Latest news with #BMWGroup
The Herald
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Herald
‘My first car was a BMW — now I'm driven in one': Ramaphosa says BMW has always been a part of his journey
President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised BMW South Africa's commitment to innovation, skills development and inclusive economic growth during an event showcasing the automaker's latest investment in hybrid vehicle production at its Rosslyn plant in Pretoria. Speaking at the event, themed 'BMW Group South Africa: Leading Today, Enabling Tomorrow', Ramaphosa lauded the launch of the local production of the new BMW X3 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), calling it a major milestone for the automotive sector and a symbol of trust in South Africa's workforce and manufacturing capability. 'The Rosslyn plant is a testament to BMW's long-standing presence in the South African market. This world-class facility was the first BMW plant to be built outside Germany and has been at the centre of the group's operations since 1973,' Ramaphosa said. The president joked about his own long-standing relationship with the brand. 'I don't know what they will call me because my first car was a BMW — not that I tried to run away from BMW. I am now also being driven in a BMW. So BMW has never left me,' he quipped. Ramaphosa also welcomed the automaker's inclusive approach to its workforce. 'I am very pleased that they call you associates because that means you are very much a part of this company,' he said. The president highlighted the importance of BMW's investment in plug-in hybrid technology and its alignment with South Africa's transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. 'As the transition to battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen mobility gathers momentum, South Africa is perfectly positioned as a key global manufacturing base for the mobility of the future,' Ramaphosa said. He emphasised that the government is committed to supporting the green transition through clear policy frameworks. 'We are determined to ensure there is an enabling regulatory and policy environment. Through the Automotive Production and Development Programme and more recently, the Electric Vehicle White Paper and incentive programme, we have committed to a stable, predictable and supportive framework for companies to invest, localise and grow in South Africa,' he said. The president noted the country's competitive edge, citing the automotive sector's contribution of about 4.9% to GDP and support for more than 115,000 direct manufacturing jobs and more than half a million jobs across the value chain. 'South Africa is the 22nd largest vehicle exporter globally, with our main export destinations being the EU, US and UK,' he said. Ramaphosa also praised BMW for its efforts in empowering youth and advancing transformation. 'BMW Group is to be congratulated for its commitment to skills development and training for young people. This includes its partnership with Unicef to train learners and educators in coding and robotics in schools and the BMW South Africa IT Hub in Tshwane that employs over 2,000 professionals, including software engineers and digital specialists,' he said. He noted that the company's training academy produces 300 apprentices annually and has trained more than 2,000 artisans since 1978. BMW's partnership with the Youth Employment Service has supported more than 3,500 youth with placements across provinces in sectors such as retail, IT, education and health. 'BMW's commitment to transformation includes active mentorship of young women, the development of black industrialists, and investment in a pipeline of future managers through its Leadership Acceleration Programme,' Ramaphosa said. The president also addressed recent developments in international trade, pointing out that new US tariffs underscore the urgency for South Africa to diversify its export base and invest in domestic value creation. 'With our significant reserves of critical minerals, we must become a hub for processing and beneficiation. We are finalising targeted incentives for battery cell localisation, EV component manufacture, clean mobility research and design, and critical mineral beneficiation,' he said. 'BMW's roots may be in Bavaria, but its beating heart is South African. We see BMW as an integral part of the South African growth story. As the government of national unity, we welcome the role you continue to play in supporting our drive for inclusive growth and job creation.' TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
‘My first car was a BMW — now I'm driven in one': Ramaphosa says BMW has always been a part of his journey
