Throughout its history the company's image has been defined by a future focus and pioneering actionall made possible by its extraordinary team of employees who share a fascination for mobility which is integral to all our lives.

'At the BMW Group we are always on a quest for the best solution. It's part of our DNA' said Harald Kruger chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG at the centenary event in Munich. 'It's also the spirit of our collaborations a recurring theme that permeates our corporate and leadership culture.'

Three qualities in particular set the BMW Group apart: The capacity to learn and adapt technological innovation and a sense of responsibility toward society. 'We have demonstrated on many occasions throughout our history that we are capable of learning fast and taking bold steps' Kruger said.

Against this background the BMW Group's centenary celebrations are set to focus primarily on what lies ahead and explore how individual mobility might develop over the coming decades. To answer this question the BMW Group has generated a futuristic scenario with a clear vision: Premium mobility by the BMW Group will be completely effortless comprehensively available and tailored to every customer's individual preferences. At the moment the world is on the verge of realising automated driving; in the not-too-distant future the majority of cars will probably be completely self-driving and travel the streets of cities inhabited by far more people than today.

In the future one thing will be in ever shorter supply: Time. But connectivity will become increasingly commonplace and technologies will learn to learn from people. Future mobility will connect every area of people's lives. And that's where we see new opportunities for premium mobility' Kruger said.

The BMW Group has now made its vision for the future a realitywith the BMW Vision Next 100. This vehicle combines coupe-type sportiness with the dynamic elegance of a sedanbut rather than being an anonymous transport machine it is a highly customised vehicle that is perfectly tailored to suit the driver's changing needs.

Driver-vehicle interactions are managed by Alive Geometry; Boost and Ease modes offer a choice of driver-controlled or vehicle-controlled operations and the interior of the vehicle changes to suit the mode of travel. In Boost the entire vehicle focuses on the driver offering the support needed to maximise the driving experiencefor instance by indicating the ideal driving line steering point and speed. Ease mode sees the interior transform: The steering wheel and centre console retract; the headrests turn to the side and the seats and door trim merge to form a single unit so that the driver and front-seat passenger can turn towards each other.

'If as a designer you are able to imagine something there's a good chance it could one day become reality' said Adrian van Hooydonk head of BMW Group Design. 'So our objective with the BMW Vision Next 100 was to develop a future scenario that people would engage with.'

The BMW Vision Vehicle made its world debut at the Centenary Event in the Munich Olympic Hall on March 7exactly one hundred years after the company that is now known as BMW AG was first entered into the commercial register. About 2000 guests from industry politics research society and the media were present as were selected dealers suppliers and employees. A multi-media experience guided them through the history of the company to this latest interpretation of tomorrow's premium mobility culminating in the unveiling of the Vision Vehicle.

The success of the BMW Group would not be possible without the commitment of more than 122000 employees in 140 countries around the world.

After its world debut the BMW Vision Next 100 will go on a symbolic World Tour entitled 'Iconic Impulses' stopping in China the UK and the US. After its Asian premiere in Beijing it will travel to London where the Vision Vehicles of the BMW Group's British brandsMINI and Rolls-Roycewill be unveiled. Its last port of call will be Los Angeles US where BMW Motorrad will add its Vision Vehicle to the collection to complete the quartet of brands.

Key content from 'Iconic Impulses.' is also on show in Munich as a permanent exhibition. The Future Exhibition in the 'double cone' structure of the BMW Welt will open to the public in spring. A further exhibition will be mounted by the BMW Museum where a temporary centenary display entitled '100 Masterpieces' will present milestones in the history of the BMW Group. From September 9-11 the BMW FestivalThe Next 100 Years will welcome fans from all over the world. It will take place in the Munich Olympic Park including the Olympic Stadium and Hall. The BMW Museum and BMW Welt will also be involved as will the entire area around the iconic 'four-cylinder' headquarters building.