Executives of BMW give a thumbs-up next to the i Vision Dee concept at the carmaker's booth during the Shanghai auto show.

The all-electric BMW i7 luxury sedan is premiered at the show.

BMW is making a splash at Auto Shanghai 2023 — it is the first time that the German premium carmaker has only exhibited new electrified models at an auto show.

The choice resonates with the biennial event's theme of "embracing the era of automobile industry "and, more importantly, shows the Munich-based carmaker's resolve in electrification and digitalization.

At the show, which runs from April 18 to 27, electrified models bearing the BMW roundel are arranged around its booth's hub, which is designed in the style of a charging station.

"BMW stands for innovation, for cutting-edge products and a broad technology approach," said Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW.

"This enables us to address the individual wishes of our customers, especially here in China," said Zipse. He was on his third visit to the country since November as a member of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's delegation.

Of the models on display, three are world premieres: the BMW i7 M70 xDrive sedan, the BMW XM Label Red SUV with M HYBRID drive system, and the BMW iX1 SUV which has been developed exclusively for Chinese customers.

The all-electric BMW i7 M70 xDrive is set to offer a unique performance experience in the luxury segment when it takes its place at the top of the BMW 7 Series range.

Its two electric motors generate a combined maximum output of up to 485 kilowatts and a top torque of 1,100 Newton meters.

"The BMW i7 M70 xDrive is the most powerful and fastest all-electric vehicle from our portfolio," said Pieter Nota, member of the board of management of BMW responsible for customers, brands and sales.

The BMW XM Label Red, as the first electrified model from BMW Motorsport, is powered by an M HYBRID drive system, whose combination of a V8 petrol engine and an electric motor delivers a maximum output of 550 kW and a peak torque of 1,000 Nm.

The China-made BMW iX1 is expected to provide fresh impetus for all-electric premium mobility in the compact segment.

The model features some sophisticated touches for the Chinese market in terms of digitalization.

It is one of the brand's first models to include the BMW iDrive control/operation system with QuickSelect based on BMW Operating System 9.

The BMW iX1 is expected to boost the brand's newly gained momentum in China's NEV sector.

BMW sold almost 20,000 EVs in the Chinese market in the first quarter, up 224 percent from the same period of 2022.

The carmaker will have 11 electric models available in the Chinese market by the end of this year.

Another highlight of the BMW booth is the i Vision Dee concept, with Dee standing for Digital Emotional Experience.

The model, which wowed a select audience on the eve of the auto show, assists the human-car bond using digital features.

The user experience in the BMW i Vision Dee is largely defined by a projection of driving-related data and other information extending across the windscreen.

This pioneering form of visualization also allows the real and virtual worlds to be merged using the mixed reality slider control in the cockpit.

The concept will serve as the basis for developing an advanced version of the BMW Head-Up Display, a technology BMW introduced 20 years ago as a world first in the automotive industry.

The new system is set to go into production from 2025 in the first Neue Klasse models under the name BMW Panoramic Vision.

"Making Vision Cars is exciting but our true goal is to bring our vision to life," said Frank Weber, member of the board of management of BMW, responsible for development.

The BMW i Vision Dee has also impressed visitors to the show with upgraded color change technology.

An ePaper film from project partner E Ink allows up to 32 colors and an endless variety of patterns to be created and changed in seconds.

The MINI brand's lineup for Auto Shanghai 2023 includes the first glimpse of a new concept vehicle.

Featuring an all-electric drive system and brand-new design, the MINI Concept Aceman is being presented as a crossover within the MINI family.

It is the epitome of Charismatic Simplicity — the MINI design language of the future which is shaped by the brand's past and sends out trailblazing signals by focusing on the essentials.

The concept vehicle fuses modern styling with pioneering technologies and demonstrates what digital could look like in a future MINI.

BMW is currently developing a new technological platform for Neue Klasse electric vehicles, which is going to redefine standards for digitalization, circular economy and design.

The Neue Klasse is a reference to the company's groundbreaking models from the 1960s.

"The Neue Klasse will embody all three pillars of this transformation," said Zipse. "It will therefore further boost the fast-growing demand for our all-electric vehicles."

At least six models are scheduled to go into production in the first 24 months following the Neue Klasse's launch in 2025.

"Our BEV ramp-up is precisely geared to increasing customer demand," said Nota. "Because the customer is the focus of all we do: we want to provide the best premium customer experience in our industry."

BMW expects sales of electric vehicles to account for 50 percent of its total deliveries by 2030.

lifusheng@chinadaily.com.cn