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Tuesday, 22 September 2015 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
BMW i electric cars set to retail in Sri Lanka in 2015
BMW Asia today announced Prestige Automobile as the sole authorised importer in Sri Lanka for BMW i – the BMW sub-brand for its electric cars comprising the all-electric BMW i3 and BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sportscar.
With this appointment, Prestige Automobile will be equipped with specialist technical abilities that will enable them to carry out repairs to the BMW i vehicles’ high voltage batteries. 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 Axel Pannes, Managing Director of BMW Group Asia.
“Through the appointment of Prestige Automobile as our official BMW i importer in Sri Lanka, we are confident that they will be able to grow the sub-brand to greater heights when the BMW i3 and BMW i8 starts retailing in Sri Lanka later this year.”
“Prestige Automobile has been representing BMW for 21 years and we have grown in tandem with the remarkable development of the brand in Sri Lanka. The appointment as official BMW i dealer has a deeper and richer significance for us. It signifies the trust BMW places in Prestige Automobile to grow and develop one of the most exciting chapters in BMW’s fabled history – the launch of the BMW i brand. We are very excited to embark on this new adventure in our partnership with BMW,” said Heinz Reuter, Managing Director of Prestige Automobile.
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 not only weighs half the weight but is five times tougher than steel. This is the same material that is widely used on Formula One racing cars, fighter jets and selected supercars.
The aluminium chassis (Drive Module), meanwhile, has been devised specially to house the bulky battery to ensure better driving dynamics and overall balance. By doing so, BMW i cars are able to bear the sustainable characteristics of an electric car whilst not having to compromise on the sheer driving pleasure that a BMW is renowned for.
