Tag Archives: info

Information

Introducing the Vision DC Roadster

It feels like everyone and their brother is working toward the goal of creating a sustainable and affordable electric car, but thus far, they’ve all been limited to four-wheeled cars and trucks, until recently.

In 2019, BMW debuted its first electric motorcycle, the first of its kind. What set’s BMW’s Vision DC Roadster apart, and when can we expect to see more motorcycle companies following BMW’s lead?

The BMW Electric Bike

BMW’s first electric bike looks like the brand’s old school bikes with their boxer engines, but instead of a gasoline engine, there’s a vertically-installed battery where the engine would otherwise be. The battery pack is flanked by cooling ribs — a throwback to the boxer engine’s cooling fins that were developed way back in 1923.

The Vision DC Roadster looks amazing and we can’t wait to get our hands on one to take it for a road test. It looks like the perfect addition to the BMW lineup but you probably won’t be seeing it on the road for a while.

Image via BMW PressClub

Instead, Electric Scooters

If you can’t wait for a two-wheeled electric commuting tool that’s got the BMW brand name attached, you do still have some options. The brand currently offers the C Evolution, a fully electric scooter with a range of 99 miles per charge. If you don’t need to make long trips, this scooter can be a fantastic tool. 

It’s lightweight, with a diecast aluminum case that houses and protects the 12 li-ion battery cells that power the C Evolution. These are actually the same batteries used in the brand’s i3 electric car. It’s been an option for BMW fans overseas for quite a few years, but it didn’t make its way to the states until the 2018 model year.

Waiting Until 2025

Although BMW released its plans for Vision DC Roadster in 2019, we probably won’t see one at our local BMW dealership until 2025 at the earliest. BMW isn’t rushing to get this electric motorcycle out on the road.

This is partially because motorcyclists aren’t generally looking to switch to an electric model, as fuel costs for motorcycles aren’t really an issue. There’s also the problem of range. Even fully electric vehicles, with their large battery packs, have a limited range of less than 200 miles — and there’s no room for those massive batteries on a motorcycle. When you combine these two things, BMW knows that they have to improve their technology before they release the Vision or it will end up flopping.

Looking Forward

For BMW fans, the promise of an electric motorcycle in the near future might be an exciting one — or it might turn out to be a pointless waste of resources that no one really wants to buy. The brand is biding their time and being smart about this new foray into otherwise unknown territory. It will be interesting to see where this story goes between now and 2025.

Editorial

The 15 Best BMW Commercial Ads of the Decade

The 2010s were a big decade for BMW that saw some major firsts — like the first fully electric models to come to market — and the 100th anniversary of the company’s founding. Over these last 10 years, the German automaker also produced a lot of ads — a few of which stood out more than others.

Here is our roundup of the 15 best BMW commercials of the decade.

15. Are We There Yet?

This ad from 2019 is a look back through time at some of the highlights of BMW, like the first electric version, the M1 and the company’s 2014 design for the U.S. bobsledding team. The commercial also looks to the future and drops some visuals of what to expect in the next decade.

14. BMW X5: The Back-Backseat Driver

This humorous ad from BMW is all about the X5, an SUV big enough to fit both backseat drivers and back-backseat drivers — like the grandmother featured in the commercial, who tells slightly exaggerated stories about her past.

13. The Destination

One of the many BMW ads to play on memory and nostalgia, this commercial — created for the 2017 Road Home sales event — shows the kinds of memories you can make in a BMW, or, how it’s not all about the destination.

12. Like New Again

Many of BMW’s ads toward the end of the decade had the company looking backward for inspiration. One of the best examples of this is the ads from the Like New Again campaign. It riffed off of six years’ worth of BMW commercials and ads — TV spots, radio ads and flyers — to promote certified preowned BMWs.

The campaign was clever, but maybe a little too self-aware for its own good.

