Munich. With the aim of advancing circularity in the automotive industry, the BMW Group has undertaken important groundwork in the recycling of vehicles at the end of their useful life. For 30 years, the BMW Group’s Recycling and Dismantling Centre (RDC) has been developing and testing processes to achieve significant advances in the recycling of parts and reusable materials. The expertise gained at the RDC is shared with a global network in the recycling industry and helps to promote the establishment of a circular economy in the automotive industry. It also feeds into the BMW Group’s product design process, ensuring that a new model’s recyclability is considered from the outset.

Each year, the RDC recycles several thousand vehicles, most of which are pre-series vehicles that have been used for testing and cannot be sold to end customers. These are dismantled using a standardised process that focuses on identifying reusable series components and materials suitable for recycling.

Centre of excellence for recycling provides the template for the entire industry.
What began in 1994 as a new, company-owned recycling facility has transformed over three decades into a true centre of excellence for vehicle recycling. In view of new regulations and the BMW Group’s ambitious targets, the RDC will play an even more important role going forward: the expertise it has built is key to further improving the recyclability of vehicles.

The BMW Group was instrumental in setting up the IDIS (International Dismantling Information System) platform, on which the RDC publishes its data and findings. These are then available free of charge to recycling companies around the world. Some 3,000 organisations in 32 countries currently use the joint recycling database to learn how to dismantle recyclable components cost-effectively and recover valuable materials efficiently.

Developing and improving recycling processes is part of the effort to reduce the environmental footprint, while conserving resources also helps to reduce emissions.

Today’s scrap is tomorrow’s raw material.
Vehicle recycling at the RDC begins with the controlled release of the restraint systems and the pumping out of all fluids. A proprietary BMW Group process is used to neutralise the pyrotechnics in the airbags, among other things. Oil is also removed from the shock absorbers using a specially developed device.

During the subsequent dismantling phase, the focus is initially on recycling individual components. Functional components in mint condition and with series status are not disposed of but passed on to registered dealers for resale. During the mechanical dismantling of the rest of the vehicle, certain materials, such as the copper contained in the wiring harnesses, are separated using a specially designed excavator. Once the engine block and gearbox have been removed, the remaining vehicle is pressed and shredded at an external recycling facility.

The targeted dismantling of metals ensures that today’s scrap becomes tomorrow’s raw material – to the greatest possible extent and in the best possible quality. This is not only important from an environmental point of view, but also from a financial one: just like copper, metals used in the powertrain generate particularly high revenues. Separate dismantling of the catalytic converter is also economically efficient because of the valuable precious metals it contains.

Car2Car: Rigorous research for efficient recycling.
The BMW Group also supports external research efforts into how innovative recycling processes can conserve resources and increase economic efficiency. In the Car2Car research project, subsidised by the Federal German government, the RDC provides both expertise and end-of-life vehicles. Over the past year, the project has developed methods that make it possible to utilise a much greater share of recyclable materials from end-of-life vehicles in the production of new cars, especially steel, aluminium, copper, glass and plastics.

The BMW Group has taken on the role of consortium leader in the Car2Car consortium and is collaborating with members of the recycling industry, raw material processing companies and scientists. The mid-term review of the project shows great interim progress in evaluating the economic and environmental impacts of different recycling processes. The exchange of knowledge and collaborative analysis have led to new perspectives on the recycling of residual materials, providing a solid foundation on which to build innovative processes. For example, scientists and industry experts are jointly designing semi-automated dismantling processes that will enable the cost-effective separation of recyclable materials.

Circular design for a closed material cycle.
Any knowledge gained at the RDC about the recyclability of components and materials is already incorporated into the BMW Group’s product development. By applying the principles of Re:Think, Re:Duce, Re:Use and Re:Cycle, the BMW Group aims to ensure that vehicles are available as a source of raw materials for new cars at the end of their useful life, which in Germany is on average 21 years. A key factor in these efforts is the use of mono-materials instead of composites, as they are easier to recycle thanks to their greater purity.

Production processes at the BMW Group’s plants around the world are also being revised based on the RDC’s findings: in new vehicle production, preference is given to methods that facilitate the dismantling of components and the separation of materials by type. For example, gluing has been replaced by innovative joining solutions.

Closed-loop recycling for high-voltage batteries.
As electromobility becomes more widespread, the recycling of high-voltage batteries is increasingly becoming another top priority. For many years, the RDC has been working in partnership with industry and academia to develop innovative methods to recycle BEV batteries.

