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For the 11th time, BMW has been named the most sustainable car brand in the world. The title went to BMW for taking new directions and prioritising sustainability in all areas of business. The strategy is also visible at BMW-dealer Bayern Autogroup in Aarhus.  

Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) is an annual ranking of companies in different industries, that centres around sustainability in production. In 2016, BMW was named the most sustainable car brand in the world for the third year running and is thereby leading within the automobile industry. BMW is crowned for giving sustainability a high priority in the company’s practice and production all over the world. In the DJSI statement, the strategy BMW Efficient Dynamics is highlighted because of its effect in reducing fuel consumption and thereby the total CO2-emission from the cars. The BMW-group vehicle fleet has overall reduced the CO2-emission by 40 pct. from 1990 to 2016, with a distinctive impact from BMW Efficient Dynamics, that was implemented in 2007. Sustainable strategies and new technological solutions are continuously developed, yet still with a focus on the driving pleasure and the dynamic performance, which characterises BMW. 

At the BMW-dealer, Bayern Autogroup in Aarhus, they experience customers enquiring about the environmental specifications of the cars and the dealer’s environmental initiatives. Branch Manager Søren Vinderslev explains: “With the huge focus on sustainability and with the electric car BMW i3, BMW is at the forefront in promoting greener transportation. As a dealer, it is necessary that we keep up with the fast development and that we continuously acquire new knowledge on the subject.”

Furthermore, BMW has a philosophy based on optimising clean production through the chain of production. The car brand works amongst other initiatives with reducing the weight of the cars and increasingly recycling car parts. In the electric car, BMW i3, the car seat padding is made from 100 pct. recycled materials. The car is produced without CO2 emissions with energy from wind turbines in Leipzig, Germany. 95 pct. of a BMW i3 is recycled and the parts from different BMW-models figures into the production of new cars. The fully electric model of the BMW i3 has in 2017 been elected as the winner of World Urban Car Award in New York as an optimal electric car for city driving.

More than means of transportation
In the election as the most sustainable car brand, BMW is also being honoured as an attractive workplace. The company’s focus on training and upgrading of skills as well as fair employee practises and involvement with human rights, means that BMW also has high scores on initiatives in social responsibility. Bayern Autogroup in Aarhus opened a newly build modern car dealership in 2014. The building in Tilst near Aarhus has 300 m2 solar cells on the roof, and the car dealer has since taken several further innovative initiatives. Bayern Autogroup Aarhus has entered into the partnership with the European Capital of Culture Aarhus 2017, and delivered two BMW i3-cars to the Secretariat – an initiative that might not be self-evident for a dealer of a world-famous German car brand. However, sustainability is important to BMW and Bayern Autogroup as a value, Søren Vinderslev explains: “We are proud partners in Aarhus 2017, because the many cultural events are important to Aarhus and the region and because our shared values on sustainability are well-matched. We are very committed to spreading the important message and consider how we can all live in a more sustainable way”.

Facts:

// The three core values of Aarhus 2017 European Capital of Culture is democracy, sustainability and diversity. In a series of articles, partners in Aarhus 2017 tell about their sustainable initiatives in relation to both environment and society.

// On 10. September, the 3rd debate in the series of Hypothetical-events takes place. The moderator is journalist Clement Kjersgaard, and the debate will revolve around the future of sustainable development. Participating in the panel is former European Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, and senior researcher at the Danish meteorological Institute (DMI) and many more. Read more here.

// Read BMW’s Sustainable Value Report for 2016 here. Read more about Bayern Autogroup Aarhus here.