The BMW Group Korea celebrates its 30th anniversary of establishment in South Korea this year. Over the past 30 years, through meticulous localization, BMW Group Korea has maintained its leadership in the imported car market and expressed its ambition to continue contributing to Korean society and achieve sustainable growth in the future.
On the 15th, marking its 30th anniversary in Korea, BMW Group Korea announced the slogan “Define Driving Pleasure, Again”. Under this new slogan, the company reinforced its commitment to the Korean market, introducing a 30th anniversary limited edition model and launching various campaigns.
The German BMW Group established its Korean subsidiary in July 1995 through a 100% investment method. BMW Group Korea is the first local subsidiary among imported car brands in South Korea.
BMW Group Korea has pioneered the initial market for imported cars in the country by introducing BMW motorcycles, BMW Motorrad, in 1999, and the premium compact car brand MINI in 2005. Even amid the Asian financial crisis in late 1997 when many foreign companies and car importers withdrew from the Korean market, BMW Group trusted the market potential and continued to invest.
BMW Group Korea has set numerous new records in the domestic imported car market. It surpassed cumulative sales of 10,000 units for the first time in 2002 and 100,000 units in 2011. From 2009 to 2015, BMW Korea held the No. 1 position among imported cars for seven consecutive years and achieved top sales in the domestic imported car market for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024.
The background of such achievements lies in BMW Group Korea’s unique corporate philosophy, “Wherever we operate in the world, we strive to be the best corporate citizen of that country.” BMW Group Korea has contributed to Korean society through diverse investments and active social contribution activities comparable to native companies.
BMW Group Korea has expanded various facilities, such as the BMW Driving Center on Yeongjongdo, expressing the intent for mutual growth with Korean society. In 2014, BMW Group invested 77 billion KRW to establish the BMW Driving Center in Incheon, Yeongjongdo. Including additional expansion and renovation costs, the total investment amounts to 95 billion KRW.
The BMW Driving Center is the only automobile complex cultural space worldwide within the BMW Group that combines a track and customer experience facilities in one location. As of the end of 2024, it has welcomed 1.62 million visitors.
BMW Group Korea’s social contribution projects are carried out by the BMW Korea Future Foundation. Established in 2011, it was the first non-profit foundation set up by an imported car company in Korea. It conducts various social contribution projects targeting children and students who will carry Korea’s future. As of December 2024, approximately 329,500 individuals have participated in the talent development programs of the BMW Korea Future Foundation.
BMW Group Korea has actively engaged in facility investment. In 2017, about 130 billion KRW was invested in constructing a new parts logistics center (Regional Distribution Center, RDC) in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, making it the largest of its kind among foreign BMW subsidiaries and among imported car brands in Korea. To prepare for the electrification era, an additional 65 billion KRW will be invested by 2027 to expand the Anseong parts logistics center by approximately 31,000 square meters (about 10,000 pyeong).
BMW Group Korea has consistently focused on expanding EV charging infrastructure. By the end of last year, it completed the installation of a total of 2,125 EV chargers, the largest scale in the domestic automotive industry. In 2025, BMW Group Korea plans to add 600 more EV chargers and ESG charging stations.
BMW Group Korea is also proactive in partnerships with Korean companies. In 2023, it purchased approximately 6.535 trillion KRW worth of parts from domestic companies, exceeding its sales of 6.1066 trillion KRW that year. The cumulative value of parts purchased from Korean partners from 2010 to 2024 amounts to a remarkable 37 trillion KRW.
BMW Group Korea operates the most service centers among imported car companies, with 81 for BMW and 40 for MINI. To provide high-quality service, it manages its own technician and service advisor certification systems, with 2,438 out of a total of 2,669 service personnel being officially certified by BMW.