BMW Launches Seventh Annual Ultimate Drive Program

To Support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's Fight Against Breast Cancer

SPARTANBURG, S.C., April 24 -- With all the fanfare usually reserved for a Formula One Race, BMW kicked off its Seventh Annual Ultimate Drive Program for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation today at the company's eleven year-old state-of-the-art American manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The highly anticipated Ultimate Drive Program made for an emotional and action packed day highlighting BMW's undeterred commitment to raise money for breast cancer research.

With 36 high performance BMWs available for test drive, the 2003 Ultimate Drive got off to one of its best starts ever. Scores of residents from Spartanburg, Greenville, and Greer came out to support the cause and to experience the thrill associated with being behind the wheel of a brand new BMW. Just knowing that the very cars they were driving today would be driven and signed by thousands of other determined individuals and breast cancer survivors from all over the country, was enough to bring these communities together for an action packed day. With six years of fundraising success behind it, the Ultimate Drive has become a steady source of funding for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment, and continues to increase its participation levels in the cities it visits.

The kickoff event was hosted by Bobby Hitt, Manager Public Affairs, BMW Manufacturing Corp. and was attended by several executives from BMW of North America, as well as Cindy Schneible, Vice President of Cause Related Marketing and Sponsorships for the Komen Foundation, and by Spartanburg Mayor William Barnet III.

The Ultimate Drive Program

The Ultimate Drive is a test-drive program created by BMW to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. For each mile that is test-driven in one of the BMW Ultimate Drive fleet vehicles, a dollar is contributed to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs. The program consists of a Northern and a Southern fleet of eighteen 2003 Silver BMWs each headed by a lead Signature Car -- a BMW 745Li that is painted in silver with six contrasting gray stripes from the front to the back of the car. A seventh stripe -- in pink, stands out from the silver patina of the signature car, and symbolizes BMW's seven-year commitment to the Ultimate Drive Program. These vehicles will be signed by thousands of Drive participants. The 745Li sedans will become mobile embodiments of the individuals who are making a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

In addition, every event will honor a local hero to acknowledge that individual's outstanding efforts to raise awareness of and eradicate breast cancer. A photograph of each hero will be affixed to one of the two BMW Signature Vehicles.

"BMW has been a powerful, pro-active partner in our fight against breast cancer," said Susan Braun, president and CEO of the Komen Foundation. "In towns all across America, BMW has celebrated our 'Local Heroes' and has helped spread the life-saving message of early detection in a unique and fun-filled way, not to mention raising millions of dollars for breast cancer research and community outreach programs. We know that BMW's cars turn heads wherever they go, so imagine the kind of awareness this fleet of 18 cars receives when it rolls into town."

Over the past six years, BMW of North America has donated more than $6,000,000 to the Komen Foundation. There is no purchase necessary to test drive the vehicles in the BMW Ultimate Drive fleet of cars, and all proceeds from the test drives are donated to the Komen Foundation. All administrative costs of the Ultimate Drive Program are underwritten by BMW separately and apart from the funds raised for this program.

About the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of more than 75,000 volunteers working through local Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease. A global leader in the fight against breast cancer, the Foundation fulfills its mission through support of innovative breast cancer research grants, meritorious awards and educational, scientific and community outreach programs around the world. Together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and generous donors, the Komen Foundation has raised nearly $600 million for the fight against breast cancer.

For more information about breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call the Komen Foundation's National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at 1.800 I'M AWARE(R) (1-800-462-9273).

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America has been present in the United States since 1975. Since then, the BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales and financial service organizations for the BMW and MINI brands and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country, including BMW Manufacturing Corp. in South Carolina. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW car, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle, 148 BMW Motorcycle retailers, and 70 MINI dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.