BMW Advertises New Driverless Running Coach for April Fool’s Day

A well-known German auto manufacturer posted their annual April Fool’s Day joke this week.

BMW sent out a press release for April 1^st, outlining a “new technology helping customers to boost their fitness in the run up to the games,” since they are a sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The company touted their new Driverless Running Coach feature, which would use a combination of technologies including cameras to “allow the car to follow the runner at a safe distance, while pounding the pavement.” The car’s speakers would also play encouraging words to the running person, and ensure that running distances are completed.

“It’s a car gym but not as we know it,” said Alvin Alaff, head of Futile Innovations at BMW.

Of course it’s fake, but it’s a yearly tradition for BMW to post an April Fool’s Day joke.

Last year, they introduced a new BMW M3 pickup truck, and in 2008, a “Canine Repellent Alloy Protection,” where they alleged that they had installed a device to shock dogs that chose to urinate on the wheels of a BMW, by far my favorite prank yet. More on their previous pranks are available here.

I love that such a large car manufacturer is willing to put the effort into adding some levity to their daily life and advertising. Of course, all that humor drains away quickly if you ever have to work on one of their serious creations.

Did you enjoy or perpetrate any good April Fool's Day pranks? Let us know in the comments.