Autoindustrie: BMW bietet Konkurrenz Hilfe beim Aufbessern der Klimabilanz an

BMW allows other car manufacturers to offset their emissions with those of the Munich-based automaker through a process called "pooling." This is revealed in documents from the European Commission. Automakers can count both their own brand's CO2 emissions and those of their competitors under the pooling system, enabling them to meet EU emission limits that they would struggle to achieve alone.

Companies can apply for BMW's program for the retroactive 2025 year and for 2026 and 2027, with applications due by October of the following year. Competitors must sign a confidentiality agreement and disclose their CO2 emissions. BMW wants to assess whether the shared pool risks failing to meet its targets, requiring companies to find ways to offset financial burdens such as penalties for excess emissions.

BMW seeks financial reports or bank guarantees from its applicants due to the competitive nature of the industry. BMW is better positioned compared to other manufacturers, having met EU CO2 targets last year without pooling with another company. In the current year, BMW is currently the European automaker with the highest electric vehicle share, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT).

Pooling as a business model doesn't tie manufacturers to their own company. Porsche, for instance, separated from VW's pool in the summer and plans to partner with Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng. Instead, manufacturers can seek external partners and negotiate conditions. Open pools must be "transparent and economically reasonable" according to EU guidelines.

In general, avoiding CO2 balance issues in the automotive industry incurs significant costs, as emission levels for new vehicles above the EU average incur penalties. For BMW, this step provides financial benefits, as it is not an additional revenue source in the face of difficult economic conditions. BMW is in the midst of a restructuring, having issued its second profit warning in less than half a year.

In its crucial automotive segment, BMW expects a maximum EBIT margin of 0.5 percent this year, according to the company. Worst-case scenarios could leave the core business with a red figure. "Even after cleaning up the restructuring, we would only end up with a margin of just over two percent - well below our own standards," writes industry analyst Matthias Schmidt.

However, BMW could find a new partner to compensate for the weak performance in China, which is heavily impacting its profit. Schmidt suggests primarily Chinese companies as potential partners, with Chinese state-owned conglomerate SAIC being a potential candidate whose MG brand has underperformed in Europe. There is also the possibility of a partnership with Japanese manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, which is already in a pool with Tesla.