BMW Group to take over Alpina in 2025

In a recent press release, the BMW Group shared that it will officially be taking over the Buchloe-based luxury car tuning brand Alpina by 2025. According to the German automotive conglomerate, the Alpina acquisition will bring even greater diversity to its own luxury-car range as the group fully acquires its long-time tuner.

“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 demon­strated 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 BMW AG Member of the Board of Management Pieter Nota.

In 2020, BMW and Alpina extended their long-standing cooperation agreement for five years. And as the said agreement expires on December 31, 2025, the BMW Group will officially acquire the small-series manufacturer from Buchloe.

After the acquisition, Alpina will continue to build cars for BMW. And while the service, parts, and accessories business for the existing and legacy BMW Alpina vehicle portfolio will continue at the Buchloe location, the main vehicle program will not.

That said, BMW said that it will support Alpina with the necessary adjustments to the workforce at the Buchloe facility over the coming years and that affected employees will be offered new jobs within the BMW Group or with suppliers and development partners.

Ultimately, both BMW and Alpina agree that the transformation toward electromobility and increasing regulation worldwide pose significant risks for small-series manufacturers, like the tuning company owned by the Bovensiepen family. The acquisition is seen by both parties as a strategic realignment that will secure the long-term viability of the Buchloe operations.

“We recognized 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,” said Alpina Co-Managing Director Andreas Bovensiepen.

Photos from Alpina

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