2011 was a year of resounding successes for BMW Welt and the BMW Museum. Both attracted record numbers of visitors, and as venues for around 500 events over the course of the year, they were able to consolidate their positions as exclusive locations in the Munich landscape. "It makes us proud that 2011 was such a successful year for BMW Welt. These record numbers show that we are able to offer the breadth of attractions that our visitors expect when they come here, both from the vehicle delivery centre and the programme of events. This is not only clear from the many sold-out events and guided tours but also from the fact that so many guests enjoy what we have to offer so much that they keep coming back for more. And they can all look forward to a wide range of exciting events in the coming year too," says Thomas Muderlak, head of BMW Welt.

Dr. Ralf Rodepeter, head of the BMW Museum and Visitors' Experience Communication in Munich, also has a highly positive resume of the year 2011: "Last year represented a whole new chapter in the BMW Museum's success story. Thanks to our special exhibitions and the unique events that we host together with such renowned cooperation partners as the Master School for Fashion, we attracted 480,000 visitors to the museum – more than ever before – to experience the history of the BMW brand. While most museums have to cope with a drop in visitor numbers once the initial post-opening phase has passed, we enjoy greater visitor numbers than any other museum in Munich apart from the Deutsches Museum."

In 2011, more than 2.3 million people visited the BMW Welt, 25 percent more than the year before, making it once again the most popular point of interest in Bavaria. Accordingly, the demand for guided tours through BMW Welt, the BMW Museum and the BMW Plant last year was very high, with more than 100,000 guests taking the opportunity to experience the BMW brand up close.

The number of people collecting their vehicles from BMW Welt also increased, with over 18,000 picking up their new cars from the delivery centre at BMW Welt – an increase of 18 percent compared to the year 2010. Almost 2,000 of these customers came from as far as the United States to take delivery of their brand-new vehicles.

BMW Welt constitutes an ideal setting for exclusive events, at any time of the year. Popular musicians, such as Marshall RAVEstar, aka DJ Jan Delay, who performed recently at the Drehmomente@BMW Welt, regularly turn up the heat as well as the volume in the Double Cone. International stars performing here last year included Aura Dione, who gave the opening concert at the Long Music Night in the BMW Welt, and Simon Beckett, who delighted fans with his reading at the Munich Crime Thriller Festival. Last year also saw BMW Welt establishing a special new series by the name of Classical & Lounge and 3,000 music fans came together to celebrate the new year at BMW Welt at the Night of Colours, ushering 2012 in with an exclusive dinner and musical entertainment that lasted until dawn.

Not least thanks to its outstanding infrastructure, BMW Welt is also a highly popular location among external promoters, as evidenced by the 350 events that took place here over the course of the previous year, such as the PCI Cardiologists Congress or the presentation of the Bavarian Sport Prize. There were also two exhibitions that attracted the interest of many visitors in 2011: the presentation of the new BMW 1 Series, entitled "One Origin. Two Originals" and that of the new 6 Series convertibles and coupes, held in conjunction with a showcase of the works of the renowned light designer Ingo Maurer.

The BMW Automobile Museum in the north of Munich attracted more than 480,000 visitors last year, 20 percent more than in the year 2010. The main attractions for car fans in 2011 were the museum's two temporary exhibitions and three special exhibitions. The exhibition of BMW Art Cars, designed since 1975 by such renowned artists as Roy Liechtenstein or Andy Warhol, was so successful that it was extended until October 2011. The new temporary exhibition at the BMW Museum, entitled "The Line of Beauty", is dedicated to the large BMW coupés and convertibles. A further four special exhibitions were based on specific themes, such as the life of Georg Maier, who took part in numerous races with his BMW motorcycle. Others featured the 50th anniversary of the New Class and the success story of the BMW 3 Series. The final special exhibition, held in December of last year, featured the original vehicles from the film "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol".

The Energy private concerts transformed the BMW Museum into a stylish party location. Ranging from punk rock and German rock with Frida Gold and the freestyle music of Jupiter Jones, partygoers were treated to a musical experience within a unique setting. Other events attracting large crowds were an exclusive auction, organised in cooperation with Bonhams Auctioneers, and the exhibitions of fashion collections as well as designer evenings organised together with the Master School for Fashion/Design School and the AMD Academy for Fashion & Design, both in Munich. In 2011, the BMW Museum also acted once more as the location partner for 100 external organisations, such as the European Patent Office and Texas Instruments.

BMW Welt and BMW Museum see it as their responsibility to offer a program with a high educational value for children and teenagers. Every last Sunday of the month is a family Sunday, when families with children can visit the exhibitions in the museum at a reduced price and enjoy a varied day with all kinds of activities and exhibitions. One of last year's special highlights was the “Night in the Museum”, in which a group of children spent the Halloween night in the museum surrounded by historical exhibits. The workshops at BMW Welt also proved to be a popular attraction. In more than a thousand workshops, 16,000 children and teenagers were not only introduced to the world of automobiles but also many other interesting facts about themes such as sustainability and mobility. In addition, more than 250 children celebrated their birthdays in the BMW Welt Junior Campus and the BMW Junior Museum.

From April to October, the BMW Museum offered fans of historical BMW vehicles a chance to take part in an experience that was quite unique. In three-hour tours, held every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday, guests were chauffeured through the streets of the Bavarian capital, where, subject to weather conditions and vehicle availability, they were able to enjoy the sights of the city from the windows of such classic BMW cars as the famous baroque angel, the BMW 502.