Once again, the RDC is setting the pace on the road to circularity. Over the past three decades, it has repeatedly supported the development of new models, materials, and technologies by providing advances in recycling. Now, in the age of electromobility, the RDC has taken on the additional task of gathering in-depth expertise on the reuse of valuable resources and making it widely available to the recycling industry. In this way, the RDC is consistently expanding its role as a centre of excellence for vehicle recycling. At a time when the circular economy is becoming increasingly important for the future of the automotive industry, the RDC’s expertise and skills are in greater demand than ever.

Please contact us if you have any questions:

BMW Group, Press and Public Relations

Diana Schaidnagel, Press Officer Sustainability BMW Group

Phone: +49-151-601-38407

E-mail: Diana.Schaidnagel@bmw.de

Isabel Richter, Team Leader Sustainability Communications BMW Group

Phone: +49-151-601-53189

E-mail: Isabel.Richter@bmw.de

Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

E-mail: presse@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2023, the BMW Group sold over 2.55 million passenger vehicles and more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products. 

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Munich / Hanover. The BMW Group showcased current fields of application for the Catena-X data ecosystem at the Hannover Messe on Wednesday. Working together with partners and suppliers, the company has modelled a complete data chain for the first time using real-world CO₂ data from the manufacture of the iconic kidney grille on the BMW iX. The company also demonstrated the benefits of data-driven quality work. 

“We – the BMW Group and our partners – will use the radical new collaboration approach embodied by Catena-X to improve our value creation processes within the context of sustainability, supply security and quality – and at the same time reduce costs,” announced Oliver Ganser, Vice President Digitalisation of the Purchasing and Supplier Network at the BMW Group and Chairman of the Board of Catena-X e.V., at the Hannover Messe. “The more national and international companies come on board, the greater the added value for all concerned,” added Ganser.

Catena-X makes its debut in production.
At BMW Group Plant Landshut, the company is piloting data-based energy consumption measurement in the manufacture of a whole component for the first time. “Together with our partners, we are using the Catena-X data ecosystem to calculate the product carbon footprint (PCF) of the kidney grille on the BMW iX,” explained Sabrina Schrangl, Project Lead Catena-X BMW Group Component Manufacturing. The iconic kidney grille on the BMW iX serves as an optimum application example here due to its complexity.

The PCF is calculated based on the Catena-X rulebook and covers all “grade-to-gate” emissions generated during the product’s manufacture – starting with the extraction of the raw materials, through the emissions generated in the supply chain to the manufacturing processes at the production facility. Here, the partners use the Catena-X-certified CO₂ application from Siemens AG, which enables data exchange (based on the Catena-X calculation logic) and connectivity between Plant Landshut and high-performance plastics supplier Covestro AG.

Looking further ahead, the aim will be to record all data until the end of the life cycle (cradle-to-grave) and so enable a circular economy across industries over the long term.

Catena-X enables improved quality at the BMW Group by using a data-driven instead of hardware-based approach.
By introducing a shared “language” for all companies in the automotive value chain, the data ecosystem enables smooth exchange of data. Catena-X members can use this data in their quality assurance processes to carry out an early-warning analysis based on field data. At present, the BMW Group exchanges data with Robert Bosch GmbH on the particle sensor and steering gear, among other things. In this way, patterns and anomalies can be identified up to four months earlier, often before an error or fault occurs. In the future, we will look to replace alternative cooperation channels with Catena-X in order to enable rapid, resource-efficient implementation in the area of quality assurance.

Singapore. Thanks to the Karl-Monz-Foundation, Life Community Services Society (LCSS), a Singapore-registered non-profit charitable organisation that empowers children and families through intervention work, care and mentoring, will receive a donation of EUR 10,000 to support an estimated 280 children with academic support, meals, case management, activities, and workshops.

“BMW Group Asia has been actively collaborating with LCSS since 2022 as part of our BMW Group Asia Learning Space initiative,” said Lars Nielsen, Managing Director, BMW Group Asia. “This year, we are excited to not only continue our journey with the children at their Life Student Care Centres, but also support them financially though the Karl-Monz Foundation donation. The work that LCSS does in Singapore is an inspiration to us all and we believe these funds will greatly help them to empower the leaders of tomorrow.”

“We are grateful to partner with BMW Group Asia to complement and enrich our curriculum,” said Lam Moi Kwai, CEO of Life Community Services Society. “With such strong ongoing support, our children are exposed to even more learning opportunities and equipped with the right tools for their development. We are confident that the Karl-Monz-Foundation donation will further support our efforts and have a positive impact on the lives of the children as they strive towards fulfilling their dreams and aspirations.”

