Photo: BMW
Sales of the BMW Group reached record-breaking levels last year, going beyond the wildest expectations of various analysts. However, according to US boss Ludwig Willisch, 2014 might be even better and there just might not be enough cars for everybody.
"Our plants are at full capacity. It's just a question of who gets what," he said in a recent sit-down with the J.D. Power International Automotive Roundtable in New Orleans. The biggest problems might come with meeting supply for the i3, that already raised interest from 100,000 people worldwide but only 2,000 are expected to reach the US shores, despite this market being expected to be the largest in the world for the new EV.
When asked if he was worried he might not get enough i3s, he said "Yes, in a way I am. I'm trying to get enough cars for the U.S. The U.S. will be the biggest i market in the world. Will we get enough cars in the first year? Probably not. But that's a good problem to have."
The i3 will reach US dealerships this spring with prices starting at $42,275 including shipping but without the $7,500 government grant for EVs.
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