'There will still be a need for all powertrains'

BMW Group Asia Managing Director Lars Nielsen gives us the near-term plan

- By Kap Maceda Aguila

THROUGH ITS M performance line, BMW has been transforming “regular cars” into racetrack-capable ones that are also appropriate for the everyday drive.

That’s according to BMW Group Asia Managing Director Lars Nielsen — in town recently for the local launch of the M5 sedan and its station wagon or estate version, the M5 Touring.

The M with its myriad of values has been doing well, he averred. “We're very happy with the results coming out in terms of sales... obviously, that’s the ultimate way to measure whether what we’re doing is right or wrong,” Mr. Nielsen told members of the media and content creators at the RSA Greenhills showroom in San Juan City. “The first six months of 2025 are the best six months that BMW M has ever had. In six months, we have delivered more than 100,000 BMW Ms all around the world. That’s growth of 6.5% versus last year.”

He acknowledged the good work that authorized BMW importer and seller SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp. has been doing as well. He said the company has been “closing in” on double-digit percentage share in terms of sales.

Here are excerpts from our exclusive interview with Mr. Nielsen:

VELOCITY: BMW in the Philippines previously introduced the plugin hybrid versions of the X5 and X3. What are you seeing in the region in terms of receptiveness to PHEVs or behavior toward EVs?