Pre-chamber combustion patented by BMW celebrates its premiere. High-efficiency new development makes its series production debut in BMW M models and enables a significant reduction in fuel consumption under high loads. New ignition process is a prime example of the transfer of technology from racing cars to series-production models and helps to meet the requirements of the EU7 standard. Production of the BMW M3 and BMW M4 with BMW M Ignite technology begins in July 2026; the new engine technology will be available for the BMW M2 from August 2026.

The new Aeroacoustic and E-Engine Center (AEZ) starts operations at the BMW Group's Research and Innovation Center (FIZ). The building consists of two halves: In addition to a multifunctional part with workshop, testing and measurement equipment as well as a prototype for high-voltage batteries and inverters, the AEZ is home to a technically unique wind tunnel. With a length of almost 100 m, a height of 45 m and a width of 25 m, it is the world's largest vertical acoustic wind tunnel and at the same time the quietest.

Explanatory video of the round cell production (pilot line) in the CMCC in Parsdorf

Software has been at the core of BMW Group vehicle development for years.

Autonomous, driverless transport vehicle navigates precisely through BMW Group Plant Regensburg press plant: With the introduction of an autonomous transport vehicle at its press plant, BMW Group Plant Regensburg is driving forward with digitalisation and automation of its manufacturing processes: The company is thus taking a further step towards the digital and intelligently connected BMW iFACTORY. The driverless platform truck, with its electric drive train, will handle the internal transport of press tools and steel blanks for the press lines autonomously, with a payload of up to 55 tonnes. Using state-of-the-art sensor technology, the transport system navigates accurately and fully autonomously through the production facilities of the Regensburg press plant at a speed of four kilometres per hour - without a driver. The solution is one of a kind and currently exists nowhere else in the world.

In conjunction with BMW Digital Premium the ConnectedDrive Store in BMW Operating System 9 offers an ever evolving range of apps. (images shows content specific to Germany).

Development demo at CES 2024: BMW voice assistant becomes the ultimate vehicle expert with the help of the Alexa Large Language Model (LLM)..

AR Ride: Joint development demo with XREAL – the driving experience is expanded with content that is perfectly blended into the real world with augmented reality glasses.

Teleoperated Valet Parking showcases one way of a driverless parking experience of the future.

The Video App offers a range of entertainment including both live channels and on-demand media libraries in the categories of news, sports, children's entertainment, movies and series (images shows content specific to Germany).

In-Car gaming with Bluetooth controllers will be made available over-the-air for BMW Operating System 9 over the course of 2024.