[Staszek]

Originally Posted by playswcars

This is either great news, or terrible news. I hope they don't degrade "Alpina" to a trim level, à la "M Performance".

That's my thought, I am hoping it just means we get some more cool models in the US, and not that is an option package, like what MB did to AMG recently.

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by swagon

Have you seen what happened to AMG? Same story here. Once a standalone company, now a sub-division making most of its money on sport packages and bog-standard corporate models that they put 'their' badge on. Of course, with the odd halo car here and there.

When it was independent, AMG cranked out one or two models that took a while to come to market, and only in limited numbers. Nowadays, when M-B announces an updated model line, three weeks later they roll out the AMG models, and they usually bring the hardware goods to make the name proud.

You can debate the muddying of the waters with the AMG-lite models--like Audi S-line and M Performance--and those are marketing decisions. But I think customers have benefitted overall from the AMG acquisition and the huge array of product offerings.

[Lefty de Vito]

Electrification of cars will require to change their (ALPINAs) business model.
Tuning of electric motors or providing an automatic transmission that was not available in the equivalent M car does no longer make any sense, because all M cars have that already (AT that is).
So the production of ALPINA ICE cars will end in 2025.

When you start from scratch it may be possible to create a successful company building electric cars but it is still difficult.
When your business model is building / refining ICE cars and you are totally dedicated to do so AND you are very small it is very very hard to switch to the electric world.

So I think it was the best thing ALPINA could do in these times.
Lets have BMW keep Alpina alive as a luxury "line" in their range and combine the expertise of both "BMW Individual" and Alpina.

I can only hope that the "ALPINA line" will continue to offer "alternative/different interpretations" of the BMW design after 2025.

[e90335e36m3]

Never liked a single alpina product. Non-news to me.

[Gdiddy23]

Originally Posted by e90335e36m3

Never liked a single alpina product. Non-news to me.

Wow thanks for contributing your great insight to this thread

[TheoIam]

Maybe this can allow M to drive further into the performance edge of the envelope and let Alpina be more lux/power oriented.

Instead of M being both lux and performance evenly.

[heavyD^2]

As some have said this could be good or bad. Hopefully they let Alpina maintain its vision and individuality. Bad would be absorbing them and building parts bin cars with Alpina badges/instrument clusters, and a premium price tag.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

If this means more Alpina models in the US, I am ALL for it!

Cheerfully joining the same petition, albeit virtually.

[Luminor513]

If they can let me order an XB7 with extended shadowline and black 23 inch alpina wheels, they can gladly take my money!

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

Cheerfully joining the same petition, albeit virtually.

Same here. Hoping to see those beautiful B5 Biiturbo Touring cars on US roads soon.

[scoobysaurus]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

ALPINA is closer to Rolls Royce than it is to BMW M in that there is more customization involved in the actual production of the car so it doesn't make sense to even make it a trim. If BMW wanted to add a trim to their existing line up, they could have saved money and just added a trim, no need to acquire ALPINA for that.

BMW could have spin off or expanded BMW Individual and make it their "in-house" ALPINA, they would just have to add the engine/chassis tuning which wouldn't be too hard.

This might be a controversial opinion but I'm surprised that no one has mentioned it yet given all the Mercedes references. BMW has a gaping hole between the top of the line Bimmers and base model Rolls Royces. Mercedes is taking all those customers by repositioning Maybach as a lower positioned trim level of Mercedes rather than a direct competitor of Rolls Royce. BMW needs to put Alpina against the new Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand even if it means culling a few of the lower end models and having ultra bespoke Alpina models for the higher end BMW's like the 7, 8, X7, XM and iX priced at about $150-$300k to fill the niche between M and RR as a direct competitor to Maybach.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

Same here. Hoping to see those beautiful B5 Biiturbo Touring cars on US roads soon.

Would be amazing

[G30 B58]

Originally Posted by Gdiddy23

Wow thanks for contributing your great insight to this thread

That makes three of us.

[N54sDUSTxi]

Originally Posted by Jason

Attachment 2831575
Munich. The BMW Group welcomes a new addition to its portfolio, as the ALPINA brand becomes part of the company. The BMW Group will secure the rights to the ALPINA brand – bringing even greater diversity to its own luxury-car range. BMW AG and ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG have reached an agreement to this effect that will secure the long-term future of the ALPINA brand as well as the Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH und Co. KG.

The conclusion of the transaction is still subject to various suspensive conditions – in particular, approval by the responsible antitrust authorities. The long-standing cooperation agreement, which was extended for another five years in late 2020, will expire on 31 Dec. 2025. Both parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details. No shares in the company will be acquired.

Over half a century, BMW and the small-series manufacturer from Buchloe, outside of Munich, have forged a close cooperation built on the highest level of trust. Now, the transformation of the automotive industry enters a new chapter.

“The automotive industry is in the midst of a far-reaching transformation towards sustainable mobility. For that reason, existing business models need to be re-examined on a regular basis. For over fifty years, the Buchloe firm has demon*strated how to deliver top-quality car cachet through meticulous attention to detail. The BMW Group is also driven by this same passion for cars that capture the imagination. That is why we are now embarking on a new chapter in our long-standing partnership. Acquiring the trademark rights will allow us to shape the long-term course of this brand steeped in tradition. We are delighted to welcome the ALPINA brand to the BMW family,” said Pieter Nota, member of the Board of Management responsible for Customer, Brands and Sales.

The transformation towards electromobility and increasing regulation worldwide – particularly emissions legislation, software validation and requirements for driver assistance and monitoring systems – result in significantly higher risks for small-series manufacturers. The management of ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG is addressing this with a strategic realignment that will secure the long-term viability of the Buchloe operations.

Andreas Bovensiepen, co-managing director of ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG, explains: “We recognised the challenges facing the automotive industry early on and are now setting the right course for ALPINA and for our family firm, BOVENSIEPEN. This marks the beginning of a new chapter. Both the ALPINA brand and our company are extremely desirable. We made a conscious decision not to sell ALPINA to just any manufacturer, because BMW and ALPINA have worked together and trusted one another for decades. That is why it is the right decision strategically for the ALPINA brand to be managed by the BMW Group in the future.”

The cooperation will continue – but in a different form: The company owned by the Bovensiepen family will continue to use its engineering expertise in developing, manufacturing, and selling BMW ALPINA vehicles within the existing cooperation until the end of 2025. This results in base BMW cars receiving extensive modifi*cation by the ALPINA team - including the engine and transmission, as well as the chassis, aerodynamics, and interior equipment. BMW ALPINA vehicles are pre-assembled on BMW production lines before final assembly of the vehicles taking place in workshops in Buchloe, also comprising individual interiors built to customer specifications.

The service, parts and accessories business for the existing and legacy BMW ALPINA vehicle portfolio will continue at the Buchloe location in the long term. There will be no changes to the existing aftersales cooperation. As part of a strategic cooperation between the two companies, there will be a further expansion of the existing development services business for BMW out of Buchloe. The wine business that also forms part of the family firm will be unaffected.

“BMW and ALPINA are a perfect fit! The ALPINA brand has matured alongside BMW over the past 50 years and has everything it takes to make the heart of an automotive connoisseur beat faster all over the world. It finds the right balance between cultivated sportiness, luxury, and exclusivity. We are delighted to acquire the trademark rights to ALPINA and add new vehicle capturing DNA to the BMW portfolio,” said Jens Thiemer, Senior Vice President Customer and Brand BMW.

2021 was the most successful year in the history of ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG. Building on this strong foundation, the family business will strategically realign going forwards in order to address regulatory challenges and technological change in the industry. This will secure the location of Buchloe for the long term.

“We will continue our father’s life’s work and invest in the equally well-known name of BOVENSIEPEN. With our expertise and high standards of quality, we will bring other convincing mobile offerings to the market in the future,” explains co-managing director Florian Bovensiepen: “Without our creative, highly capable, and loyal employees, ALPINA’s success story would not have been possible. We are relying on the strength of our company, our team, and our families to pivot at the right time. At the same time, we acknowledge, with the BMW Group, our social responsibility towards our workforce and will do our best to cushion the potential impact resulting from this reorganisation.”

The sale of trademark rights to BMW and the resulting discontinuation of the current ALPINA vehicle programme at the end of 2025 will have implications for existing jobs at the Buchloe site. BMW will support ALPINA with the necessary adjustments to the workforce at the Buchloe location over the coming years. Up until the end of 2025, BMW will work with ALPINA to offer those employees who will not be able to continue working at the Buchloe site a new position with the BMW Group and also help them find new jobs with suppliers and development partners.

ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG, a German vehicle manufacturer based in Buchloe, was officially founded on 1 January 1965. ALPINA was active in BMW tuning and motorsports from the 1960s onwards and began manufacturing passenger cars based on BMW AG products in 1978. Since 1983, the company based in Buchloe in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria has been registered as an official automotive manufacturer with the German Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg and employs around 300 people. Around 2,000 vehicles were produced in Buchloe in 2021. In addition to Germany and Europe, Japan, the US, and the Middle East are also important markets for ALPINA. The family company’s second main area of activity is the ALPINA wine business.

Originally Posted by Jason

Attachment 2831575
Munich. The BMW Group welcomes a new addition to its portfolio, as the ALPINA brand becomes part of the company. The BMW Group will secure the rights to the ALPINA brand – bringing even greater diversity to its own luxury-car range. BMW AG and ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG have reached an agreement to this effect that will secure the long-term future of the ALPINA brand as well as the Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH und Co. KG.

The conclusion of the transaction is still subject to various suspensive conditions – in particular, approval by the responsible antitrust authorities. The long-standing cooperation agreement, which was extended for another five years in late 2020, will expire on 31 Dec. 2025. Both parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details. No shares in the company will be acquired.

Over half a century, BMW and the small-series manufacturer from Buchloe, outside of Munich, have forged a close cooperation built on the highest level of trust. Now, the transformation of the automotive industry enters a new chapter.

"The automotive industry is in the midst of a far-reaching transformation towards sustainable mobility. For that reason, existing business models need to be re-examined on a regular basis. For over fifty years, the Buchloe firm has demon*strated how to deliver top-quality car cachet through meticulous attention to detail. The BMW Group is also driven by this same passion for cars that capture the imagination. That is why we are now embarking on a new chapter in our long-standing partnership. Acquiring the trademark rights will allow us to shape the long-term course of this brand steeped in tradition. We are delighted to welcome the ALPINA brand to the BMW family," said Pieter Nota, member of the Board of Management responsible for Customer, Brands and Sales.

The transformation towards electromobility and increasing regulation worldwide – particularly emissions legislation, software validation and requirements for driver assistance and monitoring systems – result in significantly higher risks for small-series manufacturers. The management of ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG is addressing this with a strategic realignment that will secure the long-term viability of the Buchloe operations.

Andreas Bovensiepen, co-managing director of ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG, explains: "We recognised the challenges facing the automotive industry early on and are now setting the right course for ALPINA and for our family firm, BOVENSIEPEN. This marks the beginning of a new chapter. Both the ALPINA brand and our company are extremely desirable. We made a conscious decision not to sell ALPINA to just any manufacturer, because BMW and ALPINA have worked together and trusted one another for decades. That is why it is the right decision strategically for the ALPINA brand to be managed by the BMW Group in the future."

The cooperation will continue – but in a different form: The company owned by the Bovensiepen family will continue to use its engineering expertise in developing, manufacturing, and selling BMW ALPINA vehicles within the existing cooperation until the end of 2025. This results in base BMW cars receiving extensive modifi*cation by the ALPINA team - including the engine and transmission, as well as the chassis, aerodynamics, and interior equipment. BMW ALPINA vehicles are pre-assembled on BMW production lines before final assembly of the vehicles taking place in workshops in Buchloe, also comprising individual interiors built to customer specifications.

The service, parts and accessories business for the existing and legacy BMW ALPINA vehicle portfolio will continue at the Buchloe location in the long term. There will be no changes to the existing aftersales cooperation. As part of a strategic cooperation between the two companies, there will be a further expansion of the existing development services business for BMW out of Buchloe. The wine business that also forms part of the family firm will be unaffected.

"BMW and ALPINA are a perfect fit! The ALPINA brand has matured alongside BMW over the past 50 years and has everything it takes to make the heart of an automotive connoisseur beat faster all over the world. It finds the right balance between cultivated sportiness, luxury, and exclusivity. We are delighted to acquire the trademark rights to ALPINA and add new vehicle capturing DNA to the BMW portfolio," said Jens Thiemer, Senior Vice President Customer and Brand BMW.

2021 was the most successful year in the history of ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG. Building on this strong foundation, the family business will strategically realign going forwards in order to address regulatory challenges and technological change in the industry. This will secure the location of Buchloe for the long term.

