BMW cancels INTERMOT, EICMA, Concorso d’Eleganza and Motorrad Days plans; H-D acquisition rumoursBMW has announced that it will not be exhibiting at INTERMOT and EICMA later this year.
In a statement rather unfortunately dated April 1st, the company said that "due to the hardly foreseeable development of the corona pandemic and its effects, BMW Motorrad will not be participating in the two leading motorcycle shows, INTERMOT in Cologne in October and EICMA in Milan in November 2020.
"This decision was made in order to counteract current planning uncertainty at an early stage, also for all our partners involved in BMW Motorrad motorshow appearances, in the interests of the greatest possible security, predictability and transparency.
 |
| 3T Exploro model bicycle |
"BMW Motorrad will present the world premieres and product highlights planned for these motorcycle shows on alternative platforms in autumn 2020. In doing so, the company will increasingly rely on its own formats and digital communication channels".
The announcement also came just 48 hours before it was due to continue its recent new practice of unveiling new models online with the debut of the R 18 cruiser.
While BMW hasn't exactly 'bet the farm' on the new cruiser, it is very heavily invested into a model that, as with the R nineT, has initially been conceived as a "Harley Killer".
Which is ironic, since one of the rumours swirling around Harley in the United States at this time is that it is about to be acquired by BMW - with one source even claiming it is able to disclose where BMW Motorrad plans to put a new factory (on the Wisconsin/Illinois border).
Meanwhile, back in the real world, production at BMW's Spandau, Berlin factory was halted on March 20 and is currently slated to start back up again on April 19 - though as with other manufacturers' plans, that looks optimistic.
BMW has postponed its annual Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (May 22-24) on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, announcing an alternate date of October 16-18, and has also cancelled its annual BMW Motorrad Days at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southern Germany (July 3-5).
 |
| BMW's 'Big Boxer' R 18 cruiser engine |
Additional recent BMW news includes the launch (by its luxury car division) of an achingly trendy special edition 3T Exploro model bicycle that the company describes as "the best gravel bike available, combining performance, luxury and cycling pleasure for our customers”; a seven-round second BMW BoxerCup race series promoted by Wilbers on R nineT race bikes that is theoretically due to start at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on May 24th and take in several of the international German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) rounds, finishing at Hockenheim on September 27; an M Performance Parts accessories range for the new BMW S 1000 RR - similar to the offer available for BMW M automobiles; confirmation of a global debut for the new R 18 'Big Boxer' cruiser on April 3 2020 through BMW's social media channels, and a win for the team from South Africa in the seventh BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy, the 2020 Oceania F 850 GS edition, over eight days and 2,500 km of the North and South islands of New Zealand. The event saw some 22 international teams, with participants from over 40 countries.
In financial terms, BMW Motorrad recorded solid growth in 2019, with a total of 175,162 BMW motorcycles and maxi-scooters delivered to customers (2018: 165,566 units; +5.8%). Segment revenues increased to € 2,368m (2018: €2,173m; +9.0%). Profit before financial results improved to € 194m (2018: € 175m; +10.9%). The EBIT margin for the segment finished at 8.2% (2018: 8.1%) and therefore within the target range of 8 to 10%. Profit before tax amounted to € 187m (2018: € 169m; +10.7%).
