On the fifth anniversary of the opening of the BMW Welt, the BMW Group gave the press a sneak preview of its new brand experience. In case you're headed for Munich soon, read on.
Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing BMW, on the significance of the BMW Welt: “The BMW Welt is now the heart of all of our premium brands and sub-brands, as well as the spirit of the BMW Group. We look forward to welcoming many more visitors from all around the world to our Munich location.”
Harald Krüger, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Mini, Motorrad, Rolls-Royce and Aftersales, stated at the opening: “We will be focusing even more attention on the BMW Group’s individual brands and business areas in the future. Here, our customers can experience the core of the brands first-hand: from Rolls-Royce, the pinnacle of luxury, to the extraordinary world of MINI, to all of our Motorcycle brands.”
To mark its fifth anniversary, the BMW Welt is inviting guests to attend a special weekend on 20-21 October. Both days will feature a varied programme with a large number of events and indoor and outdoor activities: from the BMW jazz matinee and Rolls-Royce teatime to a MINI fashion dance show.
The BMW Welt presents the latest BMW Group developments. These can be seen in its products, but also in a glimpse of future mobility, with examples such as electro-mobility and future charging technology. Visitors can already take advantage of the BMW Group mobility services DriveNow and BMW on Demand on-site. The BMW Welt provides insights into the BMW Group’s future sales concepts – in Germany, it is a pioneer in the field of future retail.
At the redesigned BMW Welt, the BMW Group and each of its brands welcomes visitors in its own interactive experience area: The BMW Group display in the Double Cone focuses on the people who work for the company. BMW Group employees serve as avatars that interact with the visitors and explain the work they do. The BMW i presentation invites visitors to think deeply about electro-mobility and related issues, such as battery charging, energy generation and usage. In the BMW M brand area, visitors experience motorsport in its purest form: Weathered blacktop, start signals, piles of tyres and typical racetrack markings along the walls and the floor all transport the visitor to a world with a fascination for power.
Surprising and unconventional ideas allow the visitor to experience all aspects of the Mini brand in a fun, interactive way. For example, an oversized iPhone running a simulation of the Mini Connected app demonstrates individual functions. In the Mini Lounge, visitors can post a picture of themselves on the photo wall for posterity. The Rolls-Royce presentation is stylish and modern: Films and exhibits highlight the countless hours of meticulous handwork that go into every Rolls-Royce. One of the Rolls-Royce cars is always open to visitors. Anyone who wishes to can sit inside a Rolls-Royce – touch it, see it, smell it, savour it. The BMW Motorrad area features more than just motorcycles.
The Biker’s Lodge serves as a platform for the unique motorcycle community, and provides a casual atmosphere for sharing stories and recollections about travels, routes and tours. The Husqvarna brand is staged in a way that appears to defy the laws of gravity: A motorbike is suspended in the air above the visitors’ heads, and even the red Husqvarna container, positioned above the whole brand area in the upper level of the BMW Welt, appears to be free of gravity.
The unique BMW Welt brand experience is complemented by a new event concept, which allows the different brands to host their own events. Events like the BMW Welt Jazz Award or MINI Clubbing highlight brand values and are geared towards each brand’s target group.––Paul Duchene
