Future of Mobility: BMW Plant Chennai

For more than a 100 years BMW has been trying to innovate and bring about a change in the field of automobiles in the world. In 2015, taking forward the same initiative, BMW launched the i8. With its high-performance electric hybrid, BMW i8 is not just any sports car but its also a sustainable car. It is what one can call — the future of mobility. And in August 2017, around 500 students from 21 schools across the city of Chennai were introduced to this highly sustainable hybrid engine car at the BMW Plant Chennai.

In August 2017, BMW India and Flow India came together to design and implement a unique student workshop at the BMW Plant Chennai around the BMW i8. The students got an opportunity to take a tour of the plant floor and witness its state-of-the-art systems of engineering and manufacturing processes.

The students were extremely excited to see BMW i8. They were taken through the advanced features of the connected drive, fuel efficiency, design assisting aerodynamics, life drive architecture of the car. They were introduced to the concepts of sustainability and what makes BMW i8 a sustainable car.

The workshop concentrated on what will be the scope and applications of its innovations? How do the features of the i8 inspire our thinking of future cities?The students, in a group of 5, through a scaffolded activity created visual concept board on any one aspect of a future city incorporating possible innovations inspired by the i8. Each group presented their concept board to the jury.

By the end of the session, students understood sustainability means more than emission-free driving. It is about people and culture, our environment, or jobs and money. It is about cities or the country. It is about you and me!