Copyright © BusinessAMBE 2023

Renowned German film composer Hans Zimmer is providing BMW's electric cars with their own sound. This gives the car manufacturer its own sound identity. But it is also important for safety, says Jeroen Lissens, Head of Corporate Communications at BMW Group Belux.

Listen to the full interview with Jeroen Lissens here:

The gist: Because electric cars make little noise, manufacturers need to develop their own noise identity for their new cars. This also gives them the opportunity to further shape the brand's identity.

  • Lissens explains: "With electrification, a car no longer makes those traditional engine noises and growls of the past. Constructors therefore have to develop a kind of sound identity of a brand. That's what BMW asked Hans Zimmer to do. He created acceleration sounds, entry-level sounds and system start-up sounds for us."
  • "Electric cars are required to make certain sounds. It shouldn't be the case that people can't hear you coming at all. As a manufacturer, you have to make sure that those sounds are as pleasant and as enjoyable as possible for the customer. BMW is a dynamic and sporty manufacturer; in doing so, you must also ensure sounds that aurally reflect your own brand identity."

Sounds reminiscent of a spaceship

  • Zooming out: Hans Zimmer is a perfect fit for BMW. He created film music for Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, Dune and The Lion King, among others. He also wrote music for BBC nature documentaries, the dance festival Tomorrowland and the World Cup. Zimmer's music often has a distinctive bombastic style.
  • "They are sounds that feel very dynamic," Lissens says. "They are sometimes a bit reminiscent of a spaceship. Zimmer spent several weeks in the studio with BMW's sound engineers to develop the sounds based on the brand's DNA. For us, the authentic driving pleasure of BMW is really at the core of that. That should be fully reflected in those soundscapes he developed." (nd)

© The Content Exchange, source News