BMW Launches New Website

The new BMWUSA.com - the ultimate information machine - offers extensive personalization of content and an online showroom where users can customize vehicles in more than 130 million different configurations

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Dec. 19 -- With an eye toward enhancing its relationship with owners and potential buyers, BMW of North America today launched a new re-design of its website -- BMWUSA.com. Using collected (artificial) intelligence technology, BMWUSA.com will continually personalize the user experience for each consumer.

Featuring extensive CGI capabilities offering more than 130 million options for users to configure a BMW, an efficient interface for sharing and saving videos, and future integration with several other BMW service areas such as BMW Assist and Financial Services -- the new BMWUSA.com offers a one- click-shop that will aim to provide BMW owners (and prospective owners) a seamlessly integrated and individualized online experience.

"Our relationship with our customers is of the ultimate importance to us here at BMW. Our new website is a reflection of that," said Jack Pitney, Vice President of Marketing, BMW of North America. "Today, a website can't just be a static, generic round-up of information. We know that to be valued by our customers -- and our potential customers -- we need to work hard to provide them the information they want and need, and nothing that they don't."

For example, AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) technology will increase the site's interactivity, speed, functionality and usability.

The re-designed website will also feature content ratings that consumers will use to leave their mark on the site, be heard, and in doing so, assist other site visitors and current or prospective BMW owners. These ratings will help BMW develop a vibrant online community among BMW enthusiasts.

"We approached this not as the re-design of a website, but rather as a full, 360-degree look at how BMW manages its relationship with its customers and potential customers," said Steve Thibodeau, President and Chief Relationship Marketing Officer, dotglu. "We know that for half of the buyers online, the website will be the first direct interaction they will have with BMW. We had to make sure that this interaction was as performance-driven as the cars themselves."

Throughout 2008, BMWUSA.com will be expanding profile management capabilities, building site-customized communication based on five user personas. Such personas will be activated by a collected (artificial) intelligence technology that will enhance and personalize the user experience.

Later in 2008, visitors will be empowered to enjoy a deeper level of interaction with dealers and garner information about dealer-installed accessories more easily than ever before. Every content feature of the new site will be available with one-click access, including user configurations, ratings, maps, videos and car maintenance tools.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:

  www.bmwgroupna.com
  www.bmwusa.com
  www.bmwmotorcycles.com
  www.miniusa.com
  www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com