11. Mini 2016 Super Bowl Spot

This Super Bowl Spot, the last we’ve seen so far from BMW, promotes the label-defying Mini. The ad is probably best remembered for its interesting celebrity lineup, which included appearances from Serena Williams, T-Pain, Harvey Keitel and Tony Hawk.

10. BMW i3: Newfangled Idea

Another ad playing off the newness of electric vehicles, this Super Bowl Spot from 2015 brought together former “Today” show hosts Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel. They compared the launch of EVs to other new ideas, like the internet back in the ‘90s, with the tagline, “big ideas take a little getting used to.”

9. BMW and Spotify Collab

In 2019, BMW teamed up with Spotify to curate the perfect BMW-themed driving playlists. All in all, the company put together enough music to back 85 hours of driving. The collaboration also included unique, in-app visuals from New Zealand artists designed to be paired with the music.

8. This BMW Drunk Driving PSA

This print PSA from BMW about drunk driving created a lot of buzz, for better or worse, and briefly reignited the conversation around social drinking and drunk driving.

7. BMW i: Drive the Future

One of the biggest developments of the past decade was the rise and regular advertisement of electric vehicles. This ad, from late 2018, uses slick, glossy visuals and a sophisticated voice-over to associate BMW’s line of hybrids and all-electric vehicles with the future.

6. BMW Accelerate

This bold print ad campaign from BMW South Africa takes full advantage of some gorgeous wide shots to show the kind of distance you can cover with a BMW S 1000 RR motorcycle. This bike accelerates from 0 to 100 in just three seconds.

5. BMW’s Crying Billboard

This innovative ad uses a unique billboard design that captures rain and causes the face on the advertisement to start crying. It may be a bit of a stretch to call the billboard effective — it’s not exactly clear what’s being advertised, other than BMW — but it is certainly different.

4. BMW’s Night Vision Billboards

This spot is definitely the highest-tech ad on the list, and possibly one of the highest-tech campaigns you’ve probably ever seen.

BMW wanted to reduce the number of crashes caused by wildlife on remote Austrian roads. It designed a night-vision billboard, based on the same tech used by its cars’ night-vision cameras, to help drivers spot deer planning to cross the highway.

According to BMW, not a single crash happened while the boards were up.

3. Retrospect

To celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary, BMW commissioned this nostalgic ad about the past — and how, as it says, “Memories never age.”

2. BMW X7: Legend

This spot, one of the last few of the decade, used lush storybook and fantasy visuals to show off the X7, BMW’s 2019 full-size luxury SUV. It’s probably the most dense and complicated BMW ad of the 2010s, and one of the brand’s few ads to rely heavily on CGI.

1. The Small Escape

The Small Escape was one of the last BMW ads of the decade and almost certainly the most cinematic. The commercial, which is better described as a short film, is a dramatized retelling of escape from East to West Berlin using a classic 1955 BMW Isetta — a 13-horsepower car that could barely seat two passengers.

The short film also hooked into a larger ad campaign, including an article that tells the full story of the escape.

Rounding up BMW’s Best Ads From the 2010s

The last decade has been big for BMW. Over the past 10 years, the company used most of its advertising to look back to the company’s past but also to look forward to new technology, like electric vehicles.

Now, there’s no telling where the brand will go in the 2020s. If they’re anything like the 2010s, though, BMW will be looking for ways to advertise both its history and its future.

Information

4 Tips for Starting a Used Car Dealership

The passion for starting your own business is something that many people can relate to. Being the boss over something you’re passionate about that helps your community is invigorating.

If you have a passion for BMWs and the desire to start and run a successful business, you should consider starting a used car dealership. Channel your passion into your full-time job and develop your skills as a business owner at the same time.

Read on to learn five essential tips for starting a used car dealership. With the right knowledge and preparation, you’ll shift into the role of a business owner without any bumps in the road.

1. Set Up Your First Steps

The first steps to starting your used car business may seem obvious, but don’t let them get overlooked. First, you’ll need to choose a location for your business. This may be where you live or in a separate city.

