South Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) market is growing, along with the rest of the world’s, albeit at a slower pace. BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, and Volvo are a few of the automakers that offer EV models in the country and GWM recently announced it will launch the Ora in SA which will replace the Mini Cooper SE as SA’s cheapest EV option.

Now if we could only pry other modes of transport away from their dirty internal combustion engines, the planet, and future humans, might have a chance.

Oh, what’s that? BMW is making an all-electric boat?

Nevermind then.

BMW’s ‘The Icon’ makes a splash

Heavy-handed name aside, ‘The Icon’ is the result of BMW’s partnership – or partnerboat, in this case – with luxury yacht maker Tyde. Not to be confused with the detergent brand, Tide. You know, the inventors of pod racing?

The yacht maker has used its experience and technology from building racing yachts, called ‘hydrofoils’, to make this one but going fast isn’t the aim here. It’s challenging being ogled and photographed when you’re a blur which is probably why it will top out at 30 knots, or about 56km/h.

Calling ‘The Icon’ a yacht is probably a stretch too. There’s only one deck which doesn’t look like it has enough space for all your family, ~~friends~~ entourage, and staff. But it does look very fancy so you’ll want to keep the kids and their crayons at home.

In fact, it’s probably best to make this a solo voyage. Just you, your ‘The Icon’, the expansive blue sea, and the rousing Dolby Atmos-supported soundtrack produced especially for ‘The Icon’ by multi-award-winning film composer, music producer, and “frequent BMW collaborator” Hans Zimmer. Because he also has bills to pay, you know.