Quote:
Originally Posted by AzNMpower32
What makes you think their cars are not environmentally friendly? BMW just started selling the special 320d EfficientDynamics Edition, with a taller final drive and special aerodynamic wheel design. It is one of the most fuel efficient vehicles sold on the road and consumes only 4,1 l/100km, nearly 58 US mpg and right on par with the Toyota Prius. COČ output is just 109 g/km. That's less than any engine offered in any Honda Civic (European model), Citroen C3, or VW Golf.
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This is the article that hinted at BMW's immediate threats.
"The EU Commission and the EU Parliament have adopted a directive (EURO 4) that establishes
increasingly stringent emission standards for passenger and light commercial vehicles for the financial
year 2005 and thereafter. Under the directive, manufacturers would be responsible for the emissions
performance of these vehicles for five years or 100,000 kilometers, whichever occurs first. A more
stringent emission standard (EURO 5) is also in final stages of discussion within the EU legislative
bodies which will be effective in 2009.The EU Commission intends to define even more stringent
emission standards (EURO 6), which, if adopted, would become mandatory around 2014 or 2015.
These regulations would impose additional costs on the company's operations."
I'm not exactly sure how this affects BMW more than other car companies that operate in the EU, but it's something that I will have to look into. It comes from a reliable source, so I can imagine there is some degree of truth in it. Not sure what everyone else thinks.
I'm also having trouble finding threats and weaknesses that are inclusive to BMW only. The above article can also affect Daimler as well. Another interesting article is concerning the currency risk in BMW's portfolio because it operates in so many countries... however, that could apply to Daimler as well, couldn't it? Are there no threats/weaknesses unique to BMW or am I just missing something?