WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BMW Financial Services announces the release of The Ultimate Drive for Facebook, a community app (http://apps.facebook.com/TheUltimateDrive) that enables drivers to find exceptional driving roads and share favorite routes of their own with others.
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This is the first time a captive automotive finance company has offered a Facebook app for this purpose. The free app is available to all driving enthusiasts as well as existing BMW customers.
"Providing this Facebook app is a natural extension of our strategy to strengthen the community among BMW Financial Services customers," said Ed Robinson, President and CEO of BMW Group Financial Services, Americas Region. "As a globally-recognized brand, BMW leverages the Facebook platform which, having surpassed one billion users, has become the pre-eminent tool for online conversations."
The Ultimate Drive for Facebook features millions of miles of user-suggested driving routes, detailed descriptions, photos and user ratings. The Facebook app includes the ability to view stretches using Google Street View and to integrate with the other route-sharing apps from BMW Financial Services for iOS and Android.
The Ultimate Drive for Facebook also allows existing BMW Financial Services customers (U.S. only) to generate a loyalty voucher worth up to $700 off the first finance or lease payment on a new 2012 or 2013 BMW. Users can claim this offer by reserving a test drive within the app. For additional details, please visit www.ultimatedriveapp.com. Offer ends December 31, 2012.
"What better way to enjoy the perfect road than with your friends. We hope that The Ultimate Drive for Facebook will help fans of BMW share their passion within their social networks," said Pawan Murthy, General Manager of Online Business for BMW Financial Services.
"We're impressed by the degree to which BMW has understood its drivers' needs and embraced the Ultimate Drive community platform to the fullest," said Daniel Pifko, CEO & Co-Founder of SocialNav, Inc., the San Francisco based company that worked with BMW Financial services to create the technology powering The Ultimate Drive for Facebook, iOS and Android.
Get The Ultimate Drive for iOS or Android: http://socialnav-inc.com/GetTUD
About BMW Group Financial Services
BMW Group Financial Services was established in the U.S. in 1992 to support the sales and marketing of BMW products. Since then, the Group has expanded to provide service to markets in multiple countries and continues to evolve beyond its role as a captive finance unit.
BMW Group Financial Services offers a wide range of leasing, retail and commercial financing and banking products tailored to meet the needs of the BMW customer. The Group also provides financing to BMW dealers for expanding dealership capabilities and enhancing overall operations. With more than $34 billion in serviced assets and 1,000,000 automotive lending customers across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, BMW Group Financial Services finances almost three-quarters of the BMWs sold or leased in North America. BMW Group Financial Services employs more than 800 people, including consultants and temporary workers, most of whom are located in the Hilliard, Ohio Regional Service Center which serves the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
In 2001, the MINI Financial Services division was established to provide support for the brand's dealer and customer networks by offering various financing and leasing options. Alphera Financial Services was established in 2006 to provide financial services to dealers who are not part of the BMW and MINI networks.
BMW Group Financial Services also offers credit card products through its subsidiary, the BMW Bank of North America. up2drive.com is a division of BMW Bank of North America, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW Financial Services NA, LLC. BMW Insurance Agency, Inc., a property and casualty producer, is also part of BMW Group Financial Services.
Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:
www.bmwgroupna.com
www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorradusa.com
www.miniusa.com
About SocialNav, Inc.
SocialNav, Inc., based in San Francisco, CA, is the first and leading developer of social navigation applications for smartphones and Facebook. Individuals with Facebook accounts or iOS/Android smartphones in over 100 countries share routes and ratings of their favorite local trips and long distance travels. For more information please visit www.socialnav-inc.com.
SOURCE BMW Group Financial Services