BMW to unveil China-tailored Neue Klasse at Beijing Auto Show

BMW AG Chairman Oliver Zipse said the automaker will debut its first Neue Klasse model designed specifically for China at the Beijing Auto Show, showcasing a new fusion of German engineering and Chinese digital innovation.

Ties between the two sides are in the spotlight this week as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in China on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, his first since taking office last May. Zipse is among senior executives from around 30 leading German companies accompanying the chancellor on the trip.

"It is the most Chinese car we've ever built, tailored specifically to the needs and wishes of our Chinese customers," said Zipse in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Tuesday.

Zipse stressed that the car's innovations stem directly from BMW's deep partnerships with Chinese tech leaders.

"It features many innovations from our partnerships with leading Chinese players as, for example, battery cells come from CATL, autonomous driving stack is jointly developed with Momenta, and the large language model for the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is the result of our longstanding partnership with Alibaba," he said.

He presented these partnerships as a blueprint for the future of the global auto industry.

"These features are a perfect example of cross-border collaboration, joint pioneering spirit and mutual openness," Zipse said.

The 2026 Beijing Auto Show is scheduled to be held in Beijing from April 24 to May 3.

BMW to unveil China-tailored Neue Klasse at Beijing Auto Show

Malaysia's economy grew 5.3 percent year on year in the third quarter of 2026, slowing from 6 percent in the preceding quarter, according to advance estimates released on Friday.

Growth was supported by positive performances across all economic sectors except mining and quarrying, which contracted during the quarter, the Department of Statistics Malaysia said in a statement. For the first nine months of 2026, the economy expanded 5.5 percent, accelerating from 4.8 percent in the corresponding period a year earlier.

The services sector remained the main driver of growth, expanding 5.4 percent in the third quarter, compared with 5.9 percent in the preceding quarter.

Manufacturing growth strengthened to 7.5 percent from 7.3 percent, while construction growth eased to 6 percent from 6.5 percent.

The agriculture sector rebounded, growing 1.3 percent after contracting 3.7 percent in the preceding quarter.

In contrast, the mining and quarrying sector contracted 4.9 percent, reversing 9.2 percent growth in the preceding quarter.

Malaysia's economy grows 5.3 pct in Q3