Alpina hits the half-century

50 years of making BMWs better still
Bavarian company Alpina has been working closely with BMW for over 50 years
Graham Scott13 October 2015

A unique relationship within the car industry has just celebrated its half-century. Bavarian company Alpina has been working closely with BMW since Burkard Bovensiepen came up with a twin-carb kit for his BMW 1500.

Jump forward 50 years and a relationship strong enough to allow the two companies operate on a rolling five-year contract, with Alpina assembly on BMW’s own production lines and BMW dealers honouring Alpina warranties.

The relationship between BMW and Alpina remains strong

At one level it’s a business relationship. Alpina’s engineers see CAD data on new models up to four years before they go into production. On another level it’s a family affair. Alpina employs 220 staff, who in 2014 helped deliver 1700 cars. They’re overseen by Burkard Bovensiepen who is still at the head of the firm. The 79-year-old is slowly handing responsibility over to his sons Andy and Florian, who of course want to chart new directions for the company.

Head of Alpina, 79-year-old Burkard Bovensiepen, is expected to hand responsibility over to his sons, Andy and Florian

One example is the XD3, Alpina’s first SUV which went on sale in 2014. The vehicle was championed by the sons against some opposition, but it has been a sales success, even though there were logistical problems, including having the vehicle built on BMW’s production line in North Carolina USA.

The complex market of China is next on the list, but for now Bavarian company Alpina show no signs of letting the half-century celebrations slow up their plans for continually improving both BMW and themselves.

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