BMW’s i-series mobility innovations, car sharing, ParkNow program earn carmaker top global recognition

By Marcus Amick June 25, 2013

A number of ground-breaking innovations driven by BMW AG have earned the carmaker a coveted global Company of the Year award.

Presented by Frost & Sullivan, a worldwide research company, the award recognizes BMW for its innovations with vehicles like the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept as well as services like AlphaCity, DriveNow and ParkNow.

The BMW i3 Concept was designed as a representation of the future of urban mobility with a focus on key telematics, entertainment, and connectivity features. The car’s emission-free electric motor has an output of 125 kW (160 horsepower)/250Nm (184 lb-ft. ) on the road, according to an official BMW press release.

The BMW i8, a hybrid sports car, can run for 35 kilometres or about 21 miles on electric power alone and uses less than 3 litres of fuel for every 100 kilometres or 62 miles or driving.

The production model of the BMW i3, which is scheduled to go on sale in Europe at the end of the year, already has over 100,000 reservations, according to a Clean Technica report.

AlphaCity is a corporate car sharing program facilitated by BMW as part of a network of more than 500,000 vehicles. Launched in 2011, DriveNow is offered under BMW’s i sub-brand and is the first premium car-sharing concept to focus primarily on highly-efficient premium vehicles and comprehensive service.

BMW-ParkNow-468x311 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

ParkNow allows users to book parking space in advance for a specific price and location. The systems enables customers to either use the ParkNow app, or reserve and pay for a parking space on the ParkNow website before reaching their destination. There are currently more than 35 ParkNow stations set up in and around San Francisco.

“BMW is the one participant in the new mobility products and services market that has not only rightly identified and addressed the changing mobility needs of the global consumer early in its life cycle, but has also set a benchmark for others to follow,” said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Shwetha Surender, in the official press release.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Marcus Amick has been writing about the world of cars for more than ten years and has covered everything from new automobiles…

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The best remote car starters in 2024

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The Clore Jump-N-Carry JNC660 portable jump starter connected to a truck battery.

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Buy the if you want the best portable jump starter overall.
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Buy the if you want the best portable jump starter and tire inflator combo.
Buy the if you want another name-brand option.
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