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| BMW Group Chief Marketing Officer and board member Pieter Nota speaks during the company's press conference at the BMW Driving Center in Incheon, Wednesday. / Courtesy of BMW Korea |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
BMW Group will expand its research and development center here and plans to increase cooperation with its local partners in "future mobility systems," the company said Wednesday.
The German automaker held an event to celebrate the expanded BMW Korea Driving Center in Incheon.
Board members Nicolas Peter and Pieter Nota, and BMW Group Korea CEO Han Sang-yun attended the ceremony and a press conference to share the group's commitment to Korea.
The BMW Korea Driving Center will offer various new programs, including the Premium Automobile Delivery Service, to meet customer demand here.
The expansion has added 50,022 square meters to the existing center, which now covers 291,802 square meters.
The company spent 12.5 billion won ($10.6 million) on the expansion, which comprises a new circular driving course, an extended xDrive off-road course, and new customer experience and convention centers.
With the addition of 13 new employees, the new R&D center will provide extended test facilities for product development as well as testing and validation, according to BMW Group Korea.
BMW Group said it will cooperate with its Korean partners to leverage their expertise and talent.
"We recognize Korea as one of the world's powerhouses of high-end technology," Peter said. "It represents innovative thinking, technological progress and tremendous openness to new developments.
"This places Korea in an excellent position to play an important role in shaping future mobility."
BMW Group has signed a contract with SK Telecom, Korea's largest mobile telecommunications company, for a next-generation navigation system.
This will improve quality and deliver the best customer experience to customers, the company said.
The company has also signed a long-term supply contract ― running from 2021 to 2031 ― with Samsung SDI for fifth-generation battery cells.
"Electrification is the top priority of BMW Group; we're keen to learn from Korean experts in shaping future systems," Nota said. "By 2023, the group will have 25 EV (electric vehicle) models."
BMW Group will also bring new and various electric models, including standard battery run and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, to Korea soon.
As a sign of BMW Group's commitment to Korea, the company unveiled a plan to launch a new member of the 5 Series at the Busan International Motor Show next year.
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