PressClub United Kingdom · Article.
BMW and MINI are first to launch the new Global Player in-car app.
Wed Jan 14 10:00:00 CET 2026 Press Release
BMW Group UK has partnered with Global, the Media & Entertainment Group, to bring a library of radio stations, award-winning podcasts and expertly curated playlists to the dashboard of over 180,000 BMW and MINI vehicles, as both brands are first to integrate the Global Player app directly into a vehicles’ built-in app store.
Press Contact.
James Morrison
BMW Group
Tel: +44-1252-92-1524
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Author.
Tom Evans
BMW Group
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BMW Group UK has partnered with Global, the Media & Entertainment
Group, to bring a library of radio stations, award-winning podcasts
and expertly curated playlists to the dashboard of over 180,000 BMW
and MINI vehicles, as both brands are first to integrate the Global Player app directly
into a vehicles’ built-in app store.
Integrated directly into the car’s infotainment system, the
Global Player in-car app removes the need to connect a smartphone.
Once downloaded from the BMW or MINI app store, drivers can simply
sign in once and gain instant access to their personalised content,
with the ability to switch effortlessly between listening in their
vehicle, at home, or in the office, all without interruption.
Via the Global Player app, drivers can rewind and pause their
favourite radio shows, catch up on programmes, and browse thousands of
podcasts and playlists all using their vehicle’s built-in infotainment
system and controls. Alongside a variety of other third-party apps,
Global Player is integrated seamlessly into the vehicle’s user
interface. In addition, the data required for streaming Global Player
content is included as part of the connectivity provided by a BMW
Digital Premium or MINI Connected Package subscription.
Today, over 180,000 BMW and MINI vehicles on the road in the UK
support the new Global Player in-car app, with this figure projected
to exceed 300,000 by the end of 2026. This growth will include the
all-new BMW iX3, powered by the latest BMW Operating System X, as well
as all future Neue Klasse models.
Chris Hollis, BMW Group Customer Digital Applications Manager
said: “We’re excited to offer BMW and MINI customers enhanced
connectivity through the new Global Player in-car app, allowing them
to enjoy their most-loved music, news and podcasts with ease. This
latest addition complements the wide variety of apps already available
for customers and further strengthens our seamless in-car
entertainment experience.”
Stephen Toombs, Head of In-Car Distribution for Global Player at
Global said: “This partnership with BMW Group UK is part of our
ambition to make Global Player available everywhere our audiences are.
We know that in-car listening plays an important role in people’s
daily routines and we want to make finding the audio they love as easy
as possible.”
Ends
*Compatible BMW and MINI models featuring Operating
System 9 or newer, which includes the BMW 1 Series (2024 onwards), BMW
2 Series Gran Coupé (2025 onwards), BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (2024
onwards), BMW X1/iX1 (2023 onwards), BMW X2/iX2 (2024 onwards), BMW X3
(2024 onwards), BMW iX3 (2026 onwards) and all MINI models (2024 onwards).
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW
Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of
automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial
services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30
production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.
In 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles
and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in
the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to €
142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 159,104 employees.
The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on
long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key
element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products
from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life.
www.bmwgroup.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/
YouTube:
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About Global
Global is one of the world’s leading Media &
Entertainment groups. With a huge weekly reach, it is the UK and
Europe’s largest Radio & Outdoor company.
Global is home to respected, national, market-leading media
brands including Capital, Heart, Classic FM, LBC, Global’s Newsroom,
Smooth, Radio X, Capital XTRA and Gold Radio.
Global Player, the official app for all our brands, is at the
core of Global’s content, allowing listeners to enjoy all of Global’s
brand content, both audio and video, as well as award-winning
podcasts, and expertly-curated playlists, in one place in app, web and
smart speakers.
With an extensive and diverse portfolio, Global is also the
leading Outdoor company in the UK & one of the largest in Europe
with over 235,000 sites reaching 95% of the UK population.
Global Studios, which includes Fellas Studios and The Overlap,
is the the ultimate one-stop-shop for podcast creators, with
best-in-class video and audio facilities, seamless distribution across
all major platforms, and the marketing power of Global’s radio,
digital and outdoor network.
On-air, on Global Player and with our outdoor platforms
combined, Global reaches 51 million individuals across the UK every
week, including 29 million on the radio alone.
Global created and operates DAX, the market leader in digital
audio advertising. Through its proprietary technology, DAX connects
advertisers with an audience of more than 130 million people
worldwide, inserting targeted advertising into music streaming
services, connected radio listening and podcasts, and operates a
pioneering platform in programmatic outdoor advertising.
The company headquarters is in London’s iconic Leicester Square.
Ashley Tabor-King CBE is Founder & Executive President, Simon
Pitts is Group CEO, Stephen Miron is Chair and James Rea is Chief
Broadcasting and Content Officer. Ashley Tabor-King created Global in 2007.
www.global.com
@global
For further information please contact:
Tom Evans
Senior Press Officer, BMW
Tel: 07815 371
705
Email: Tom.Evans@bmw.co.uk
James Morrison
Head of Product Communications
Tel:
07815 372 646
Email: James.Morrison@bmw.co.uk
Christina Burnham-Hepe
Corporate Communications
Director
Tel: 07815 371 206
Email: Christina.Burnham-Hepe@bmw.co.uk
Ali Laurie
Head of Corporate Communications,
Global
Tel: 07929 209 644
Email: Ali.Laurie@global.com