BMW Group Asia Learning Space.

In July 2022, BMW Group Asia launched BMW Group Asia Learning Space, a long-term programme in Singapore to promote digital equity and educate children aged 7 to 12 on the topic of sustainability. The company donated 70 Hewlett-Packard laptop sets to the four LSC Centres for the children’s coding classes with HP, homework, and other educational initiatives.

In 2023, this initiative continued with 14 sustainability workshops across the centers, focusing on various sustainability topics like the basic principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, e-Waste, upcycling, and water sustainability.

In 2024, BMW Group Asia Learning Space aims to partner with various organisations in Singapore to teach the children about sustainability in different industries such as aviation, fashion, food, and energy.

Karl-Monz-Foundation.

The Karl-Monz-Foundation was founded in 1996 and launched by Karl Monz, a former member of the board of directors of BMW AG, who donated his assets to the foundation. The foundation has since supported a wealth of various initiatives, ranging from the opening of a community center for people directly and indirectly affected by AIDS/HIV in South Africa, to the funding for support of people with autism in Germany.

Life Community Services Society.

LCSS works with disenfranchised children and families, ensuring they receive the care they need through the following core services:

• Friends Of Children and Youth (FOCY): Aimed at children and youth aged 6 to 16 with at least one parent presently or formerly incarcerated.
• MightyKids, Families and Community (MKFC): Drop-in activity centre for children and youth aged 6 to 19 in the Telok Blangah community.
• Life Student Care (LSC): Student care services in Hougang, Sengkang, and Yishun, with a programme emphasizing social, physical, intellectual, creative, emotional, and spiritual (moral) (SPICES) values.
• EduGrow: A joint project with The Hut at Marine Parade that started in 2016 for children from Kindergarten 1 to Secondary 1 from lower-income families in the Marine Parade area.
• Friends2Gather: A mentoring programme for children aged 6 to 8 from vulnerable backgrounds in Bedok Town.

As of 2023, through 1,146 activities, 956 children and families have benefited from the programmes at LCSS.

For those who are keen to make a difference and would like to join the BMW Group Asia team in volunteering for future sessions, please contact Kimberley Ng at kimberley.ng@bmwasia.com.

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Singapore. BMW Asia is excited to welcome Munich-based Dr Stella Clarke, Research Engineer, Open Innovations, BMW Group, to the Circle Of Joy showcase at the West Wing Village Square of Waterway Point, where she will be part of a panel discussion to talk about her experiences with today’s latest technology on 18 November, from 2pm to 3pm. Dr Clarke led her team to create the colour-changing capabilities of the BMW iX Flow and BMW i Vision Dee.

“After showcasing the BMW i Vision Dee for the first time in Southeast Asia earlier this year at BMW Joy Electrified at Suntec City, we are delighted to have Dr Stella Clarke share her insights with us in person,” said Lars Nielsen, Managing Director, BMW Group Asia. “Dr Clarke has continuously pushed the boundaries of automotive personalisation, and we cannot wait to see how far her vision will bring the BMW Group into the future. This is a reminder to us all that if you can dream it, you can be it!”

E Ink technology.

Following the spectacular debut of the BMW iX Flow featuring E Ink at CES 2022, the BMW Group unveiled a full-colour version of the E Ink technology on the BMW i Vision Dee at CES 2023.

BMW i Vision Dee, rather than simply alternating between black and white, showcased a multi-coloured, fully variable and individually configurable exterior. An ePaper film from the BMW Group’s cooperation partner, E Ink, is applied to the body to create this magical display of colour. Up to 32 colours can be displayed.

The body surface of the BMW i Vision Dee is divided into 240 E Ink segments, each of which is controlled individually. This allows an almost infinite variety of patterns to be generated and varied within seconds. The laser cutting process used to trim the films and the electronic control design were developed in partnership with E Ink. The adaptation of this technology for curved surfaces and the programming of the animations, were developed by BMW Group’s in-house engineers – enabling a form enabling a form of customisation that is unique throughout the automotive sector worldwide.

During the panel discussion, Dr Clarke will be showcasing samples of the E Ink panels from the BMW iX Flow and BMW i Vision Dee.

Circle Of Joy.

At Circle Of Joy, visitors can view the latest range of BMW i models like the BMW i5, BMW i4, BMW iX3, and BMW iX, and Category A COE models like the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, and BMW X1 until 19 November 2023, 10am to 10pm daily.

