By Andrea Figueras
BMW plans to start selling vehicles directly to customers across Europe starting next year, following the model pioneered by electric-vehicle maker Tesla.
The German luxury car maker said Wednesday that it will introduce the model in different stages, starting on Jan. 1 for its Mini brand in Italy, Poland and Sweden, gradually followed by the remaining European countries.
The BMW brand is expected to transition to the direct-to-consumer model from 2026, it said.
The new model seeks to standardize pricing for identical vehicle models and communicate directly with its customers, the company said.
The company said its European retail partners approved the move, with agency contracts signed by all Mini partners. Retailers will earn a fixed commission per car sold, the company said.
BMW also said that it will digitalize the purchase process and customers will be able to choose between online and physical purchases.
Write to Andrea Figueras at [email protected]
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