President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised BMW South Africa's commitment to innovation, skills development and inclusive economic growth during an event showcasing the automaker's latest investment in hybrid vehicle production at its Rosslyn plant in Pretoria. Speaking at the event, themed 'BMW Group South Africa: Leading Today, Enabling Tomorrow', Ramaphosa lauded the launch of the local production of the new BMW X3 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), calling it a major milestone for the automotive sector and a symbol of trust in South Africa's workforce and manufacturing capability. 'The Rosslyn plant is a testament to BMW's long-standing presence in the South African market. This world-class facility was the first BMW plant to be built outside Germany and has been at the centre of the group's operations since 1973,' Ramaphosa said. The president joked about his own long-standing relationship with the brand. 'I don't know what they will call me because my first car was a BMW — not that I tried to run away from BMW. I am now also being driven in a BMW. So BMW has never left me,' he quipped. Ramaphosa also welcomed the automaker's inclusive approach to its workforce. 'I am very pleased that they call you associates because that means you are very much a part of this company,' he said. The president highlighted the importance of BMW's investment in plug-in hybrid technology and its alignment with South Africa's transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. 'As the transition to battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen mobility gathers momentum, South Africa is perfectly positioned as a key global manufacturing base for the mobility of the future,' Ramaphosa said. He emphasised that the government is committed to supporting the green transition through clear policy frameworks. 'We are determined to ensure there is an enabling regulatory and policy environment. Through the Automotive Production and Development Programme and more recently, the Electric Vehicle White Paper and incentive programme, we have committed to a stable, predictable and supportive framework for companies to invest, localise and grow in South Africa,' he said. The president noted the country's competitive edge, citing the automotive sector's contribution of about 4.9% to GDP and support for more than 115,000 direct manufacturing jobs and more than half a million jobs across the value chain. 'South Africa is the 22nd largest vehicle exporter globally, with our main export destinations being the EU, US and UK,' he said. Ramaphosa also praised BMW for its efforts in empowering youth and advancing transformation. 'BMW Group is to be congratulated for its commitment to skills development and training for young people. This includes its partnership with Unicef to train learners and educators in coding and robotics in schools and the BMW South Africa IT Hub in Tshwane that employs over 2,000 professionals, including software engineers and digital specialists,' he said. He noted that the company's training academy produces 300 apprentices annually and has trained more than 2,000 artisans since 1978. BMW's partnership with the Youth Employment Service has supported more than 3,500 youth with placements across provinces in sectors such as retail, IT, education and health. 'BMW's commitment to transformation includes active mentorship of young women, the development of black industrialists, and investment in a pipeline of future managers through its Leadership Acceleration Programme,' Ramaphosa said. The president also addressed recent developments in international trade, pointing out that new US tariffs underscore the urgency for South Africa to diversify its export base and invest in domestic value creation. 'With our significant reserves of critical minerals, we must become a hub for processing and beneficiation. We are finalising targeted incentives for battery cell localisation, EV component manufacture, clean mobility research and design, and critical mineral beneficiation,' he said. 'BMW's roots may be in Bavaria, but its beating heart is South African. We see BMW as an integral part of the South African growth story. As the government of national unity, we welcome the role you continue to play in supporting our drive for inclusive growth and job creation.'
Car and Driver
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 BMW M3 Has New Paint Colors from the E36 and E46 Generations
The current M3's styling isn't for everyone, but BMW does at least still offer an enthusiast-pleasing manual transmission and rear-wheel-drive pairing. Now you can get your new 2026 M3 in colors formerly found on the E36 and E46 models. There is a significant charge, but the best colors are available on the entry model. BMW sells a lot of crossovers these days, but with the M3, it still caters to the brand's hardcore fans. The least expensive version comes with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. The quicker Competition Spec is brutally fast, a four-door family sedan that can go door to door with a Porsche 911. Now, for the 2026 model year, BMW is making things even sweeter with some familiar paint options. BMW has brought the configurator for the 2026 M3 online, and apologies in advance for any dips in your productivity levels when you log on. It'll let you build out your perfect M3 with a couple of clicks, and the very first option to come up, after selecting trim level, is what color you want it to be. BMW 2026 M3 in Laguna Seca Blue. The standard color options are fairly basic, though there's a broad spread of optional choices starting at a reasonable charge of $650. The really good stuff, however, costs $4500 and comes with a warning that it'll potentially add 10 to 15 weeks to the delivery process, as it's a special order. For