Visitors who purchase a BMW during the roadshow will enjoy special interest rates, and a chance at the Sure-Win Grab Machine where prizes like the latest iPhone 15 and $300 to $900 vouchers are exclusively available[1].

Magic Slider.

Activities for children will be available as well, with a special magic slider activity kit, where they can choose a stencil of their favourite BMW to colour in, decorate, and take home.

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Leipzig. The start of MINI Countryman production marks a number of firsts and milestones for BMW Group Plant Leipzig: for the first time, a MINI model is being made in Germany – on the same production line as the BMW 1 Series and 2 Series. It’s all made possible by the plant’s flexible structures and development. Over the last five years the BMW Group has invested €700 million to ready Leipzig for increased vehicle volumes and adapt it for MINI-specific requirements. By the end of 2024 the workforce in production will increase by over 900. In addition, the new MINI Countryman is a catalyst for innovations in sustainable production.

“By launching production of the MINI Countryman here in Leipzig, we are introducing multibrand operations to our flexible production system,” explained Milan Nedeljković, Board Member for Production. “Plant Leipzig also offers a number of highlights in terms of resource conservation in production, providing further evidence of the successful rollout of our long-term masterplan: the BMW iFACTORY.”

Seamless integration through flexible structures 

When it comes to production of the new MINI Countryman, the BMW Group is building on the skills and extreme flexibility of Plant Leipzig to forge new pathways in manufacturing. Seamlessly integrated into the production process, the MINI Countryman now rolls off the same assembly line as the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer.

Thanks to its flexible assembly structures, Plant Leipzig is in a position to produce two brands with three different drives – combustion, plug-in-hybrid and fully electric – all on the same production line. The third-generation MINI Countryman will be available with a petrol, diesel or fully electric powertrain, with the high-voltage batteries for the MINI Countryman Electric also being made in Leipzig. It will reach dealerships on 17 February 2024.

Investments and recruitment to increase production volume

The BMW Group has invested some €500 million in Leipzig to increase production volume for new models. Since 2018 the bodyshop, paintshop, assembly and logistics have undergone extensive additions and upgrades, taking production capacity up from 250,000 units previously, to as much as 350,000 units a year at present.

To adapt the production system to MINI-specific requirements, the BMW Group invested around €200 million. Initially approx. 100 MINI Countryman cars a day will roll off the production lines, rising to 500 during the course of next year – in addition to the almost 1,000 BMW cars already coming out of the factory every day. This will not only secure existing jobs but also create up to 900 new ones in vehicle production alone.

Electromobility and MINI production drive development

Another important milestone in the development and extension of Plant Leipzig is its transition to electromobility. “Leipzig remains electric,” says a cheerful Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director. “With the BMW i3 and i8, we were at the vanguard of e-mobility at the BMW Group, and from 2024, we will be producing our next fully electric car: the MINI Countryman Electric. We will manufacture the high-voltage batteries for it in-house as well.”

Starting next year BMW Group Plant Leipzig will run the entire production process for the current fifth generation of high-voltage batteries. This consists of three stages: cell coating, module production and battery assembly. The five cell coating lines, three module production lines and the first high-voltage battery assembly lines are all in the process of going into operation, with a second high-voltage battery assembly line scheduled for launch in 2024.

Capacity for e-component production has also been increasing, since 2021, making Plant Leipzig an important a supplier across the BMW production network. The parts are used in fully electric vehicles such as the BMW iX1, BMW i4, BMW i5 and BMW iX. E-component production in Leipzig currently employs over 800 people, and there are plans to develop it further, with investments totalling more than €800 million.

Sustainable materials and production 

The MINI Countryman Electric is a major step in the MINI brand’s transition to full electrification by 2030 and combines an electrified go-kart feel with a reduced environmental footprint. In developing the new model, the MINI brand’s responsible attitude was very much in the focus with regard to materials and production: chrome no longer features anywhere in the interior or exterior, and the light-metal alloy wheels are cast from up to 70 percent secondary aluminium. The permanently electrically excited synchronous motors are highly efficient and made entirely without rare earth minerals.

The interior is made purely from innovative, high-quality materials that are easy on the environment. The dashboard, door facias, floor covering and foot mats, for example, are made of recycled textiles. A high-quality alternative to conventional materials such as plastics, recycled textiles reduce CO₂ emissions along the value chain and require less water to manufacture.

