Munich. The successful BMW and MINI Driving
Experience model is now even more international. South Africa is the
latest market to have a BMW and MINI Driving Experience recognised
with the certificate “Official Partner of M”, guaranteeing that it
meets the highest quality standards for its customers.
During the certification process, BMW M GmbH provides training
guidelines, as well as buildings and premises, in order to achieve
homogeneous safety and quality standards for the BMW and MINI Driving
Experience. Since 1997, the BMW and MINI Driving Experience has been
training its instructors according to uniform global standards and
testing them in an intensive process at the international BMW
Instructor Academy. Only when all the aspects of the certification
have been fulfilled is the official seal of quality – “Official
Partner of M” – awarded.
“The BMW and MINI Driving Experience has a greater presence than
ever outside Germany,” says Robert Eichlinger, Head of the BMW and
MINI Driving Experience. “I am pleased that we are now able to offer
customers on all five continents the highest possible quality of
driver training courses. This means that our customers benefit from an
unforgettable driving and brand experience, while also allowing us to
convey valuable tips for driving in road traffic. That is precisely
the goal of the BMW and MINI Driving Experience.”
The first international location to receive the “Official
Partner of BMW M” status was the BMW and MINI Driving Experience in
the Netherlands in 2015. The USA followed in 2017, with the locations
BMW Performance Center East in Spartanburg (South Carolina) and West
in Thermal (California). In the same year, the markets in South Korea,
Australia and the Nordics were also added to the offering. The Nordics
market consists of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. The launch in
South Africa means that the highest seal of approval for the BMW and
MINI Driving Experiences is now represented on all five continents
around the world, making it a model of success for more than 40 years.
In South Africa, a diverse course offering awaits participants.
Even before the “Official Partner of BMW M” certification, around
3,800 drivers took part in training courses here each year. 4
instructors and 27 cars are on hand at present. The focus here is on
BMW M track training courses, for which no fewer than 15 BMW M
automobiles are available. The course portfolio is similarly extensive
in Australia (3 instructors, 24 cars) and in the Nordics (3
instructors, 40 cars). In South Korea (15 instructors), which welcomed
24,000 participants last year, there is a choice of 89 BMW and MINI
cars available 300 days per year, including 10 BMW i cars.
This shows how the BMW and MINI Driving Experience acts as a
centre of excellence and the BMW Group’s link between the product and
the customer, as its driving-based training courses make it possible
to experience the mobility of the future. In addition, more than 40
training courses are offered around the world, including driver safety
training courses in the latest BMW, BMW i and MINI models, drift and
racetrack training courses in BMW M cars, winter training courses on
snow and ice, special courses for professional drivers, off-road tours
in Africa, and motorcycle training courses.
About the BMW and MINI Driving Experience
The
BMW and MINI Driving Experience is part of BMW M GmbH. As one of the
first provides of driver training courses, it has been thrilling its
customers with driving experiences in BMW Group vehicles since 1977.
The BMW and MINI Driving Experience currently offers about 50
different training courses for BMW and MINI models, as well as BMW
motorcycles, in over 30 countries around the world – all under the
watchful eye of professional instructors. In 2017, more than 120,000
people took part in the training courses.
Under the slogan “Passion leaves traces”, the BMW and MINI
Driving Experience plays an important role in improving driving safety
on public roads, while at the same time conveying the joy of driving
for which BMW is renowned. The BMW and MINI Driving Experience fulfils
its social responsibility with its driver safety courses on asphalt
and snow, which give the customers all the basics they need to drive
safely and competently. The same can be said of the internal BMW
driver training for approximately 20 different internal driving
licences. On the other side of the coin are spectacular racetrack and
drifting courses, which allow customers to enjoy emotional and
action-packed experiences in powerful BMW M vehicles.
As well as the regular range of training courses, the BMW and
MINI Driving Experience also places great importance on meeting the
customer’s specific desires. A team specialising in corporate events
and incentives works closely with the customer to put together
packages tailored to the customer’s requirements.
Information on the BMW and MINI Driving Experience can be found
at: http://www.bmw-drivingexperience.com
If you have any questions, please contact:
BMW Group
Matthias Bode
Corporate
Communications
MINI, BMW and MINI Driving Experience
Communications
Telephone: +49-89-382-61742
E-mail: matthias.bode@mini.com
Markus Sagemann
Head of Communication MINI and BMW
Motorrad
Telephone: +49 89-382- 68796
E-mail: markus.sagemann@bmw.de
Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com
E-mail: presse@bmw.de
The BMW Group
With its three brands BMW, MINI
and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium
manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium
financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group
operates 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has
a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2017, the BMW Group sold more than 2,463,500 cars and 164,000
motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year
2017 was approximately € 10.655 billion on revenues amounting to €
98.678 billion. As of 31 December 2017, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 129,932 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
www.bmwgroup.com
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