Chinese market highlighted by global automakers

BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse has called for more cooperation with China, saying "engagement is better than judgment."

Zipse made the remark in an interview with China Daily on Thursday on the sidelines of the CES held in Las Vegas, the United States.

"Without China, don't get it wrong, no green deal, no transport and no energy transition worldwide is possible," he said.

Zipse said more cooperation, not less, is needed, as the longstanding Sino-German automotive partnership shows how talent and resources on both sides create common good.

"Therefore the BMW Group reemphasizes its commitment to the Chinese market."

Zipse unveiled the company's latest concept car, the i Vision Dee, at the CES to showcase the carmaker's strategy of digitalization, electrification and sustainability.

Among other things, the model features an advanced head-up display, which enables the removal of physical displays inside the car.

Zipse called the model the first BMW to have a digital soul, as it can talk to the driver and passengers and interact with them visually.

He said some features of the concept drew inspiration from Chinese elements and Chinese customers' needs. The carmaker has more than 2,000 research and development engineers in China.

Zipse said he test drove more than 10 Chinese models in the past six months for a better understanding of the market. He said BMW will have 11 electric models in China, including the locally-made i X1, this year.

"We embrace and cherish competition. Competition is something which can allow us to learn from others and others to learn from us," he said.

Also at the CES, another German carmaker Volkswagen showcased its ID.7, the first fully electric sedan based on the MEB platform.

The model came to the event featuring a digital design with unique paintwork. Volkswagen said 40 layers of paint have been applied, some of which are conductive while others have insulating properties.

The carmaker said the world premiere of the series production version will be held in the second quarter of this year. The model, which has a driving range of around 700 kilometers, will be launched in China, Europe and North America in the same year.

Just as with BMW, China is the largest market for Volkswagen. Its electric ID. vehicles are the most popular models of international carmakers, although they lag behind local Chinese marques.

Volkswagen said the ID.7 sedan is allowing it to expand its fully electric family into the upper middle class of the high-volume segment.

Thomas Schaefer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, said the model is one of 10 electric vehicles it plans to launch by 2026.

The German carmaker has already reached a first milestone in terms of electrification.

Since the first ID.3 models were handed over to customers in September 2020, Volkswagen has delivered 500,000 vehicles from its ID.family worldwide through its subsidiaries — around one year earlier than planned and despite the ongoing difficulties in the supply chain.