Innovative painting method for contrast roof 

One of the striking design features of the MINI exterior is the contrast roof, which can be ordered in a different colour from the rest of the body. In the MINI Countryman it will be painted using a new, resource-friendly method known as overspray-free painting. Currently being readied for series operation, overspray-free painting does away with the excess paint – or overspray – generated by conventional painting methods and makes surfaces with more than one colour easier to produce, as they no longer require the laborious process of masking. Overspray-free painting also helps save CO₂ emissions, as exhaust air from the cabin requires less cleansing. Plus it requires considerably less conditioned air, i.e. air that is brought to a set temperature and humidity. As a result, less energy is needed to temper air and treat exhaust.

Another sustainable innovation operating at Plant Leipzig is the burner technology used to dry the paint on contrast roofs. Last year Leipzig became the first car plant in the world to pilot the new technology, which can run on not only natural gas but also hydrogen. The flexible burners can burn hydrogen (H2), natural gas (methane – CH4) or a mixture of the two and can even switch between them without having to halt operations. After successful tests, Plant Leipzig has now installed five hydrogen-capable bivalent burners for series operations, which are now being used for the contrast roof of the MINI Countryman. Plans are in place to convert further burners in the paintshop to bivalent operations.

Plant Leipzig – Built for sustainability

At Plant Leipzig, the focus has always been very much on efficient processes and a long-term strategy for energy generation and consumption, ever since planning began. “Sustainability is in the DNA of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. There’s one example that everyone can see: our four wind turbines, which generate electricity for the plant,” Petra Peterhänsel explained. They were erected in 2013 and deliver 10 MW (generating approx.  25 GWh/year). The second milestone came in 2017, when the battery storage farm went on stream. Equipped with up to 700 second-life high-voltage batteries from BMW i3 vehicles, it offers interim electricity storage for energy from the wind turbines and elsewhere, helping to optimise local energy management and stabilise the grid.

“Our vision at Plant Leipzig is to decarbonise production as far as possible by replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen,” said Petra Peterhänsel, explaining the long-term focus of the facility. This will require sufficient green hydrogen from a grid. A regional hydrogen grid is currently in planning, with Plant Leipzig set to benefit.

Singapore. BMW Group Asia is pleased to announce that Ms. Claudia Wieshuber has been appointed the Director of Marketing, BMW Asia, with effect from 1 October 2023. Prior to her new appointment, Ms. Wieshuber served the last 7 years as the Head of Communication Strategy for BMW Luxury Class for BMW based in Munich.

“We are excited to welcome Claudia to Singapore to lead our Marketing team,” said Mr. Lars Nielsen, Managing Director, BMW Group Asia. “Claudia’s experience across multiple marketing disciplines, combined with her extensive knowledge on our BMW i and BMW Luxury Class Communication Strategy, paired with her professional network, will be invaluable as we look to further intensify our on-going BMW Electrified Vehicles Product Offensive roll-out coupled together with BMW Customer and Brand focus topics across the region.”

Ms. Wieshuber has been with BMW Group since 2003 and was part of the team who developed the concept of the BMW Welt prior to the opening in 2007.  In 2010, she moved on to be part of the team that developed the Communication and Brand Strategy for BMW i. Prior to her current role in Munich, Ms. Wieshuber was the Head of Marketing for the Joint Venture Partner Support Project (Brilliance Auto) based in Beijing.

BMW Group Asia comprises of 14 markets, including; Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Bangladesh, Guam, New Caledonia, Nepal, Tahiti, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

Munich/Dubai. The vehicles in the BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet, which launched in February this year, have completed an intensive round of hot-weather testing in the United Arab Emirates for the first time. The car’s fuel cell drive system performed impressively in the face of temperatures rising to 45°C, as well as sand and dust, varying gradients and significant fluctuations in humidity.

The highly efficient fuel cell system, the two hydrogen tanks, the electric motor and the power battery teamed up with the central vehicle control unit to demonstrate their outstanding performance and state of readiness. The Munich-based development team examined both the functionality of all the electric systems under the extreme conditions and the provision of the cooling power to enable the full performance of the vehicle. The vehicles were able to ensure the driving dynamics for which BMW is renowned.

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen goes around the world
Vehicles from the pilot fleet are currently in action in Europe, Japan, Korea, China, the USA and the Middle East. The aim is to shine a spotlight on the everyday usability of hydrogen-powered vehicles, and beyond that to gain important knowledge for the development of a potential series-produced model. The BMW Group is using the pilot fleet to provide support on a regional level for the development of a refuelling infrastructure which can be used with 700-bar refuelling technology across all categories of vehicle – from passenger cars and small vans to buses and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Synergies between different areas of application also offer important scope for developing a strong network of suppliers in hydrogen technology and reducing costs.

