BMW: The Ultimate Driving…Hybrid?

BMW is looking towards joining the hybrid ranks currently occupied by Toyota, Honda and Ford in order to meet strict new environmental requirements.  Moreover, makes sound business sense since BMW already produces some of the best chassis offered on production cars today.

According to BMW chief executive Norbert Reithofer, the 5 series will be available in a hybrid drive configuration as early as the 2011 model year, with the 3 series soon to follow. The reasoning behind these changes have to do with more stringent regulations mandated by Europe.  Currently, all new vehicles driven in Europe can only emit 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer driven. Currently, the BMW stables emissions figures are just over 150 grams per kilometer.

BMW also pointed out that government incentives also make hybrids more attractive to consumers, which is also a major driving force behind the push for Hybrid models. According to Riethofer, a good example of this is the current situation in Japan: “Sales of hybrid vehicles (in the Japanese market) have skyrocketed. If you don’t have a hybrid in your portfolio, soon you might not be selling any cars in Japan at all,” he mentioned.

Although the BMW hybrid models may or may not be available in the US market immediately for 2011, it looks like this will be a very quick transition for BMW. In addition, BMW announced that the hybrids they plan to produce will be full hybrids that are capable of running on electric propulsion for short periods of time, like the Toyota Prius.