The BMW’s Driving Center is to be opened in July this year, making a new chapter of the history of Korea’s auto industry

Currently around 30 foreign brands are playing in Korea and local brands are accounting for over 80% of the turf, but none have such a theme park for test driving of cars and experiencing auto culture.

In this context, the BMW’s Youngjong-do Driving Center will attract a lot of interest from car makers both at home and abroad.

BMW entered into a full-scale preparation this month for a successful opening of the center.

At the opening ceremony slated for July 14th, Ian Robertson, head of BMW sales and marketing, Klaus Draeger, head of purchasing, and other high-ranking BOD members are to attend.

Novert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management, however, is told to be absent at the opening ceremony due to his other schedules.

Mr. Klaus Draeger is said to have a meeting with Samsung Group management during his visit to Seoul on the matter of collaboration for rechargeable batteries.

Also, BMW officials from Japan, China, and South East Asia are expected to attend it.

Governor of Gyeonggi province, Mayor of Incheon City, Minister of MOTIE, and some other high-ranking officers will be present at the ceremony.

When the center opened, around 200 thousand visitors are expected to visit yearly the BMW Driving Center, which is now 90% progress for completion in mid-June.

BMW Korea is now working for details of management, including entrance fees.

Especially, BMW is to put more importance on providing customer satisfaction and experience rather than making profits, by differentiating fees based on the driving courses

The center is adjacent to the access of Incheon airport, and will be built on the site of 72 thousand pyeong for 6 test courses and green parks, sports parks for football grids, and additional 5 thousand pyeong for halls of experiencing BMW cars and training academy, etc.

The 2.6km driving courses are to be built for experiencing various performances and funtions of BMW cars, such as acceleration and braking, handling, BMW x-drive(4WD), dynamic driving, circular, and multiple driving.

Especially, the safety education course is its first for not only at BMW Group but also in the world.

Visitors are able to test-drive the BMW cars that are picked up by themselves, and may test-drive EV i-series, and M-series.

Professional trainers are also assisting for high speed driving experiences.

Those who are not interested in test driving can enjoy leisure time at the Green Park, and also make use of various sports facilities, such as soccer field.

Three parking lots allow 400 units of cars to be parked at a time.

Hyo-Joon Kim, President of BMW Korea said that “The BMW Driving Center will make a new history in Korea as a cultural spot for automobiles.”