BMW ULTIMATE DRIVE CELEBRATES ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

BMW AND THE SUSAN G. KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION TO RAISE OVER $5 MILLION TO
PUT THE BRAKES ON BREAST CANCER THROUGH BMW TEST DRIVES ACROSS AMERICA

WOODCLIFF LAKE, NEW JERSEY, MAY 3, 2001...As dozens of breast cancer survivors,
friends and family cheered them on, an eighteen-car fleet of specially
decorated BMWs started the Fifth Annual Ultimate Drive for The Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation -- a dramatic cross-country trek aiming to put the
brakes on breast cancer by raising money for ground-breaking research. The
kick-off took place simultaneously at Tischer BMW in Silver Spring, MD and
Union Park BMW in Wilmington, Delaware.

The Ultimate Drive is a unique grassroots fundraising partnership between BMW
of North America, LLC, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The
Drive is designed to raise money and awareness for breast cancer in over 200
cities across America. This program has successfully raised over $4 million
over the past four years, and BMW expects to hit the $5 million mark this year.

From May through November, two fleets of specially marked BMWs will criss-cross
the country, making stops in approximately 200 cities. Each city and town will
host a day-long fundraising event, inviting the community to come out and
test-drive a BMW. For every mile test-driven, BMW will donate $1 to the Komen
Foundation. Over the past four years, the Ultimate Drive has attracted over
115,000 participants.

During each event, the Ultimate Drive will also identify a "local hero," a
community member that will be celebrated for their outstanding efforts in the
fight against breast cancer. A photograph of each hero will be permanently
affixed to a specially designed BMW Signature Vehicle. The local hero and all
participants then sign this vehicle, making it a striking visual testimonial to
the individuals who are making a difference in the fight against this deadly
disease.

The Signature Vehicle in each fleet this year will be a BMW 3 Series Sport
Wagon.

For the second year, the Ultimate Drive will be accompanied by The Ultimate
Child Safety Seat Clinic. Spurred on by statistics that revealed that only
about 4 percent of child safety seats are installed correctly, BMW and Britax
(the world's largest safety seat manufacturer) last year established the clinic
- a hands-on safety program geared towards parents. Due to popular demand, the
clinic will once again travel across country with the Ultimate Drive. In a
dedicated tent, Child Passenger Safety Technicians, guided by the IACP Traffic
Safety committee, will provide one-on-one demonstrations on the proper way to
install child safety seats. Technicians will then oversee the participants
install a seat in their own vehicle - whether or not it is a BMW.

"For five years, BMW and the Komen Foundation have been putting the brakes on
breast cancer and driving home a message of hope and commitment to people
around the country. Together, we have demonstrated that it is possible for
communities and corporations to come together for the greater good," said Tom
Purves, President, BMW of North America, LLC. "And, with the addition of the
Ultimate Child Safety Seat Clinic, we are able to broaden our safety mission by
demonstrating the proper installation of child safety seats at each event.
Together, all of these components convey a powerful message: one person can
make a difference."

"Our partnership with BMW has been instrumental in educating people and raising
awareness of breast cancer," said Nancy Brinker, founding chair of the Komen
Foundation. This year we celebrate our Fifth Anniversary. This is a
significant milestone and proves that by working together we can work to
eradicate this deadly disease."

"Britax is thrilled to join forces once again with BMW on the Ultimate Child
Safety Seat Clinic," remarked Tom Baloga, President of Britax Child Safety,
Inc./U.S. The Ultimate Drive has proven that the grassroots approach to
educating the public is a powerful force."

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy
Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast
cancer at the age of 36. The Foundation is an international organization with
a network of volunteers working through Affiliates to eradicate breast cancer
as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and
treatment.

The Komen Foundation runs one of the most innovative, responsive grant programs
in breast cancer today, having awarded more than $68 million in research grants
since its inception. In addition to funding research, the Foundation and its
Affiliates fund non-duplicative, community-based breast health education and
breast cancer screening and treatment projects for the medically underserved.

For more information about breast health or breast cancer, call the Komen
Foundation's National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at 1.800 I'M AWARE(
(1.800.462.9273), or visit the Foundation's website at www.breast
cancerinfo.com.

BMW Group in America

BMW of North America, LLC was established in 1975. Since then, the company has
grown to include marketing, sales and financial service organizations in the
United States for the BMW and MINI brands; a South Carolina manufacturing
operation; DESIGNWORKS/USA, an industrial design firm in California; a
technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the
country. The BMW Group is represented in the U.S. through a network of more
than 340 car, 315 Sports Activity Vehicle and 160 motorcycle retailers. BMW US
Holding Corp., the Group's headquarters for North, Central and South America,
is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the World
Wide Web on the BMW homepage at http://www.bmwusa.com and www.miniusa.com.

Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available
to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address -
www.press.bmwgroup.com.

Detailed event information is attached.