BMW CleanEnergy in Sacramento. California's Winston Hickox favors hydrogen.

Munich, Germany. March 28, 2002. The BMW CleanEnergy World Tour 2002 began on
March 19th in California and was attended and supported by high-ranking guests
from the world of politics, business and science. At the event in the state
capital, Sacramento, representatives of the BMW Group and the State Government
of California discussed the future of hydrogen, which is viewed as the
sustainable energy source of the future worldwide. The event was also attended
by Winston Hickox, Head of the Californian Environmental Protection Agency
(Cal/EPA).

Hydrogen will ensure mobility in the future

In his statement at the event, Hickox referred to the BMW activities in
California:
"Today marks the eighth month since the BMW hydrogen powered vehicles were
placed in operation in California. These vehicles, which use hydrogen in both
the engine and the auxiliary fuel cell unit, demonstrate the capability of
hydrogen to meet our transportation needs in an environmentally friendly
manner. BMW should be commended for its efforts to develop and market
advanced-technology hydrogen vehicles."

Alliances are decisive for the promotion of hydrogen

The aim of the CleanEnergy World Tour around the globe is above all to forge
new alliances dedicated to introducing hydrogen. Alan Lloyd, Head of the
California Air Resources Board stated before the Auditorium in the Capitol of
Sacramento: "We have only been successful, because the industry responded in
spades. They have always done things more efficiently, at less cost and mostly
sooner than we expected, and of course the BMW Group was classical to that part
of it."
Prior to the event he had met with BMW managers and a number of politicians and
decision-makers to exchange ideas about the hydrogen future.

Technical and political workshops in conjunction with partner companies

With the BMW CleanEnergy World Tour 2002, BMW is once again dedicating itself
to introducing hydrogen as the fuel of the future worldwide. Christoph Huss,
Head of Science and Transport Politics of the BMW Groups states in this
respect: "If the challenges of saving resources in a sustainable way, of
ensuring an independent energy supply and of reducing greenhouse emissions are
to be taken seriously, then we already have to make preparations regarding the
availability of hydrogen in the transport sector today. Only then can we expect
hydrogen fuel to be implemented during the next decade". Not only the start
event but the entire BMW CleanEnergy World Tour 2002 is directed at the
decision-makers from the world of science, technology and politics. The BMW
Group presents facts and concepts for the introduction of hydrogen in technical
and political workshops and cooperates very closely with partner companies such
as the energy supplier bp and the infrastructure specialist Linde.
Rolf Trill, attending the event in Sacramento on behalf of Linde Gas AG, said
in Sacramento: "At this moment in time already, hydrogen is one of our most
important products. We are sure that hydrogen will take the place of fossil
energy sources. We have not doubts that hydrogen will dominate the energy
market."

The BMW 750hL fleet has already completed tests and trials in California

Nearly one year ago the BMW Group moved a part of its hydrogen fleet of 15 BMW
750hLs to California to the Engineering and Emission Test Center (EETC) in
Oxnard. The twelve-cylinder sedans serve on the one hand for technical testing
in the area of Los Angeles and on the other for demonstration purposes.
Engineers and scientists, politicians and decision-makers use them to learn
about all the benefits of BMW hydrogen technology. Dr. Burkhard Göschel, Head
of Development and Purchasing of the BMW Group: " In California we can explain
our strategy effectively because here ecology and energy are firmly anchored in
the public and political consciousness." The BMW Group is placing its bets on
hydrogen as the fuel of the future in the long term and is already developing
the first hydrogen vehicle with internal combustion engine for series
development.
Since June 2001 the hydrogen-powered twelve-cylinder BMW 7 Series sedans have
been rolling through the Southwest of the USA. The cars impressively prove that
the comfort and superior performance of the internal combustion engine are not
contradictory to ecology and the climate protection targets laid down in the
Kyoto protocol. The comfortable test cars have covered more than 25,000
kilometres mainly on the roads of California - without any defects. They were
definitely not treated gently: excursions to hell-hot Death Valley were
mastered without any faults as well as trips through the Los Angeles rush hour.
Overall the BMW hydrogen fleet has now covered more than 170,000 kilometres
(105,656 miles) worldwide proving that hydrogen cars powered by internal
combustion engines are technically feasible.

Hydrogen with high market potential

Dr. Bernd Gebler, responsible for series development of hydrogen cars at the
BMW Group, provided the timeline during his statement in Sacramento: "during
the production cycle of the new 7 series, we will present a series version of
the hydrogen car. With the bivalent driving mode we will provide a pragmatic
solution allowing the customer to run his or her car either on hydrogen or
petrol. Our customers will be able to drive a CO2-emission free car in the near
future."
Winston Hickox explained to the audience the interaction of innovation in the
field of hydrogen and sustainable growth of a company:
"Because air pollution is an international concern there is a significant
worldwide market potential for clean energy efficient vehicle technologies.
Therefore, companies such as BMW which are progressive enough to remain on the
forefront of technology will continue to prosper."

For questions please contact:

Corporate Communications

Andreas Klugescheid, AK-21, Technolgiekommunikation CleanEnergy
Telephone: 089 - 382 - 25506, Fax: 089 - 382 - 27563

Tobias Nickel, AK-21, Technologiekommunikation
Telephone: 089 - 382 - 27072, Fax: 089 - 382 - 27563

Media Website: www.press.bmwgroup.com
e-mail: presse@bmw.de