BMW lost 470 vehicles, including 120 damaged beyond repair that will need to be scrapped during ocean transport from Europe. The vehicles included the first batch of BMW 1-series and M3 cars coming to the United States.
BMW of North America said the vehicles were on a container ship headed for the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in New Jersey. The ship hit rough water on the North Sea on Friday, Jan. 11. The vehicles apparently came loose, bounced around and crashed into others.
BMW said it is tabulating how many 1-series and M3 cars will have to be scrapped and whether this will affect a dealer launch scheduled for February, as well as dealers’ initial supply. Both cars are due to go on sale in March.
