The BMW Group in Munich, Germany, has announced that among the many new features in the 2009 model of its luxury 7 Series saloon, will be ceramic injection moulded (CIM) controls and switches used in the interior of the car.

BMW claims to be the first car maker in the world to use high-tech ceramics as a particularly sophisticated material for selected interior control units. Replacing the galvanised metal otherwise used on such components, the special ceramics material produced by a German ceramic injection moulding company is available as an option on the iDrive Controller, the electronic gear selection lever, as well as the rotary knob on the automatic air conditioning and audio system.

This type of high-tech CIM material has so far only been used on exclusive mobile phones or other high-value appliances. It is said to be not only particularly strong and scratch resistant, but also conspicuously cool and, at the same time, pleasant to feel and touch.

Further details on the development and production of the CIM parts used in the BMW 7 Series are published in the June issue of Powder Injection Moulding International.