"We will continue our father's life's work and invest in the equally well-known name of BOVENSIEPEN. With our expertise and high standards of quality, we will bring other convincing mobile offerings to the market in the future," explains co-managing director Florian Bovensiepen: "Without our creative, highly capable, and loyal employees, ALPINA's success story would not have been possible. We are relying on the strength of our company, our team, and our families to pivot at the right time. At the same time, we acknowledge, with the BMW Group, our social responsibility towards our workforce and will do our best to cushion the potential impact resulting from this reorganisation."

The sale of trademark rights to BMW and the resulting discontinuation of the current ALPINA vehicle programme at the end of 2025 will have implications for existing jobs at the Buchloe site. BMW will support ALPINA with the necessary adjustments to the workforce at the Buchloe location over the coming years. Up until the end of 2025, BMW will work with ALPINA to offer those employees who will not be able to continue working at the Buchloe site a new position with the BMW Group and also help them find new jobs with suppliers and development partners.

ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG, a German vehicle manufacturer based in Buchloe, was officially founded on 1 January 1965. ALPINA was active in BMW tuning and motorsports from the 1960s onwards and began manufacturing passenger cars based on BMW AG products in 1978. Since 1983, the company based in Buchloe in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria has been registered as an official automotive manufacturer with the German Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg and employs around 300 people. Around 2,000 vehicles were produced in Buchloe in 2021. In addition to Germany and Europe, Japan, the US, and the Middle East are also important markets for ALPINA. The family company's second main area of activity is the ALPINA wine business.

Love Alpina of course but hope this doesn't BMWize the Alpina quality … sort of like BMW did M (GmbH). For real @BMW … No 340-Alpina exterior kits .. No "a340i" …. No Alpina badges for those who truly don't own "Alpina" worthy name. Somehow I can't see bmw maintaining the quality of Alpina. Ain't no way

[cncmastr]

Whaaatatttt??!!????

[chief]

How about Alpina be to the i electric series what M should be to ICE.

[Staszek]

Originally Posted by scoobysaurus

This might be a controversial opinion but I'm surprised that no one has mentioned it yet given all the Mercedes references. BMW has a gaping hole between the top of the line Bimmers and base model Rolls Royces. Mercedes is taking all those customers by repositioning Maybach as a lower positioned trim level of Mercedes rather than a direct competitor of Rolls Royce. BMW needs to put Alpina against the new Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand even if it means culling a few of the lower end models and having ultra bespoke Alpina models for the higher end BMW's like the 7, 8, X7, XM and iX priced at about $150-$300k to fill the niche between M and RR as a direct competitor to Maybach.

I don't disagree with you here. If you look at the XB7 its kinda like that just needs to be a bit more special to put it in Maybach territory.

[classj]

Its just branding. The XB7 never sees the hands of Alpina. They may have some hand in the tuning but the XB7 is no more alpina than a modern Shelby GT500 is Shelby.

The press release below basically reinforced this.

Alpina engineers spent weeks training a small team of top technicians how to replicate the hand-finishing process at Plant Spartanburg, BMW's massive manufacturing facility in Greer, South Carolina.

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by classj

Its just branding. The XB7 never sees the hands of Alpina. They may have some hand in the tuning but the XB7 is no more alpina than a modern Shelby GT500 is Shelby.

The press release below basically reinforced this.

Alpina engineers spent weeks training a small team of top technicians how to replicate the hand-finishing process at Plant Spartanburg, BMW's massive manufacturing facility in Greer, South Carolina.

I think that was obvious since they have to ship all the ALPINA-related parts to S.C. for them to assemble it. But that's just for the XB7. But everything else about it is "ALPINA" if you want to consider the number and name plate. Don't think it really matters who assembles the car. There's no "special" way to use a wrench.

So not sure I really follow what you are saying. Are we really saying that an ALPINA is "real" because some engineer or technician in Buchholz was able to dismantle the entire interior and put in new seats?

[Archer-s]

There's a couple of interesting things that BMW could do here, they could follow the Cupra model, ramping up to the point they have their very own model, or even replace their individual line with Alpina, imagine picking up the phone and ordering a truly one off car with the engineers picking parts to match your vision, although becoming a badge line is most likely, like Mondelez and their snack brands, it's a marketing exercise that will suck all life out of the Brand

[uniqueMR]

Very niceee

[NGT2]

I don't know enough about it. But maybe they'll have the regular BMW brand for core models, M for performance focused models, and ALPINA for ultra luxury focused models.