Keep your old car, its better for the environment according to BMW

It’s not often that an automaker encourages motorists to keep their old car meticulously maintained for extended longevity but a BMW boss has made these bold claims in the face of sustainability.

Consumerism is what the modern world has been built on. It is what the automotive world finds itself guilty of, as well as every other conceivable industry that creates products for the purchase by the public. Innovations and technology in the realm of the automobile are ushered in on a frequent basis and this forms the grounds for automakers to deem aging models as obsolete. Employing the latest technology into new models ensures manufacturers can retain a competitive edge but it also fosters a nature of discarding products well before their intended use has been achieved.  

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It is another reason why automakers have a significantly bloated portfolio of models pandering to every need of every consumer, making upsizing or downsizing easier than ever before. The resources, time and raw material required to produced a new vehicle are immense and are a great contributor to environmental waste and thus, the age old argument presents itself: is an older car more sustainable than a tech-heavy new model?

Monika Dernai, head of sustainability for BMW seems to think so. Recently presenting her opinions to a panel in London, the BMW boss claims that keeping an old car could be a significant factor in reducing environmental impact and waste, from its creation to its disposal. This controvesrial statement in the wake of consumerism will undoubtedly face criticism from industry peers but the logic is sound. 

Dernai stated: “We really need to think about prolonging the life of cars; not having a used car market where you sell cars to each other, but maybe take a car and extend its lifespan.” This is a concept that has been around for years and Dernai believes the solution is this: “The idea could be that you could freshen up the interior. We need new skill sets in the aftermarket and to design cars so that the seat can be removed and a fresh seat can be moved in – then it’s a used car that looks like a new car.”

This is something that petrolheads rever the thought of, giving a second chance to an older, classic car and having OEM backing would help to increase and broaden the appeal to other motorists. Second to safety and performance, older cars tend to lack technology that increases the appeal of modern cars. Retrofitting updated infotainment systems, installing heated seats and a panoramic sunroof with factory finishes are a few things that could make this an industry worth getting off the ground.