which would make cars lighter and give them a longer battery range and a bigger interior.
Asked about the report, a BMW spokesman said the company was currently “optimally positioned” and declined to comment on speculation about internal discussions.
Via
Reuters