Official Release: Today BMW North America made three announcements in New York City to contribute to furthering sustainable mobility and recognizing the important role New York City plays as a proving ground in this area. These announcements include the significant renovation of two structures for BMW and MINI of Manhattan dealerships; the US introduction of the new BMW ActiveE full-electric vehicle; and the return of powerful, efficient and clean 4-cylinder BMW engines to the United States after a more than 10 year absence.

The dealership renovations deepen the company’s commitment to the future of mobility in one of the world’s most heavily populated urban centers. BMW of Manhattan will remain at 555 W. 57th Street and will continue to sell and service BMW automobiles and sport activity vehicles, BMW Motorcycles, and is intended to be a BMW i Center when the company begins to introduce the first two vehicles of this new brand in 2013, the i3 and i8. The creation of a standalone MINI of Manhattan dealership and a BMW Certified Pre-Owned sales center in the Chapman Building at 11th Avenue and 56th Street will begin at the same time. Construction of BMW of Manhattan is expected to be completed by the end of 2012 and MINI of Manhattan will be completed by the end of 2011.

“New York is an important market for BMW, and as America’s foremost megacity, it’s a great incubator to develop vehicles, facilities and services for a sustainable mobility future,” said Peter Miles Executive Vice President Operations BMW NA. “This renovation and new construction represents more than just a fiscal investment and also underscores the BMW Group’s commitment in America and in New York City.”

These announcements come only two weeks after the company announced BMW i Ventures, another pillar in its commitment to urban mobility and another commitment to New York City as a center of mobility technology and innovation.

BMW i Ventures will focus on premium mobility services – meaning that it will also look for solutions that are not exclusively related to automobiles. The fund’s first investment was in MyCityWay, a set of location-based apps for urban navigation that provides users with information on public transportation, parking availability and local entertainment.

When work begins to completely renovate the BMW of Manhattan dealership and establish an all new MINI facility and center for BMW Certified Pre-Owned vehicles on 11th Avenue at 56th Street, it will highlight another investment in New York City.

Upon completion, both facilities will be truly sustainable major urban center dealerships. They will be LEED Certified in keeping with BMW’s commitment to sustainability in all of its activities. Specific design elements will include:

– Specially-designed louvers on the exterior of the building to reduce heat loads while maximizing daylight;
– Installation of solar panels on the roof of the MINI building;
– High efficiency fluorescent, metal halide and LED light fixtures;
– New high-efficiency mechanical equipment including heat exchangers to capture heat from exhaust air;
– Low-flow plumbing fixtures;
– Regionally sourced materials that have a substantial recycled material content;
– Implementation of waste recycling practices during and after construction.

Both buildings will feature a full complement of electric vehicle charging stations and be capable of handling all customer and service needs of alternative powered vehicles, including hybrids and full-electric vehicles. All service reception and vehicle flow through the buildings will be optimized to minimize the number of times a car must be moved between arrival and delivery.

With the consolidation of MINI sales and service under one roof, the brand will now have a very visible presence on 11th Avenue. The exterior will feature MINI’s recognizable rectangular grid architectural style and announce the brand’s presence with the use of colorful frames and MINI logo on a black background.