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen combines long-distance capability and short refuelling stops with locally emission-free driving. Provided the relevant framework is in place, the hydrogen fuel cell technology has the potential to serve as another pillar in the BMW Group’s future drive system portfolio.

As part of its ongoing transformation, the BMW Group is applying a “technology-open” approach when it comes to drive systems. The company is therefore adapting to different customer requirements, infrastructure standards and political and regulatory landscapes in the various regions of the world. This flexibility puts the BMW Group in the position to respond quickly to changing requirements in the markets in any situation and to present an attractive offer for as many customers as possible at all times.

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen has a fuel cell system generating output of 125 kW/170 hp and a highly integrated drive unit using fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology (the electric motor, transmission and power electronics are grouped together in a compact housing). The output of the overall drive system is 295 kW / 401 hp. The hydrogen needed to power the fuel cell is stored in a pair of 700-bar tanks made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Together, these tanks can hold around six kilograms of hydrogen. This storage capacity gives the BMW iX5 Hydrogen a range of 504 km (313 miles) in the WLTP cycle. 

• Zipse: “We are committed to a clear course to achieve the 1.5 degree target”
• 50% reduction in global CO2 use-phase emissions by 2030
• Over 40% reduction in CO2 emissions during life cycle
• Ten million all-electric vehicles within ten years
• Secondary first: Up to 50% use of secondary material planned – initiatives to develop the market are required
• Cooperation with BASF and ALBA on plastic recycling
• Resource scarcity and social responsibility: BMW Group focussed on circular economy for sustainable materials
• RE:BMW – circular economy at the IAA Mobility in Munich

Munich. The BMW Group is increasing the pace of its efforts to combat climate change. Looking ahead to the introduction of the Neue Klasse, the company is further strengthening its self-defined objectives, announced in summer last year, to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, whilst also committing itself to a clear course that supports the 1.5 degree target for the limitation of global warming. The Neue Klasse will also see the BMW Group hugely increase its use of secondary materials with a firm focus on the principles of the circular economy, whilst also promoting better framework conditions for establishing a market for secondary materials.

To achieve a further reduction in CO2 emissions, the focus is on the utilisation phase of vehicles, which account for 70% of the BMW Group’s CO2 footprint. By 2030, the CO2 emissions per vehicle and kilometre driven will be at least halved from 2019 levels. The commitment of all manufacturers when it comes to combatting climate change can best be compared when looking at the entire life cycle of a vehicle, including production and upstream supply chain. Here, the BMW Group is planning a reduction of CO2 emission per vehicle of at least 40%.

“How companies are dealing with CO2 emissions has become a major factor when it comes to judging corporate action. The decisive factor in the fight against global warming is how strongly we can improve the carbon footprint of vehicles over their entire life span. This is why we are setting ourselves transparent and ambitious goals for the substantial reduction of CO2 emissions; these are validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative and will deliver an effective and measurable contribution,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, in Munich on Thursday. “With the Neue Klasse we are significantly sharpening our commitment and also committing ourselves to a clear course for achieving the 1.5 degree target.”

The BMW Group is the first German carmaker to join the Business Ambition for 1.5°C of the Science Based Targets Initiative and is committed to the goal of full climate neutrality over the entire value-added chain by 2050 at the latest. This means that the company is also part of the international Race to Zero Initiative. The company is convinced that this can be achieved using innovation, rather than any overall ban on individual technologies.

The most powerful driver on this path to climate neutrality is electric mobility, with the BMW Group’s Neue Klasse set to provide significant further momentum to the market. During the next ten years or so, the company will be putting around ten million all-electric vehicles on the road. As early as 2030, at least half of global BMW Group sales will be all-electric vehicles, with the MINI brand offering exclusively all-electric vehicles from 2030.

The BMW Group continues to comply with the stringent criteria of the Science Based Targets Initiative, when it comes to measuring the reduction of worldwide CO2 emissions of the company’s vehicles whilst they are being driven on the roads. For example, emissions from the production of fuel or electricity are included in the calculation and consumption is based on the WLTP cycle plus ten percent. With its current product and electrification strategy, the company is on track to meet the EU fleet target for 2030.

