BMW's management has decided to suspend the development of projects related to electric models. Over the next five years, the brand's engineers will focus on creating cars with an autonomous driving system. The reason for the change in priorities was the moderate interest of buyers in the electric hatchback i3 and the hybrid coupe i8.
Klaus Fröhlich, a member of BMW's board of management, confirmed that the new strategy has already been approved by senior management. According to top management, shifting the focus to driverless technologies will allow the company to enter the market for passenger transportation without a driver and create a service capable of competing with Uber.
Analysts at BNP Paribas note that over the next five to six years, the demand for cars with autopilot will remain modest, but by 2025 a sharp increase in the popularity of such cars is expected.
