It's not just BMW that's moving to electronic handbrakes, rather all German makes. Audi and Opel (yes, in the Buick Regal) have shifted to it as well. Along with electronic shifters, the electric park brake saves dash space for bigger cupholders, so say the automakers.

I still would prefer a manual handbrake. It's one less thing to manually release when the battery dies, and one less thing to break.