New Fuel Vehicles

Come 2012, and you could expect the German auto giant BMW to introduce its battery-powered eco friendly car for US consumers. The market is rife with speculations whether the future model would be a small car, a cross over or an electric vehicle. According to the CEO of BMW Norbert Reithofer, plans are afoot for launching the ‘ecologically compatible car for the US market’ in 2012, though no further details are available as yet. 2012 is an important landmark in the US when new CAFÉ standards come into effect. With BMW being labeled as a ‘large vehicle manufacturer’ this would entail more stringent quality and performance standards for the auto manufacturer. Reithofer, in an interview with Mobile Magazine commented that this could be a collaborative effort between BMW and another car maker who would be finalized sometime this year. He also mentioned that the introduction of the eco friendly model could be a precursor for a global launch for a brand new ‘mini car’ designed for major cities round the world.

It is most likely that the initiative for introducing this eco friendly car is a result of the fuel efficiency regulations. Since the idea is still in the early stages of development and discussions, Mobile Magazine’s opinion is: “It’s unclear exactly what sort of size (or price) this new BMW will be, so we can’t say for certain whether it’ll be a sporty number like the Tesla Roadster, a generic-looking sedan, or hopped-up crossover.” It is worthwhile to remember that starting 2012, it would be obligatory for BMW to offer the US consumers a clean car which emits no carbon dioxide, as it would be categorized as a ‘large vehicle maker’. While BMW to comply with the law, might introduce a few hundred electric cars to the US, it is a wait and watch scenario for the company whether to use the basic concept for something other than an electric car in future.