The head of German auto giant BMW on Tuesday expressed confidence that the company will remain an iconic industry leader, saying it is poised to shape the future of individual mobility.
Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management and CEO of BMW AG, made the remarks ahead of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to China.
Merz arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, his first since taking office last May, accompanied by top executives from about 30 German firms, including BMW.
In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Zipse outlined a series of key factors that he said would position the company for a stronger future.
He stressed that BMW will remain a leader in individual mobility, citing electrification, digitalization, artificial intelligence, sustainability, growing regulatory scrutiny, and its strong global strategy and partnerships as key drivers of future success.
"Individual mobility remains highly important and a very attractive industry. We see major trends which have a major impact: electrification, digitalization and artificial intelligence, sustainability, and scrutiny from regulators worldwide. We have a strong business model and all the ingredients for future success. A consistent strategy, a pioneering spirit across the entire value chain, a strong global footprint, successful cross-border partnerships, financial stability, and long-standing customer orientation. Therefore, we are confident that we will continue to shape the industry's future and to play a leading role," he said.
BMW CEO confident company will remain leader in individual mobility
The Huaqiangbei electronics market in south China's Shenzhen, known as "China’s Silicon Valley of Hardware," saw a consumption boom during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday that ended on Monday.
According to data from the Huaqiangbei Subdistrict Office, as of Feb. 24, Huaqiangbei’s total revenue rose 35 percent year on year, while the number of international business visitors and tourists rose by 50 percent.
"Orders have increased by about 30 percent because there are more tourists this year than in previous years. Many of them are tourists from other provinces who want to experience Shenzhen's electronic products," said merchant Liu Zhineng at Huaqiangbei market.
The booming demand has also boosted business in the accommodation industry. Official data showed that the average hotel occupancy rate in the area reached 80 percent during the Spring Festival holiday, up about 28 percent year on year.
Many tourists deliberately chose hotels around Huaqiangbei to make shopping for electronic products more convenient.
"It’s very comfortable here -- the food and accommodation are both good, and most importantly, it’s very close to Huaqiangbei, so it’s convenient to walk there. Look, this is what I just bought -- I’ve bought a lot of things," said a visitor surnamed Zheng from Sichuan Province, holding up her brand-new sleek mobile phone with a smile.
"There are four hotels around Huaqiangbei. We were fully booked from the second to the fifth day of the Chinese New Year. Major hotels saw an increase of about 30 percent in occupancy compared to last year, and prices also increased to some extent. Our guests are mostly inland tourists and families, and nearly 30 percent are guests from Hong Kong, Macao, and foreign countries. They come to Shenzhen for the Spring Festival and go to Huaqiangbei to buy some Shenzhen specialties -- electronic products," said Gao Kaiyuan, a hotel general manager in Shenzhen.
Tech gadget sales surge in south China's Shenzhen over Spring Festival holiday
