One of Munich’s architectural highlights, the BMW Museum stands right next to the world famous BMW Group Head Office Four-Cylinder Building. It was here that the Chairman of the Board of Management of the BMW Group, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, officially reopened the Museum last week.
He highlighted the importance of tradition for the company: “Awareness of our heritage, the experiences and developments that our company has been through give us direction, power and inspiration for our work,” he said.
After a two and a half year refurbishment project, visitors can look forward to more than 120 exhibits in museum space covering 5,000 square metres. They will be presented in a completely new exhibition concept.
The circular museum will continue to be a landmark and a sought-out destination for car lovers from across Europe and the world. The adjacent low-level building now complements the ‘Bowl’ – as the circular museum building has been designated ever since it was opened in 1973. This has entailed increasing the available floor space five-fold. The museum will open its doors to the public this coming Saturday, 21 June 2008 from 10.00.
As guest of honour, Dr. Norbert Reithofer welcomed Eberhard von Kuenheim, who as Chairman of the Board of Management opened the museum in 1973. Although the exhibition has changed since then, the philosophy of the museum remains the same:
“A BMW Museum has to present living corporate heritage. And it must show how BMW defines the future, on the basis of concrete objects,” Dr Reithofer said.
The future was presented in an unusual way at the opening ceremony: 350 apprentices of the BMW Group surprised guests as representatives of the upcoming generation who would shape the history of the BMW Group, and themselves create new vehicles that will one-day be exhibited with pride in the Museum.