Beyond green electricity: Stronger focus on use of resources in future

BMW Group is clear that simply increasing the number of electric vehicles on the road does not automatically lead to climate-friendly mobility. The company understands that it is also crucial to reduce the use of primary material and the related environmentally harmful exploitation of resources and their often CO2-intensive processing – especially when it comes to car manufacturing, one of the most resource-intensive industries.

“2017 was the first time the world’s population consumed more than 100 billion tons of resources within a single year - a trend which we in the automotive industry must also counteract,” Zipse demanded. “This is a strategic issue, concerning not only ecological but also economic sustainability; the current development of commodity prices demonstrates the impact an industry that is dependent on limited resources must expect.”

With the number of battery-powered vehicles growing, there is increasing demand for many commodities such as cobalt, nickel and aluminium, which are required for the vehicles’ high-voltage batteries. However there is great potential for the reuse of materials in the sense of a circular economy and together with specialist partners, the BMW Group has already demonstrated that it’s technological feasible to achieve a recycling efficiency of over 90 percent.

The amount of secondary nickel used for the high-voltage battery in the BMW iX is already as high as 50 percent, with the battery housing containing up to 30 percent secondary aluminium. The BMW Group aims to improve these figures even further for future product generations.

In addition to the increasingly scare availability of primary materials and resulting commodity price increases, there are many sustainability reasons to use more secondary materials and move towards a circular economy.

The supply of secondary materials is considerably less CO2-intensive than is the case with primary materials and can significantly improve the CO2 footprint, especially within the supply chain. In the case of secondary aluminium, the CO2 saving compared with primary material constitutes a factor of approximately 4 to 6, whilst steel and thermoplastics lie between around 2 and 5.

The extraction of resources for primary materials – particularly through mining – has a significant impact on the basic regenerative capacity of ecosystems. This impact can be greatly reduced by increasing the use of secondary materials.

The mining and trading of conflict materials carries the possible risk of associated infringements of environmental and social standards. The BMW Group has established numerous measures to counteract this risk, including membership of the Responsible Minerals Initiative. However, the most efficient strategy for avoiding risks is to minimise the mining of such primary materials.

‘ Secondary First’: Crucial vehicle materials with high secondary content

As part of its holistic approach to sustainability, the BMW Group aims to increase significantly the percentage of secondary materials in its vehicles. On average, current vehicles are manufactured using almost 30 percent recycled and reusable materials. With the ‘ Secondary First’ approach, BMW Group plans to successively raise this figure to 50 percent.

Of course it’s crucial that the quality, safety and reliability of the materials comply with the same high standards as those existing for primary materials – and so it’s essential that the market availability of such high-quality materials increases considerably. In order to achieve this, cross-industry approaches and political initiatives are necessary.

Based on the four principles Re:think, Re:duce, Re:use, Re:cycle, the BMW Group is boosting its activities in the field of circular economy, an area where it’s carrying out pioneering work. For instance, vehicle production now involves the increased separation and recycling of crucial material groups, so these can be reused by the industry within the framework of ‘closed loops’.

Cooperation with BASF and the ALBA Group

Within the supply chain and depending on market availability, secondary materials are increasingly being used in BMW Group vehicles. Moreover, together with its partners, the company is providing important impetus when it comes to developing secondary materials. One example is the company’s pilot project with BASF and the ALBA Group for the increased recycling of plastics used in cars.

The aim of the project is to reduce the use of primary plastics by means of a comprehensive recycling system. To this end, the ALBA Group analyses end-of-life BMW Group vehicles to establish whether a car-to-car reuse of the plastic is possible. In a second step, BASF assesses whether chemical recycling of the pre-sorted waste can be used in order to obtain pyrolysis oil. This can be then used as a basis for new products made of plastic. In the future, a new door trim or other components could be manufactured from a used instrument panel, for example.

Closed loop rather than downcycling: ‘Circular Design’ as the basis of a circular economy

In order to achieve higher recycling rates and whilst also guaranteeing the high quality of secondary materials, the materials must be extracted in their purest form as early as possibly during the recycling process. For example, the onboard wiring systems must be easy to remove, in order to avoid mixing steel with copper from the cable harnesses in the vehicles. If this mixing does take place, the secondary steel loses its essential material properties and therefore no longer meets the high safety requirements of the automotive industry. To support this early and easy extraction of materials, the interior of a car must increasingly be made of monomaterials, so that at the end of the car’s lifecycle, as much as possible can be transferred back into the usable material cycle. Basically, reducing the number of materials can help to improve the quality of recycled materials. Currently, vehicles consist of about 8,000 to 10,000 different materials.

