BMW’s works council head supports electric-only technology platform

BMW’s head of influential work council said that they must head toward a technology platform specifically for electric cars, moving away from only developing cars that can be refitted with either electric or combustion engines.

“Only with our own e-architecture can we fully exploit the advantages of an electric vehicle,” Manfred Schoch told Der Spiegel magazine.

Schoch said that if the German luxury carmaker were to have its own dedicated electric platform, it could prevent it from being overtaken by competitors from California and China.

Spiegel magazine said that Schoch’s call comes after BMW managers have pushed for a new electric strategy internally for some time. The managers hoped that the company could shift to develop a pure e-platform, making their cars lighter for a longer battery range and a bigger interior.

When asked about the report, a BMW spokesperson said that the company was currently “optimally positioned” and declined to comment on speculation about internal discussions.