Look around a few areas to see what land is for sale or if there are any businesses that are closing. Compare the costs of starting with a couple of fresh acres or using an existing building.

Next, you’ll have to choose a name for your dealership. This may need to follow guidelines provided by BMW, so reach out to a corporate representative to talk further about the specifics. They may have a procedure set in place to help new dealership owners.

After you’ve chosen your dealership’s name, you’ll need to secure a domain name that will be your business’ permanent web address. Be aware that there are upfront fees to claiming the domain name, even if you don’t immediately start building the website. You may also have to pay a yearly fee to maintain ownership of your domain, depending on which company you register with.

Last, you’ll have to think of the logistics. What is your target market? Think of the age range of the people in the area where you’ll set up your dealership. Who is already there and would want a BMW and who do you want to win over? Start with your practical market and make a plan that will grow your business from there.

Don’t worry if this all sounds like a new language to you. Take these steps slowly to get used to the process. You can also consider taking a few business classes or earning a diploma to make you a more successful business manager.

2. Determine Your Breakeven Point

That will help you figure out the initial costs of starting your business and compare it to when you’ll break even. The average used car dealership sells 87 cars per month, but it’s safe to bet that your dealership will sell a little less to nearly equal the amount per month in your first year. You’ll need time to market your business and make it a familiar place that people are willing to trust.

Be prepared for your dealership to not break even the first month. As time goes on, you’ll see a gradual return on your initial investment. Talk with a CPA or calculate your breakeven point to determine what numbers you need to pull to make your first profit.

3. Get Your Business in Order

Before you start construction or open your front doors, you’ll need to obtain a dealer’s business license to legally make a profit off of selling cars that aren’t titled in your name. Your local DMV will help you figure out how to get this license where you live. You’ll have to meet certain requirements, which may include things like:

  • Providing proof of business insurance
  • Passing a background check
  • Registering your business
  • Signing up for a pre-licensing seminar

You should also apply for an Employer ID, also known as a Federal Tax Identification number. It’s how the IRS recognizes your dealership as a business and processes your taxes accordingly. The good news is that it’s free to apply and once you’re approved, you’ll get that number immediately.

After you have your Employer ID, you can register for taxes with a local CPA. They’ll fill you in on any other loose ends that need to be tied up in order for you to be compliant with tax laws. Discuss whether or not your business should be a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) or an S corporation (S Corp), which may provide better tax breaks depending on where you live.

The next local office you’ll have to call is your city’s business license department. Talk about how you should get your business license and contact the city’s zoning department to double-check that the land you’ll use for your dealership is zoned for that purpose.

It’s crucial to then get the insurance your dealership will need to succeed. You’ll need comprehensive general liability insurance to sign your eventual lease and any client contracts. It’s also what will protect you from lawsuits related to customer injuries or damages.

Once you have everything lined up, open a business bank account specifically for your dealership. This will make filing your taxes and reporting your income much simpler. Stick with the bank you trust for your personal finances or ask around to see which banks offer a better solution to your needs.

4. Review the Law

One of the most important things you can do for your used car dealership is review the laws that your business must abide by. Specifically, used car dealerships of any brand fall under the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) Used Car Rule. It states that any car dealers who move five cars or more off the lot each year have to follow each guideline and regulation in order to remain open.

Use care dealerships also have to maintain and display the Buyer’s Guide, as explained in the Used Car Rule. The guide explains any warranties attached to the car and where to get information on possible future recalls.

If your dealership does not comply with either of these laws, it’s liable for large fines that meet or exceed $43,000. Check your state laws to see if your state is the one to reinforce these laws and if they have any additional rules you should be aware of as the dealership owner.

Ask for Help

Starting any kind of used car dealership isn’t something you can do overnight. There may be steps that are new to you, but don’t feel like you have to do everything alone. BMW representatives, your CPA and your state offices are there to help with any questions you may have. Asking for help along the way will help your dealership open up sooner and stay on the path to success.