BMW i Ventures, BMW’s EUR 500 Mio million venture fund, is a driving force behind the innovation and forward-thinking that has long been a hallmark of the BMW brand. The fund strategically invests money and resources in startups in the fields of autonomous driving, shared and on-demand mobility, and more. With a long list of partners already, BMW i Ventures is striking out with two new companies focused on the future of driving.
Shift is a San Francisco-based startup that combines innovative technology with an experienced team of car concierges to make buying and selling pre-owned cars a whole lot simpler for everyone involved. Here’s BMW i Ventures Partner Christian Noske:
“Buying a car is one of the most expensive purchases most people ever make and BMW i Ventures is committed to making this experience not just good, but great. Shift’s proprietary technology, world-class team of engineers, and forward-thinking workforce will help the company to succeed in the pre-owned car market.”
Gallium Nitride (GaN) is a power transistor company leading the field of semiconductor technology. What does that have to do with your driving experience? Uwe Higgen, Managing Director, BMW i Ventures sheds some light on that question:
“Gallium Nitride-based transistors have become, in my opinion, the next big stepping stone in miniaturization. We have seen systems ¼ of the size while providing better efficiency than traditional silicon-based alternatives. With GaN, any system that needs power can become smaller, lighter and more efficient.”
One of the most interesting applications of this technology? Autonomous cars. When these cars hit the streets on a large scale, they’ll need an equally robust data center infrastructure. Power consumption is one of the biggest cost drivers behind these centers. The technology GaN has developed allows for much greater power efficiency and helps make these data centers more affordable and sustainable.
While i Ventures funds the next generation of pre-owned car selling, you can get a top-of-the-line experience here at Fields BMW of Daytona near Palm Coast, FL when you work with our knowledgeable staff to buy a certified BMW vehicle.