BMW set to drive sustainable China

Caijing Annual Conference, one of the most influential annual economic and financial summits in China, is being held from Nov 25 until Nov 27.

As leader of a sustainable and forward-looking company, Karsten Engel, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China, and Olaf Kastner, president and CEO of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd, were invited to share their views at the 2015 Caijing Annual Conference and its associated event, the third China Philanthropy Conference.

The two executives discussed the new energy vehicle industry and the promotion of lasting public benefit in China, and shared valuable insights with Chinese and Western experts at the forum.

Engel spoke on the subject of new energy development and administrative limitations. "BMW Group places sustainable development as our company's long-term strategic goal," he said.

"Now, the auto industry is encountering challenges in issues like urbanization, global warming and environment deterioration, where revolutionary change is indispensable and reform is vitally needed."

"BMW is a multinational company that gives unremitting commitment to the Chinese market. BMW has been ceaselessly committed to fulfilling sustainable mobility through technology innovation and, furthermore, to lead sustainable development throughout the industry via implementing innovations in the entire value chain. BMW is willing to play a more important role in leading China's auto industry into a sustainable future.," Engel said.

The tradition of environmental protection at BMW Group can be traced back 40 years.

The company's first environmental officer was appointed in 1973, a novelty in the automotive industry at the time.

In keeping with its clean production philosophy, the group signed the United Nations Environment Program's International Declaration on Cleaner Production in 2001.

The automaker has constantly standardized and optimized its production process, measuring factors such as energy, water, process wastewater, waste for disposal and solvent emissions, to reduce resource consumption during vehicle production to a minimum.

The group has reduced resource consumption per vehicle produced by 40 percent from its 2006 level.

Efforts

The company also introduced its BMW EfficientDynamics strategy in 2002, and made short-, mid- and long-term development plans. The strategy aims to lower fuel consumption and emissions and provide more driving pleasure through sustainable technology improvements and changes.

In September, the pure electric car all-new BMW i3 and plug-in hybrid sports car, BMW i8, were launched in China. BMW i focuses on sustainability throughout the entire value chain including production, materials, sales and recycle. It opened a new era of e-mobility and puts BMW at the forefront of the NEV industry.

The BMW i technology is applied on many other BMW products, including the BMW 530Le, which made its world debut at the 2014 Guangzhou Auto Show.

The BMW 530Le is a plug-in hybrid business sedan derived from the BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase. BMW believes that China will become the world's largest market for NEVs and the company is determined to work with the Chinese government and other companies to offer innovative technologies and services to improve the development of Chinese NEV business.

Sustainable development is a long-term strategy for the BMW Group and is throughout its entire value chain of the business and decision-making process and its worldwide markets.

"China is in a transition period under a new round of economic and social reform. An excellent corporate citizen must not only possess business capability, but also take responsibility for society, actively solving social problems and supporting social progress," Kastner said at the philanthropy conference.

"BMW is devoted to bringing innovative products with high efficiency and low energy consumption, while sustainability is being exemplified throughout the value chain."

"Our active and continuous corporate social responsibility events are aimed at building a healthy and harmonious society. We hope to encourage more and more enterprises to join us, bringing Chinese society a better tomorrow together," he said.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn