It’s almost unbelievable.
It’s not a dealership and there is none like this in India. In fact, a
lot of people globally may not have even have heard of this concept. BMW Welt
in Munich, Germany has been a major attraction for the citizens of Munich,
tourists and fans of BMW Group brands since it opened in 2007. You not only buy
your BMW products here but this centre has established itself as a desirable
event venue and gourmet destination. It is a popular delivery point for new BMW
vehicles. Every year a growing number of customers from all over the world opt
to collect their new BMW in Munich. In 2014, the BMW Welt set a new record of
around 22,500 vehicle-delivery customers. Delivery of the first of BMW’s new
electric vehicles also got off to a successful start in 2014, with a total of 31
BMW i3s and 35 BMW i8s presented to their new owners at the BMW Welt.
“All BMW customers buying a new car have the option of
collecting their vehicle at the BMW Welt – the heart of the brand. Many BMW
customers and fans, often travelling from farther afield, take advantage of
this opportunity to experience an unforgettable day,” explains Helmut Käs, head
of BMW Welt.
Customers often travel long distances to visit the BMW Welt.
Roughly 90 per cent of customers collecting their vehicle come from all over
Germany. Many of them bring their families, collect their new BMW from the BMW
Welt and then drive straight to Italy or Austria for a holiday, before heading
for home. One in ten customers makes the journey across the Atlantic from the
US or Canada. In June of this year, a group of Canadians departed from Munich
on a trip across Europe in their new BMW M3 Sedans and BMW M4 Coupés. At the
end of the trip, the cars were shipped back to their owners.
According to a press release, the BMW Welt is also popular
as a platform for delivery of fleet vehicles--The company Saarstedt collected
66 vehicles for its company fleet in March 2014, while the North
Rhine-Westphalia State Office for Central Police Services was presented with
three BMW 7 Series High Security vehicles in October 2014.
The BMW i3 is another car often delivered as a fleet
vehicle. Ilse Aigner, Bavarian Minister for Economic Affairs, Media, Energy and
Technology, took delivery of a BMW i3 for her ministry, for example.
Delivery of the first BMW i8 worldwide was celebrated in an
official ceremony at the BMW Welt hosted by Thomas Gottschalk in June 2014 and
attended by a long list of celebrities.
Sports personalities also like to sample the BMW brand
experience. Several vehicles were presented to the German Ice Hockey Federation
in January 2014, for example, and the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, also had
his photo taken with the BMW M3 in the BMW Welt delivery arena.
The following vehicles debuted n 2014 in the BMW Welt
delivery arena: the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, the BMW 4 Series Convertible
and Gran Coupé, the BMW X6 and BMW X4 and both BMW i models.
Each customer
receives personal attention with an individual programme for the day of
delivery. Depending on the customer’s interests, options range from a reception
in the exclusive Premium Lounge to a tour of the main plant and the BMW Welt,
to a visit to the BMW Museum. The emotional highlight of every visit, however,
is the presentation of the new car: After a personalised one-and-a-half hour
vehicle briefing from a specialist, customers receive the keys to their new car
and get to drive their BMW for the first time in the BMW Welt delivery area.
Between 80 and 120 vehicle deliveries take place at the BMW Welt every day,
with up to 160 deliveries at peak times.
The BMW Welt is always full of surprises for customers: Last
year, the buyer of the 100,000th vehicle delivered won a DTM (German Touring
Car Masters) weekend. The owners of the first five new BMW 2 Series Active
Tourers delivered at the BMW Welt were presented with framed design sketches.