With the unveiling of the ACES strategy (Autonomous, Connected, Electrified, Shared) BMW is making it rather clear that the auto industry is changing at a faster pace than ever in more diverse directions than expected. While ConnectedDrive has been around for quite some time now, a lot of users simply don’t give it the importance it deserves. However, it’s becoming rather obvious that the future will rely a lot of the connections set up between the cars on the road and their users at the same time. That’s why at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW will have a dedicated section for its Connected services.

An update in Q4 2017 will introduce a number of additional services designed to assist BMW drivers in their everyday digital lives, with a particular focus on enhancements for BMW i vehicles. The latest digital services and new features will be presented at the IAA Cars 2017. The services developed specifically for BMW i are tailored to the demands and requirements of electric mobility. For example, the driver’s electric car is integrated seamlessly into their day-to-day digital life.

BMW Connected already offers a rapid overview of all relevant vehicle data (including range and available charge), which can be called up using various touch points, such as smartphones and smartwatches. And soon, in addition to the existing capabilities of requesting trip and door status information via Alexa or controlling the vehicle via Remote Services, all vehicle information will also be shown within BMW Connected. With one click the user gets detailed door and window status information. With this feature, users will be able to verify that each door and window is secure or know exactly which needs to be locked or closed.

Another newly integrated feature of BMW Connected is the BMW Digital Charging Service, which allows vehicles to be charged using eco-friendly power and at minimized cost. The BMW Digital Charging Service is integrated into the energy market and, when it comes to charging the car, automatically searches for the most cost-efficient and renewable charging times. The owner also has the option of seamlessly incorporating cost-free, self-generated solar energy into the charging process. Here, the system always ensures the car is fully charged by the desired departure time.

The new release of BMW Connected will also introduce several enhancements to the personal trip planning experience which allows even more personalization. With the BMW ID users can set up their own portable, digital customer profile, where all of their preferred settings and services are stored and can be transferred to other BMW vehicles. So, if customers change cars in the future, they can still access all their personal services and pre-set functions using their BMW ID. The focus is therefore not on a specific car, but on the driver.