BMW and Thomas Steinbruck Announce Partnership

 BMW of Manhattan Debuts Europe's Most Promising Fashion Import and Winner of
                 the Moet & Chandon Designer Debut Award 2000

    NEW YORK, Feb. 11 Today, BMW of North America, LLC and its
flagship store in Manhattan premiered the Fall 2001 Fashion Collection of
rising Fashion Star and former Christian Dior student Thomas Steinbruck, in
conjunction with Seventh on Sixth.  Born in Germany, educated in Paris and New
York, Mr. Steinbruck has not only earned various international fashion awards
and was featured in leading fashion and trade publications.  He also caught
BMW Chief Designer Chris Bangle's attention because of their shared passion
and vision.
    The partnership between BMW in the U.S. and Thomas Steinbruck, which
developed over the past 10 months, will include targeted cross promotions and
exclusive customer events.  "We share a simple, clean design philosophy,"
stated BMW Group Director of Design Chris Bangle, "and view design as an
expression of the emotion and passion within.  We are both inspired by
classics yet create innovative design.  We each turn to nature and the
environment for stimulation.  Most importantly, Thomas and I are each
completely committed to quality and meaning in everything that we create."
    BMW has a history of finding and supporting young, up-and-coming artists
and innovative projects in helping them advance to the top of their craft,
such as the BMW Scholarship for Music with Juilliard School.  BMW also funded
the "AutoWerke" collection commissioning ten artists, using the medium of
photography in innovative ways, to explore the products, image and culture of
BMW.  BMW's active role in support of the arts includes its decades-long BMW
Art Car Collection featuring artists such as Andy Warhol and most recently,
Jenny Holzer.
    Like BMW, Thomas Steinbruck's roots are in the South of Germany, in
Munich, which is known internationally as a cradle of culture and tradition as
well as a new hotbed of high-tech and innovation.  From there, Steinbruck
ventured through all of Europe and finally picked New York City as his
creative and business base in 1995.  "I am truly delighted to be collaborating
with BMW in the U.S.," stated Thomas Steinbruck.  "We have the same core
values.  We strive to create beautiful, dynamic, light and accessible pieces
for our customers.  It is all about creating a look that is very sleek,
refined and elegant.  I travel the globe seeking the finest quality materials
for my collection and BMW does the same for its cars, motorcycles and SAVs."
    In addition to models wearing stunning Steinbruck creations, guests were
treated to a sneak peek of the BMW Z9 concept car, a look into the future of
BMW interior and exterior design.  The car features elegant yet muscular
exterior lines and an all-new, user-friendly interior featuring iDrive, an
ergonomic concept designed to make operating the myriad functions inside the
car easier.  Both driver and passenger can easily see the center-mounted color
monitor and operate the controller knob, which is used to adjust comfort,
convenience, communications and driver assistance functions.  The "cockpit"
feeling is updated with a clean, minimalist dashboard design.  iDrive will be
introduced to the U.S. market in the new BMW 7 series sedans at the beginning
of 2002.
    The new Thomas Steinbruck collection appeals to a modern, elegant and
youthful woman whose lifestyle embodies confidence, grace and sophistication.
Drawing inspiration from his latest travels and the many women he met along
the way, Steinbruck has incorporated rich, vibrant, earthy colors into his
newest collection, which he themed "Celebration of Women."  The collection
will showcase a wide range of women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, all of
whom are united by their individual beauty and sophistication.
    Chris Bangle is Director of Design in the Development Division of BMW
Group in Munich, Germany.  Mr. Bangle has been working in this capacity since
October 1992, after serving as the Director of Fiat Centro Stile/Design and
Deputy Head of the Interior Design Studio at Opel (GM).  Mr. Bangle's design
philosophy is featured in the January 2001 issue of the Harvard Business
Review.
    Thomas Steinbruck's prestigious background includes: graduating from the
Studio Bercot and L'Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in
Paris, France; apprenticing with Gianfranco Ferre for the House of Christian
Dior, and in America, for Geoffrey Beene and Gemma Khang.  Mr. Steinbruck was
the recipient of the Fall 2000 Moet & Chandon Designer Debut Award and has
dressed various celebrities and socialites including Susan Sarandon and Molly
Shannon.
    BMW of Manhattan, Inc., BMW of North America's corporate flagship store,
is one of the largest BMW Centers in the U.S.  In addition to serving the New
York market's sales and service needs, the 200,000 square-foot location on
57th Street is a focal point for the BMW marque.  "We are very proud to
partner with the hottest European Fashion import, designer Thomas Steinbruck,"
states General Manager Jeff Falk.  "The special relationship with Thomas
represents a unique opportunity for us to support a young, new talent on its
way to the top."
    BMW of North America was established in 1975.  Since then, the company has
grown to include marketing, sales and financial service organizations in the
United States; a South Carolina manufacturing operation; DESIGNWORKS/USA, an
industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley
and various other operations throughout the country.  BMW is represented in
the U.S. through a network of more than 340 car, 315 Sports Activity Vehicle
and 160 motorcycle retailers.  BMW US Holding Corp., the Group's headquarters
for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New
Jersey.
    Information about BMW products is available to consumers via the World
Wide Web on the BMW homepage.  The address is: http://www.bmwusa.com.
Or visit http://www.bmwnyc.com.