To achieve this, the BMW Group is now focusing on a ‘Circular Design’ concept, which is designed to guarantee the economical dismantling capacity of vehicles. It is essential that disassembly of the vehicle and its individual components is fast and cost-efficient to ensure that prices of secondary materials are competitive. It all starts with the construction of the vehicle, which must be done in such a way that allows materials to be removed at the end of the vehicle’s service life without different types of material being mixed with each other. 

RE:BMW at the IAA Mobility – a visionary outlook on circular economy

The BMW Group is putting circular economy at the centre of its presence at the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, where the company will offer a visionary outlook on the potentials of a circular economy and sustainable mobility. The BMW i Vision Circular embodies the company’s ambitious claim to be the most sustainable manufacturer for individual premium mobility.

This visionary vehicle, designed according to the four principles of the circular economy Re:think, Re:duce, Re:use, Re:cycle, shows how individual, sustainable and luxurious urban mobility could look in 2040. The BMW i Vision Circular is manufactured from 100 percent secondary materials or renewable raw materials, and is 100 percent recyclable.

This car demonstrates that climate protection and individual mobility do not necessarily contradict each other. On the contrary, it shows that using new technologies and innovation, the BMW Group can fulfill the planet’s requirements for greater sustainability without customers having to forgo individual mobility.

Hard on the heels of China's first manned space flight by Yang Liwei in
October this year, another technological landmark was broken today when
Ho-Pin Tung, together with the BMW WilliamsF1 Team, became the first
ever Chinese driver to test a Formula One car. The 21 year old from
Wenzhou, 500km south of Shanghai, earned the coveted opportunity to
test for the team after winning this season's Formula BMW Asia series
in dominant style. Today as his reward, he took to the wheel of a
WilliamsF1 BMW FW24 for 42 laps of the 4.428km Jerez de la Frontera
circuit, south west of Seville in Spain. "After driving a 140bhp
Formula BMW car last season, stepping into a 900bhp Formula One car was
terrifying as well as the fulfilment of a lifetime's ambition in equal
measure. It is of course a matter of some pride to also be the first
Chinese driver to get behind the wheel of such a prestigious Formula
One Car," said Tung at the end of the test session. Recounting
his experience the young driver reported that,"The atmosphere was
very calm and the team helped ensure I didn't get too nervous. Juan
Pablo Montoya and Marc Gené were great and helped answer all the
questions I had before getting in the car. I was stunned by the
performance of the car, it was like a drug, and I was also quite
surprised that I had no physical problems by the end of the session.
Afterwards I sat with the engineers to analyse the data which showed me
the difference between my performance and that of Juan and Marc.
Fortunately though, I discovered that we also have a few things in
common, which made me happy. Prior to today, Formula One was a dream,
now it has become a goal, and I sincerely hope that today's test
increases the interest in Formula One in China," he concluded.
Tung's performance was assessed by BMM Motorsport Director, Mario
Theissen. "We have been keeping our eyes on Ho-Pin for some time
now, and his twelve pole positions and ten wins from 14 starts this
year promises much. I am glad to say he handled his first Formula One
test in a very mature fashion. His approach and his improvements over
the course of the day did prove he has serious potential as a racing
driver". Tung was also praised by WilliamsF1's Chief Operations
Engineer, Sam Michael. "Ho-Pin assisted with our general test
programme today, driving the FW24. He worked well with the engineering
team and demonstrated a good degree of competence and ability over the
course of the day. His lap time was very respectable for someone who
hadn't driven anything like a Formula One car before today".
Ho-Pin's test with the BMW WilliamsF1 Team has taken on additional
significance ahead of the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on
September 26, 2004. Reflecting on the significance of Ho-Pin's maiden
Formula One test, BMW WilliamsF1 Team Principal Frank Williams said,
"The prospect of Formula One awakening the interests of a
substantial element of the Chinese TV population is something that I
personally find very stimulating. It is fortunate indeed that, just
prior to the inaugural Shanghai Grand Prix in 2004, Ho-Pin Tung has
made history as the first Chinese race driver ever to test a Formula One
car. I believe his engagement with the BMW WilliamsF1 Team in Jerez
will only serve to stimulate valuable interest in Formula One in one of
the few remaining virgin territories for the sport". Driving last
year's WilliamsF1 BMW FW24, Ho-Pin Tung achieved his best lap time on
lap 33 of 42 (1min22.082sec).