BMW Embraces Technology, Gets Customers Involved.

BMW Embraces Technology In the Car, at Work and in the Showroom.

Luxury Manufacturers Lead the Way for a Fully-Connected Driving Experience Through Technology.

August 24th, 2011

by Christopher Ofcky

Good morning followers of IAMBMW.com, and a hello to all of our new viewers that may be stumbling upon this blog for the first time. A while back we discussed how various BMW Dealerships in the United States, including my own BMW of Schererville are making use of Apple’s iPad and other related Technology to assist customers in the turning-in of leases, and genuinely making life easier, leading to a better shopping experience for consumers, and a lower cost for dealers.

Fast forward a bit into the earlier summer — the 2012 BMW 650 launched with great success, BMW’s ConnectedDrive for 2011 was finally at its pinnacle of success. Through it, a customer could stream media and album artwork, read text messages and flip through portable documents, right from their vehicle’s iDrive screen. With the addition of the 2011 X3 and the new 2012 X5s to the lineup, monitors in vehicles are becoming larger and larger (8.8 inches standard, in the case of the X3, with 10.1″ being offered for Navigation-equipped models).

Now, manufacturers such as BMW, General Motors, Ford, Mercedes Benz — everyone — is in on the technology craze. Customers can unlock doors, return leases, and in BMW’s case, map and share awesome driving routes with one another from the BMW FS App, right on their iPhone or Android mobile device. These social navigation tools allow us to share things with one another in ways we would have thought impossible years ago.

So what does that mean for consumers?

Simple. More fun, and more expectations.

Imagine a vehicle fully connected to you; a vehicle capable of performing every task your mobile device can, and sharing information with it. We spend just as much time in our vehicles as we do in our houses; being comfortable and keeping informed remains our number 1 priority, and BMW understands that. BMW’s led this charge for years, with BMW Assist and now Enhanced Bluetooth streaming and USB functionality, becoming almost standard on its vehicles. Already, with the Connected Drive, consumers can link their cellular phones to their vehicle’s navigation system, sharing points of interests, great spots for driving, and positive experiences with dealers.

I can only imagine what another five years will hold.

Until next time!