Publisher Comments:

An exclusive look at one of the world's most successful and controversial companies, and the mysterious family behind it.

BMW is arguably the most admired carmaker in the world. It's financial performance is the envy of its competitors, and BMW products inspire near-fanatical loyalty. While many carmakers struggle with falling sales, profits and market share, demand for BMWs continues to grow, frequently outpacing production. Now, David Kiley-Detroit Bureau Chief at USA Today and author of Getting the Bugs Out, which covered Volkswagen's demise and rebirth, goes inside the fabled German automaker to see how it does what it does so well. With unprecedented access to BMW executives, Kiley goes behind the walls of BMW's famed Four Cylinders headquarters in Munich at a time when the company is in its most aggressive, and some say riskiest, expansion in its history and when some of the company's new products, like the 7 Series sedan and Z4 roadster, are for the first time drawing as many barbs from critics as bouquets. Kiley covers intimate details of the boardroom drama surrounding the company's nearly disastrous acquisition and subsequent sale of the British Rover Group and its expansion into selling MINI and Rolls Royce cars. Besides being a world-class carmaker, BMW is also considered one of the smartest consumer marketing companies and Kiley explores the extraordinary value and management of the BMW brand mystique. He also takes a revealing look at the mysterious and ultra-private Quandt family of Bad Homburg Germany, which owns a controlling stake in BMW: Johanna and Susanne Quandt, two of the wealthiest women in Europe and Stefan Quandt, one of the wealthiest bachelors on thecontinent.

David Kiley (Ann Arbor, MI) is the Detroit Bureau Chief at USA Today who has covered the auto industry for 17 years. He has been featured on Nightline, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, NPR and the Today show. He is also the author of Getting the Bugs Out: The Rise, Fall, and Comeback of Volkswagen in America (0-471-26304-4), also available from Wiley.

Book News Annotation:

Aimed at automobile enthusiasts and business people, this text tells the story of how BMW became the most respected car producer and one of the most profitable automakers in the world. Drawing upon company records and interviews with top executives, automotive journalist Kiley (USA Today) examines the company's business practices and marketing strategies and introduces readers to the secretive and mysterious Quandt family, which has owned a controlling stake in BMW since 1959.

Synopsis:

Praise for Driven

" A lot of us in the auto industry watch and study BMW closely because it does so many things right. Lately, it has made many controversial choices in designs and new products that are testing its track record. David Kiley does an excellent and timely job of exploring what has been right about BMW and asking the right questions about whether it will continue to lead the industry in brand and product focus and excellence. A fascinating read."

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　– Bob Lutz　Vice Chairman of General Motors and author of Guts: 8 Laws of Business from One of the Most Innovative Business Leaders of Our Time

" David Kiley has captured the unique DNA of BMW and presents it in a straightforward and readable manner. He gets at the essence of the BMW brand and what makes it tick."

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　– J. D. " Dave" Power lll Founder, J. D. Power and Associates

" David Kiley takes you under the hood at BMW to show why it is one of the most successful automakers in t world. The secret to the company’ s success is also the secret to Kiley’ s book: an emphasis on quality and attention to detail. Throw in Kiley’ s ability to weave together juicy details and intricate stories, and you end up with a fascinating book."

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　– Adam L. Penenberg author of Tragic Indifference and Spooked

Synopsis:

An exclusive look at one of the world? s most successful automakers– andthe mysterious family behind it.

BMW is among the most admired carmakers in the world whose products inspire near-fanatical loyalty. While other carmakers struggle with falling sales, demand for BMWs continues to outpace production. Now, David Kiley– Detroit Bureau Chief at USAToday and author of Getting the Bugs Out, which covered Volkswagen’ s demise and rebirth– goes inside the fabled German automaker to see how it does what it does so well. With unprecedented access to BMW executives, Kiley goes behind the walls of the Quandt family compound in Bad Homburg to tell the story of Johanna Quandt– Europe’ s second-richest person, and one of the most powerful women in the world– and the fascinating story of a brand that enjoys the unwavering devotion of discerning drivers everywhere.

David Kiley (Ann Arbor, MI) is the Detroit Bureau Chief at USA Today who has covered the auto industry for 15 years. He has been featured on Nightline, CNBC, CNN, and the Today show. He is also the author of Gettingthe Bugs Out: The Rise, Fall, and Comeback of Volkswagen in America (0-471-26304-4), also available from Wiley.

Download Description

An exclusive look at one of the world's most successful and controversial companies, and the mysterious family behind it.

BMW is arguably the most admired carmaker in the world. It's financial performance is the envy of its competitors, and BMW products inspire near-fanatical loyalty. While many carmakers struggle with falling sales, profits and market share, demand for BMWs continues to grow, frequently outpacing production. Now, David Kiley-Detroit Bureau Chief at USA Today and author of Getting the Bugs Out, which covered Volkswagen's demise and rebirth, goes inside the fabled German automaker to see how it does what it does so well. With unprecedented access to BMW executives, Kiley goes behind the walls of BMW's famed "Four Cylinders" headquarters in Munich at a time when the company is in its most aggressive, and some say riskiest, expansion in its history and when some of the company's new products, like the 7 Series sedan and Z4 roadster, are for the first time drawing as many barbs from critics as bouquets. Kiley covers intimate details of the boardroom drama surrounding the company's nearly disastrous acquisition and subsequent sale of the British Rover Group and its expansion into selling MINI and Rolls Royce cars. Besides being a world-class carmaker, BMW is also considered one of the smartest consumer marketing companies and Kiley explores the extraordinary value and management of the BMW brand mystique. He also takes a revealing look at the mysterious and ultra-private Quandt family of Bad Homburg Germany, which owns a controlling stake in BMW: Johanna and Susanne Quandt, two of the wealthiest women in Europe and Stefan Quandt, one of the wealthiest bachelors on the continent.

Book Dimension

Height (mm) 238 　　　　　　　　 Width (mm) 153