[Jason]

Press Release

BMW Launches iPad Experience for Consumers at Major American Auto Shows.

* 05.11.2010
* Press Release

Traditional Auto Show Specification Panels Replaced by Interactive iPads.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – November 05, 2010… For the first time in the United States, BMW will launch an interactive and innovative iPad experience for Auto Show consumers, which will debut at the South Florida International Auto Show in Miami. The traditional Auto Shows Specification panel used to display vehicle information and pricing will be replaced by interactive iPads.

In addition to displaying technical specification and pricing, the iPad offers consumers enhanced functionality such as the opportunity to design their own BMW using the digital configurator. Consumers can experience the dynamic features of the displayed models with the iPad’s multimedia features, such as video content and photographs.

Auto Show consumers will have the opportunity to request additional details on the vehicle and can ask to be contacted directly by a local BMW center to schedule an appointment or test drive.

The iPad application has both English and Spanish language settings. The vehicle configurator allows consumers to explore the various color, wheel and interior options that are available for each model.

BMW’s iPad application differs from other luxury vehicles use of technology in that is customized for each vehicle. The iPads are located adjacent to each model, and there is one iPad per vehicle on the showroom floor.

Consumers can experience the iPad from November 5th through November 14th at the South Florida International Auto Show. BMW will roll out the iPad experience to other Auto Shows in North America.

[3s-a-charm]

Love to see companies adapting to and using technology. Cool idea.

[scott@bmwhn]

Pretty cool, I wonder if they will expand this on a dealership level to be used by sales staff as a replacment for the vehicle brochure.

[q96]

you can have the same type of iphone/ipad app on the app store on the mini country man.
It's called mini country man (HD for Ipad)....

[Pseudo Nim]

Originally Posted by 3s-a-charm

Love to see companies adapting to and using technology. Cool idea.

apparently Mercedes started this in a limited dealership run; it was SO successful that they are said to be deploying this to most north American dealerships.

[krnnerdboy]

sorry, bmw is a step behind Hyundai on this one. The new Equus will not have a hardcopy owners manual but on an IPAD, not to mention that there dealer will pick there car up for service and drop off a rental... I really like the idea of an Ipad for a interactive manual. It even notifies you when your due for service and what needs to be done

[epbrown]

HA! They removed the Home button! Very clever.

I'm on some iPad forums and a common cmplaint from people wanting to use them in this sort of application is there is no way to keep the iPad locked into one application; anyone could click the Home button and start screwing with other applications. BMW appears to have gotten around this by removing the button altogether.

[Feli_330i]

Saw it today at the show, very cool!

[ibeclueless]

[BMW-NC]

Originally Posted by krnnerdboy

sorry, bmw is a step behind Hyundai on this one. The new Equus will not have a hardcopy owners manual but on an IPAD, not to mention that there dealer will pick there car up for service and drop off a rental... I really like the idea of an Ipad for a interactive manual. It even notifies you when your due for service and what needs to be done

Well, any 5 or 7 has the owners manual integrated in the NAV and every model tells you when to go to service....

[Gatchek]

you gotta love integrated technologies. I love my ipad... if they could integrate it into the car somehow... even better.. but we'll see.. I'm sure they have better ideas.