'The future is about embracing multiple technologies and staying open'

In this illuminating talk on the sidelines of IAA 2025, Dr Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management, BMW AG, Development, elaborates on what the Neue Klasse means for BMW going forward, as well as the carmaker's plans for fast-growing markets like India and China.

- Interviewed by: Aspi Bhathena

Can you give us a primer on what the Neue Klasse is and what its introduction means for BMW going forward?

► Neue Klasse represents a completely new era for BMW. We've reinvented nearly every aspect of our cars—driving performance, advanced driver assistance (ADAS), infotainment, entertainment, and especially the panoramic iDrive interface. We've built the cars on a new software architecture, using what we call our “four super brains”. This lets us bring cutting-edge technology not just to one model but to 40 derivatives across the BMW lineup in the next two years. The goal is to create a software-defined vehicle, leveraging more AI functions, providing sheer driving pleasure, with the emphasis on “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road”. Having driven these cars myself, after 23 years at BMW, I can say the experience is unlike anything before. Production is starting soon, so it's a very exciting moment for us.

You say it is much better to drive—does it set new benchmarks compared to just EVs, or all cars in your portfolio?

► It raises the bar for all cars, not just our EVs. Achieving what you expect from a BMW-driveability and “feel”—is always our aim, regardless of powertrain. That's why the new technologies and architectural changes are being introduced to every car in our range, whether gasoline, diesel, hybrid, or electric.

Will the “four super brains” architecture be applied to combustion cars, too?

Yes, we'll integrate the four super brains into all our cars. Our open technology approach allows us to adapt and control combustion engines within the new architecture, ensuring that the same technological leap reaches every model.

How does the “Heart of Joy” concept differ between electric and combustion cars?