BMW has unveiled the i Vision Circular concept at the Munich Motor Show, which previews a future that focuses on sustainability and recyclable materials

MUNICH, GERMANY

BMW has unveiled its i Vision Circular concept car, which is made up of 100 percent secondary materials or renewable raw materials, and is 100 percent recyclable. The i Vision Circular previews a future where BMWs can be manufactured in a circular economy, with the extensive use of sustainable and recyclable materials and processes.

BMW aims to become the world’s most sustainable premium mobility manufacturer, and with a target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and a focus on utilising secondary, or recycled, materials in the production of its vehicles. BMW will build on the strategy with the introduction of its Neue Klasse electrified platform in 2025, which will underpin a whole new line of BMW electric vehicles (EVs).

The i Vision Concept is a four-metre long four-seater urban vehicle, and previews what a sustainable compact BMW will look like in 2040. The concept is made from materials that are 100 percent recyclable, and demonstrates BMW’s commitment towards a circular economy where the materials used in the manufacturing process is primarily secondary (i.e. recycled).

Among the secondary materials that BMW will use in the manufacture of its EVs are nickel, aluminium and steel, which are used in the production of the batteries and various other components. The target is to have its vehicles manufactured with up to 50 percent of recycled and reusable materials, up from 30 percent currently. The design and manufacture of the vehicle will also take into account the ease of recycling the materials used when the car reaches the end of its life cycle.

BMW will also aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 40 percent per vehicle, and the Neue Klasse platform will play a signifiant role towards achieving that. BMW aims to put 10 million fully-electric vehicles on the road over the next ten years, and by 2030, the brand targets to have half of all its sales made up of fully-electric vehicles. The Mini brand meanwhile will fully transition to become a pure EV brand by then as well.

BMW will have more EVs like the iX3 on the roads in the not-so-distant future

The Bavarian carmaker is going full speed ahead with its electrification plans, having unveiled a whole host of EVs in recent months. The iX3 SUV was its first EV to go on sale since the i3 city EV was introduced eight years ago, and the brand has also recently revealed the iX SUV, as well as the i4, which is based on the new 4 Series Gran Coupe.

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