MUNICH -- BMW will increase research and development spending to an all-time high of up to 7 billion euros ($8.6 billion) this year as part of efforts to bring 25 electrified models to market by 2025.
BMW said that despite higher spending it expects group pretax profit to be over 10 billion euros in 2018, at least in line with last year's level.
In its annual report, the company also warned of a possible impact from trade barriers and any anti-dumping customs duties in the U.S. and said Brexit could have an adverse long-term effect.
Spending on developing electric and autonomous cars pushed r&d costs a billion euros higher last year, reaching 6.1 billion euros.
"Investment will rise by a further high three-digit million-euro amount year-on-year, primarily from the ongoing new model initiative as well as continued work on e-mobility and autonomous driving," BMW said in a statement at its annual press conference on Wednesday.
BMW's r&d ratio for 2018 is expected to be between 6.5 percent and 7 percent of sales. In the next two years the r&d ratio is expected to remain above its usual target corridor of 5 percent to 5.5 percent range, the company said.
BMW this month reported a 5.3 percent rise in 2017 operating profit on surging demand for high-margin SUVs, helping to offset higher research spending.
Sales of luxury cars are expected to continue rising, contributing to new record unit sales this year, it said.
"In the automotive segment we expect to achieve new all-time highs in 2018. As long as conditions remain stable, we should see a light increase in deliveries from growth in China and the U.S. in particular," CFO Nicolas Peter said in a statement.
BMW cautioned over trade tensions and Britain's looming exit from the European Union. "A possible introduction of trade barriers, including anti-dumping customs duties, by the U.S. administration could have an adverse impact on the BMW Group's operations," BMW said in its annual report.
Separately, BMW said the prospect of diesel bans had hit the second-hand values of some cars, leading to a rise in the credit loss ratio to 0.34 percent, from 0.32 percent a year earlier, reflecting "the situation in the used car markets in North America and Europe."
The increase was mainly due to the debate on diesel engines in parts of Europe, BMW said. BMW said risks related to the residual value of used cars were covered by risk provisions.
Half of the 25 electrified models BMW AG plans to launch across its brands by 2025 will be fully electric and powered by fifth-generation battery and drivetrain technology. Starting in 2021 the automaker's EVs will be capable of offering an all-electric range of up to 700 km (435 miles) and its plug-in hybrids will have an electrical range of up to 100 km (62 miles), BMW said.
