Hobbit style magic
Catarina Araújo
The power of choice
João Trincheiras
Corporate Communications Manager of BMW Portugal
The COVID-19 pandemic saw governments, businesses and families facing challenges never imagined before. The profound changes to the global economy have forced companies to reflect on how their work base, products and services can continue to respond to consumers in a context as complex as this.
The impact of this crisis has been felt since March, and the car sector, one of the strongest barometers of the economy, has suffered considerably. At BMW, we believe that major challenges are met with courage and conviction. And our conviction is that BMW’s role must involve building and promoting the mobility of the future. A philosophy, which, in any kind of situation, allows us to move in an efficient and sustainable way, always valuing resources.
We will continue to be agents promoting a greener economy, continuing to work daily on our strategic vision of electrification, ensuring the commitment to achieve the global goals of carbon neutrality. Proof of this commitment is, for example, the new BMW iX3, which will be the first model of the brand to be available in gasoline, diesel, hybrid and entirely electric motor versions, giving the consumer what we call "the power of choice”, allowing them to choose the version that best fits their needs.
And also, with regard to the specific case of Portugal, the BMW Group has made significant investments in our market. Through the creation, in 2018, of Critical TechWorks – a technological joint venture with Portuguese company Critical Software –, the BMW Group now has an important development hub in our country concentrated on developing the vehicle of the future. By the end of this year, more than 1000 Portuguese people will be playing an active role in the development of safer, greener, more accessible and more efficient mobility systems on a global level.
In the midst of the pandemic, we also chose to anticipate a project that was already being worked on to improve the relationship and purchasing experience for our customers and that has ended up being important to promote sales at this stage: the Digital Showroom. This is a platform that allows online access to all available vehicles for immediate sale in Portugal.
BMW is, and always has been, a company at the forefront. With or without a pandemic, that is what we will continue to be. We will continue to develop products and technology that provide pleasure, fun, safety and efficiency to the most discerning of consumers. We see the current context of profound transformation of the way we live, relate or consume as an opportunity. And we will try to capitalise on it!
The impact of this crisis has been felt since March, and the car sector, one of the strongest barometers of the economy, has suffered considerably. At BMW, we believe that major challenges are met with courage and conviction. And our conviction is that BMW’s role must involve building and promoting the mobility of the future. A philosophy, which, in any kind of situation, allows us to move in an efficient and sustainable way, always valuing resources.
We will continue to be agents promoting a greener economy, continuing to work daily on our strategic vision of electrification, ensuring the commitment to achieve the global goals of carbon neutrality. Proof of this commitment is, for example, the new BMW iX3, which will be the first model of the brand to be available in gasoline, diesel, hybrid and entirely electric motor versions, giving the consumer what we call "the power of choice”, allowing them to choose the version that best fits their needs.
And also, with regard to the specific case of Portugal, the BMW Group has made significant investments in our market. Through the creation, in 2018, of Critical TechWorks – a technological joint venture with Portuguese company Critical Software –, the BMW Group now has an important development hub in our country concentrated on developing the vehicle of the future. By the end of this year, more than 1000 Portuguese people will be playing an active role in the development of safer, greener, more accessible and more efficient mobility systems on a global level.
In the midst of the pandemic, we also chose to anticipate a project that was already being worked on to improve the relationship and purchasing experience for our customers and that has ended up being important to promote sales at this stage: the Digital Showroom. This is a platform that allows online access to all available vehicles for immediate sale in Portugal.
BMW is, and always has been, a company at the forefront. With or without a pandemic, that is what we will continue to be. We will continue to develop products and technology that provide pleasure, fun, safety and efficiency to the most discerning of consumers. We see the current context of profound transformation of the way we live, relate or consume as an opportunity. And we will try to capitalise on it!
