BMW Motorrad is making a radical choice. While the entire industry is turning to electric vehicles, the Bavarian company is announcing: "Not for us." Markus Flasch, its CEO, has made his decision. In a frank interview with American journalist Zack Courts, the boss brushed aside two issues that are stirring up the motorcycle world: no pure off-roaders, no electric motorcycles.
« We spoke with our customers, our dealers… and the answer is clear. For now, we don't see any demand for electric motorcycles ", he says.
In other words: BMW refuses to follow the green wave if motorcyclists don't want it. And despite its technological arsenal inherited from electric cars (iX, i4, etc.), the brand prefers to wait until the market really exists before investing in it.
Same verdict for extreme off-roading: “ our customers have the GS, capable of going off the beaten track, but they don't expect a pure and hard enduro from us », Slice Flasch. No question for BMW to fight on the field of KTM or honda crf : the brand will stick to its road and adventure DNA.
BMW: towards a more accessible sports car
Where it gets interesting: BMW seems to be preparing a return to “mid-size” sports cars. Flash dropped a hint that is already stirring up fans: “ we can expect to see something smaller than 1000 cc… but it's too early to talk about it »
Translation: after years of swearing by the S 1000 RR, BMW could release a real sports car around the 895 cc twin-cylinder already seen on the F 900A lighter, more accessible missile, but stamped BMW.
And for purists who fear the disappearance of big engines, Flash reassures them: the six-cylinder K1600 not moving. “His community is strong. We continue.” The six-cylinder has a bright future »
In a world where every manufacturer announces a “green” future, BMW slam the door and face the facts: bikers want noise, sensations, not batteries.
This deliberate choice could appeal to enthusiasts tired of political correctness... but also isolate BMW if the market swings faster than expected.
Provocative or visionary? Flash takes the gamble that bikers remain attached to pure mechanics. If history proves him right, BMW could establish itself as the last bastion of raw pleasure faced with an industry that is rapidly electrifying.
