BMW Celebrates Year One of the 1 Series With Special Engraved Start/Stop Button.

Owners of the First Year of the 1 Series Share the Celebration of BMW's New Icon

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Drivers who purchase a 2008 BMW 1 Series will be reminded that they are one of the few lucky drivers of the next BMW icon every time they start or stop their cars. Each 2008 BMW 1 Series, both coupe and convertible models, will be equipped with a specially engraved Start/Stop button with the inscription: "Year One of the 1". The engraved Start/Stop button is one of several notable initiatives to be announced celebrating the launch of the new BMW 1 Series in America next spring. Appearing exclusively in the 2008 calendar year 1 Series models coming to the U.S., the "Year One of the 1" button was created by the same team of BMW designers who designed the 1 Series.

"Forty years ago, BMW introduced a car, the legendary 2002, that changed the American automotive landscape. That car was a pivotal car in the history of BMW and is still revered by aficionados today. We believe the 1 Series will be as important to the history of BMW in America," said Jack Pitney, Vice President, Marketing, BMW of North America. "The 'Year One of the 1' Start/Stop button is a way to directly engage our customers with a simple message of celebration each time they get behind the wheel of their new 1 Series," continued Pitney. "Our 'Year One of the 1' activities will incorporate several elements that will celebrate this historic launch. The specially engraved Start/Stop button is just one of the many things we will announce as we approach the launch next year."

The new 1 Series, which draws inspiration from the legendary BMW 2002 of 1968 with a focus on pure performance, will be available as a Coupe and Convertible. In addition to premium design, the 1 Series features rear-wheel- drive dynamics, agile handling, powerful 6 cylinder engines and seating for four.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:

  http://www.bmwgroupna.com/
  http://www.bmwusa.com/
  http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/
  http://www.miniusa.com/
  http://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/

CONTACT: Thomas Plucinsky, Product and Technology Communications Manager, [phone], [e-mail], or Karen Vonder Meulen, Marketing and Events Communications Manager, [phone], [e-mail], both of BMW North America

Web site: http://www.bmwgroupna.com/ http://www.bmwusa.com/ http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/ http://www.miniusa.com/ http://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/