BMW: Ironically, the first Corona hotspot becomes a ray of hope for car manufacturers: "Very strong growth" 

BMW has high hopes for China in the Corona crisis.

While demand is shrinking worldwide, sales in the world's largest car market are likely to rise, the group expects.

• Corona

  has also hit the automotive industry hard.

• But

  China

  has already left the crisis behind.

• This

  should give

  the Munich car maker

  BMW

  a noticeable boost in sales.

Beijing - In view of the global collapse of the auto business as a result of the corona pandemic, the Chinese market is a ray of hope for

.

"I see very strong growth by the end of the year," said

China boss

at the start of the international auto show in Beijing.

After the decline in sales in

due to the coronavirus outbreak earlier in the year, Goller is aiming for "single-digit growth" for the full year.

Regardless of all the uncertainties caused by the pandemic and the development of the global economy, he believes that growth in China will continue next year.

"Our goal is always to grow faster than the premium market," said the governor of the group in

.

With the growth in China, the share of the Chinese market in the Munich-based carmaker's global sales also rises to almost 30 percent.

BMW: China boss doesn't see too much dependence on China

Goller rejected warnings that it was too dependent on the world's largest car market in China: "It is not an option not to grow in China." In addition,

broadly positioned in the world, and also produces in the

.

For

European market is

also “far larger” than that in China.

"We have a good balance."

presented the new

and

for the first time

at “Auto China 2020” in Beijing

in front.

The Bavarians will also be presenting the

, which has been in production in China since this month, and the fully electric i4.

the recent summer break at its main plant in Munich to make the production facility fit for the Stromer.

The new model should go into series production at the end of next year.

The group is also planning a combustion engine based on the body of the i4.

BMW: The Chinese government relies heavily on e-mobility

Goller sees the strong growth of e-mobility in China as the strong support from the government, the incentives for customers such as simpler permits and exemptions from driving bans in metropolitan areas, as well as the broad network of charging stations and the great openness of Chinese customers.

"The likelihood that you will buy an electric car is much greater."

In

, the expansion of the charging network is making slow progress.

However, the demand for electric vehicles has recently picked up significantly thanks to higher government purchase premiums.

Since the beginning of July, buyers of a pure electric vehicle have received a government grant of 6,000 euros, and there is an

4,500 euros for hybrids

.

In addition, there are further sales promotions from the manufacturers.

(dpa / utz)