BMW buys Alpina
Alpina, the aftermarket parts and tuning specialists closely linked to BMW, is now a part of the German carmaker’s portfolio after BMW purchased the rights to the brand in March.
The acquisition comes 60 years after Alpina, based in Buchloe near Munich, developed its first performance components for BMW vehicles and 44 years after the first BMW-based, Alpina-badged cars were offered to the public. Despite 2021 being Alpina’s most successful year ever, with around 2,000 cars and SUVs sold, being part of the BMW Group will secure the long-term future of both Alpina and the related Burkard Bovenseipen GmbH und Co. KG company, according to BMW.
Once the acquisition is approved, Alpina’s operations will be brought entirely in-house by BMW, beginning in at the end of 2025, when the co-operation agreement between the two companies ends. Some job losses amongst the 300 staff at Buchloe will follow, but BMW says they will endeavour to find new roles for those affected.
“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,” said Pieter Nota, member of BMW’s Board of Management responsible for Customer, Brands and Sales.
“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.”
Currently, vehicles modified by Alpina are partially assembled by BMW before being sent to Buchloe for the addition of their own mechanical and cosmetic components. Cars and SUVs bearing the Alpina badge have traditionally sat between standard BMWs and the BMW M models in terms of performance. Whether this will remain post-2025 is unknown.