dedicated M3 fans, it might be worth the cost and the wait. On the base M3, it's possible to get some color choices formerly found on the E36 and E46 M3s, the cars that took the M3 mainstream in the United States. From the E36 range, there's a version of Dakar Yellow (pictured above) and the truly wonderful Technoviolet Metallic, a shimmering purple. From the E46 lineup comes Laguna Seca Blue and a take on Imola Red. A Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 is just aces, and the color works well on the current car too. BMW 2026 BMW M3 in Technoviolet Metallic. Competition-spec cars get slightly different paint offerings but lose a couple of the heritage colors. Laguna Seca Blue is out, but you can get the Dakar Yellow II and the Technoviolet. There's also a new shade for BMW called Goodwood Green that looks quite fetching. With the base M3 getting more offerings than the Competition, BMW is again catering to the enthusiast. The idea of a collector-grade E46 M3 parked next to a modern, daily-driven M3, both of them with manual transmissions and painted Laguna Seca Blue, would sure make for a great garage lineup. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio
Motor 1
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Alpina's Logo Just Got Slightly Less Cool
BMW inked a deal to take over Alpina in 2022. The German automaker is beginning to exert that control, recently trademarking a new, flatter, and less exciting logo for the tuning brand. The latest Alpina logo features its first overhaul in over two decades. The most noticeable change is the missing red-and-white shield. The throttle and crankshaft symbols remain, but the filing shows the two components in a simple circle, mimicking BMW's iconic roundel. It's a simplified design, mimicking a trend , in just black and white with a tweaked and taller font. Photo by: Alpina The trademark filing, first discovered by CarBuzz , lists its uses for automobiles, commercial information, and parts and accessories services, so we're likely to see the new branding on more than just future Alpina models. However, it's unclear what those cars will be. When the two brands announced the deal , BMW said Alpina would build modified cars through the end of 2025, begin offering restoration services, and expand its services business. According to the automaker, it's difficult to operate a small firm independently with increasing emissions regulations and safety standards, so acquiring it would allow the Alpina brand to remain on the market. Alpine began operation in 1965, tuning and racing BMW models before building complete vehicles. While vehicle production will cease at its Buchloe facility at the end of the year, Alpina's service, parts, and accessories business will continue at the location, and we hope to see the new badge on a real vehicle soon. Here's What Alpina Builds: The B8 GT Is Alpina's Most Powerful Car Ever Alpina Boosts the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series to 529 HP Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: German Patent and Trademark Office via Car Buzz Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Top Gear
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
BMW 3 Series Touring Interior Layout & Technology
The G21 is emphatically better-furnished than the old-gen F30 3 Series, and the facelift has improved things further. The front seats and driving position are as terrific as they've always been, and said seats now come heated even on entry-level versions. Up front, there's no way of knowing you're in the Touring except by looking in the rear-view mirror. This latest generation added a bit more rear seat space too, with the Touring's long roof helping headroom. It even has three-abreast child seat mounts. But it isn't minicab-sized, and the transmission tunnel impedes people sliding in and out to the opposite door – and means centre passengers have to fight for foot space. What about the boot? Never mind the boot's size (500 litres for all but the PHEV, remember), it's easy to use. The opening is slightly wider than it was in the previous generation, and under the floor is a compartment to neatly store the boot blind and dog net. BMW's usual separate opening tailgate-glass features too. For chucking small stuff in, it's so much handier than waiting for the electric full tailgate, and also means you can always add one more waffer-theen mint to a full boot without the rest bursting out. An optional storage pack includes a set of polished metal front-to-back rails in the floor, with rubber inserts. Open the boot and this rubber retracts below the level of the metal, so you can easily slide boxes in and out. Shut the door and the rubber stands slightly proud, to give a grippy surface. A small thing, but... And the infotainment? Here's where the big changes were made with the facelift. In front of you is now a giant curved display that's running BMW Operating System 8 and incorporates both your dial display and your infotainment screen. It's standard on all 3 Series Tourings and is a remarkably responsive touchscreen, although it is a magnet for messy fingerprints and we're a little disappointed that BMW has included the climate controls up there instead of keeping its separate panel down below.
