Currently reading: BMW Munich concept to preview sustainable cars of 2040

Recycled and sustainably sourced materials will play a crucial role in BMW's new-era product line-up

BMW will emphasise its commitment to sustainable vehicle construction with the unveiling of a radical new concept at the Munich motor show next week.

Previewed in an image that gives little away except for an angular SUV-MPV silhouette, the concept will "provide a visionary outlook on the potential of a circular economy and sustainable mobility".

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BMW has designed the car according to the 'rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle' ethos and presents it as a vision of what luxury urban cars could look like in 2040.

It is manufactured using entirely recycled materials and renewable raw materials and is itself "100% recyclable".

BMW says "climate protection and individual mobility do not necessarily contradict each other" and suggests that the adoption of new production methods and materials will sustain the concept of car usage.

Last month, sibling brand Mini presented the Strip concept as a similarly conceived vision of eco-friendly car design. Developed in partnership with fashion designer Paul Smith, the Strip featured only the materials and components completely necessary for its use as a car and swapped many of those for recycled and recyclable items.

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Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

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Bob Cat Brian 2 September 2021
Adapt or die Peter.
Peter Cavellini 2 September 2021

While I acknowledge the recycling ethos, the knock on effects are a concern,less produced parts may mean less jobs making new parts, a sort of Domino effect, while it may lower carbon footprint, it may mean less jobs?