BMW Using Recycled Methane Gas as Energy Source - EPA Administrator Christie Todd Whitman on Hand

Spartanburg, S.C. - BMW Manufacturing Corp. fully began recycling methane gas
as an energy source, it was announced today. The recycled methane gas, drawn
from the Palmetto Landfill near Spartanburg, will supply BMW with 25 percent of
its energy needs. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christine
Todd Whitman participated in the announcement.

"This is a win-win for everyone. It avoids the need to burn methane. It yields
significant amounts of clean energy. And, by avoiding 55,000 tons of carbon
dioxide emissions each year, it results in cleaner, healthier air for everyone
to breathe," said Whitman.

"BMW wants to do whatever it can to make Upstate South Carolina a better place
to live," said Dr. Helmut Leube, president of BMW Manufacturing Corp. "This
project allows BMW to take a wasted source of energy and use it to generate
electricity, which benefits the environment and area residents through lower
emissions."

BMW's project is unique in that the methane gas is used to fuel four turbines
at the BMW factory, which produce electricity and hot water. Most other
landfill gas projects produce electricity at the landfill and use it only for
electricity or direct heating. The efficient cogeneration of electricity and
hot water has been a part of BMW's overall plan since construction began on the
plant in 1993.

"Cogeneration is used at many of BMW's worldwide facilities," said Gary
Weinreich, BMW's Manager for Environmental Services. "We are pleased to add a
'Green Power' component by using this renewable energy source. We strive to be
a good environmental partner with the community by simultaneously improving
energy utilization and regional air quality."

BMW's Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project supports the Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) efforts in the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), which
began in 1994 as a means of converting landfill gas into clean-burning,
cost-effective, useable energy.

Landfills are the largest man-made methane source in the United States. Methane
is produced as trash decomposes. When released into the air, it is a greenhouse
gas and contributes to local smog conditions.

BMW's landfill gas-to-energy project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions
equivalent to driving 105 million miles per year or more than 4,000 times
around the earth. The project will also recover sufficient energy to heat the
equivalent of 15,000 homes per year.

To utilize the gas, a 9.5-mile pipeline was built from the landfill to BMW
Manufacturing. Construction on the Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project began in July
2002 and was completed in December 2002.

BMW's partners in this multi-million dollar project are Ameresco Energy
Services and Waste Management Inc.

Ameresco designed, built and owns the pipeline, gas processing and gas
compression facilities, as well as manages the overall operations of the
project.

The company's project experience includes energy conservation activities with
Fortune 500 aerospace and automotive manufacturers, public and private school
systems, state and municipal governments, large universities, and government
agencies.

"We are very excited to support BMW in meeting its energy and environmental
goals through this renewable energy project. This project means cleaner air, a
healthier environment and a better community for all," said George Sakellaris,
Ameresco president and CEO.

Waste Management, which owns and operates the Palmetto Landfill, has been
developing landfill gas-to-energy projects for more than 15 years and currently
supplies landfill gas to 69 gas-to-energy projects in 21 states.

"Landfill gas represents an important source of renewable energy," said Barry
Caldwell, senior vice president of Government Affairs and Corporate
Communications. "Waste Management was a pioneer in landfill gas recovery and
reuse programs, and our affiliation with BMW and Ameresco on this project is
more evidence of how harnessing this resource for energy can help the
environment and provide a valuable fuel."

"Our commitment to capturing and using landfill gas has helped reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from our landfills by 50 percent."
Caldwell said. "Primarily as a result of our methane gas recovery projects,
Waste Management has become one of the largest private holders of greenhouse
gas emissions reduction credits in the U.S."

BMW is a charter member of the EPA's National Environmental Performance Track
that recognizes companies for their environmental stewardship and performance.
The company is also a member of the South Carolina Environmental Excellence
Program. The company is on the Dow Jones Sustainability Group Index, which
rates environmentally friendly companies.

BMW Manufacturing Corp. is a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich, Germany. Its
website address is www.bmwusfactory.com. In addition to the South Carolina
manufacturing facility, BMW's North American subsidiaries include sales,
marketing and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and
throughout Latin America; an information technology consulting and systems
integration firm in South Carolina; a production facility in Mexico; and a
design firm in California.

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