It isn't a given that the companies that provide mobility today will also be the ones to do so tomorrow. Every company has to work hard to make this happen.

Size alone is not a key to success, as we have seen recently.

We will continue to offer the most dynamic vehicles in the future. However, we have also made it our mission to be sustainable as a company.

There were certainly those who rubbed their eyes in astonishment. But when we held a company discussion forum with Joschka Fischer, interest was high. Six hundred senior managers came to the meeting. In the end, there was tremendous applause for Fischer, because he offered a precise analysis of the challenges our industry faces worldwide.

Premium will increasingly be defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility

Politicians in Europe want change. The United States and China will follow this trend. One could see this is a threat, but it's also an opportunity. We at BMW want to take advantage of this and, through innovations, place ourselves at the forefront.

I am firmly convinced that the trend toward more fuel-efficient vehicles is not a fad. Gas prices will continue to rise in the medium to long term, because demand is growing considerably in China, India and other countries.