BMW electric cars set to retail in Singapore next year

BMW Asia on Tuesday announced Performance Motors Ltd (PML) as the sole authorised dealership in Singapore for BMW i -- the latest BMW sub-brand for its electric cars.

Two BMW i cars have been confirmed for production, the fully electric BMW i3 megacity vehicle and the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 sports car.

The former is due to go on sale in Singapore by mid-2014.

With this appointment, PML will be equipped with specialist technical abilities that will enable them to carry out repairs to BMW i vehicles' high voltage batteries, BMW said in a statement.

A wider service network is also planned to offer extended coverage for the general service, maintenance and repair of the vehicles.

"As the most sustainable car brand in the world, BMW has always been clear on its strategy to build cars that are powerful yet fuel efficient and low on CO2 emissions.

"With the arrival of BMW i, we have most definitely taken this effort to a new level by setting new benchmarks across the industry," said Neil Fiorentinos, Managing Director of BMW Group Asia.

"Through the appointment of Performance Motors Ltd as our official BMW i dealer in Singapore, we are confident that they will be able to grow the sub-brand to greater heights when the BMW i3 starts retailing locally in Singapore next year," he said.

Performance Motors Managing Director Say Kwee Neng said: "We've been representing BMW for over three decades and we have grown in tandem with the remarkable development of the brand in Singapore.

"The appointment as official BMW i dealer has a deeper and richer significance for us. It signifies the trust BMW places in Performance Motors to grow and develop one of the most exciting chapters in BMW's fabled history -- the launch of the BMW i brand," he said.

Unlike conventional electric cars that are usually modified from existing on-road models to simply include an electric car battery, BMW i vehicles are purpose-built electric cars drawn from scratch.

Designed with a unique LifeDrive architecture, the main body (Life Module) of the BMW i cars is made of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic that is not only extremely light but tougher than steel.

This is the same material that is widely used on Formula One racing cars and fighter jets.

In line with the impending arrival of BMW i cars in Singapore next year, BMW Asia and PML will be previewing the BMW i Concept Cars from Aug 24 to 25 to the public in Singapore at ION Orchard.