EV ‘geniuses’ for new BMW dealership

This story first appeared in the August issue of EvTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The new Continental Cars BMW showroom in Wairau Valley on Auckland’s North Shore, is set to be the largest, boldest luxury multi-level car dealership in New Zealand.

EVtalk took a hard hat tour of the construction site. Scheduled to be completed by September, the building will span four levels, with views from the northern motorway. It features solar panels and rainwater catchment and recycling for car washing.

The 6900 sqm dealership will take full advantage of its high-profile Wairau Road site. The showroom will have BMW products displayed behind the glass on the top floor, so thousands of motorists on both Wairau Road and the motorway can see the site.

The new showroom will showcase the BMW EV product range.

Dealer principal Geoff Light says the new showroom will be great for the future of EVs as BMW releases EVs and hybrids in the future.

“We’re able to future proof with this showroom,” Light says. “Once we move in there, we will be able to provide a vehicle solution for everybody.”

EVs will have their own dedicated area within the showroom.

“It’s an exciting journey for us,” Light says. “EVs are a little bit of the unknown but equally exciting. We’re going on a learning journey ourselves.”

Continental Cars BMW North Shore will have product “geniuses” there to assist customers in EV knowledge and take them through the products. Their job is not to sell cars but to provide the correct information to customers.

The new showroom will have five 22kW EV chargers, which can charge 10 electric cars at any one time.

Twenty-five electrified models (battery electric and plug-in hybrid) are now planned two years earlier than expected by the BMW Group, adjusting its e-mobility target from 2025 to 2023.

The group also plans more than half of increased sales by 2025 to be all-electric.

A Mini-branded BEV city car is due for release at the end of 2019.

EVtalk online reported that BMW chief executive Harald Kruger announced his retirement after less than five years in office this month.

His indecisive and insufficient response to the fast shift of the premium segments towards EVs contributed to his resignation, according to commentators.

BMW put out the i3 in 2013, likely to remain in production until 2021 with progressive improvements made. The Mini EV, the iX3, the i4 compact sedan and the iNext are all confirmed for delivery.

Continental Cars BMW North Shore is located on the last undeveloped, high-profile commercial site in the area.

Construction is expected to be completed shortly, weather permitting.