Les prototypes actuels du véhicule suivent actuellement un programme d'essais complet. Parallèlement, la prochaine phase d'assemblage du système de pile à combustible de troisième génération démarre à Munich, tandis que l'usine BMW Group de Steyr se prépare à la future production en série.

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CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

Munich. The launch of the Neue Klasse marks the first time BMW will offer an expanded portfolio of active safety assistance systems as standard across multiple model series. Among them is an exit warning function with active door opening delay, helping to prevent so-called dooring accidents. The BMW iX3 was the first Neue Klasse production model to feature these technologies, with further models including the BMW i3, BMW X5 and BMW 7 Series to follow.

"The broad rollout of our new active safety functions as standard is based on our 'Smart, Symbiotic, Safe' philosophy. We bring drivers and assistance systems together into a cooperative system that works in harmony. At BMW, active safety functions operate as quiet, intelligent companions in the background, discreet yet highly effective when it matters most in critical situations,” says Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President Driving Experience Development at the BMW Group.

Active safety assistance systems support drivers in critical driving, parking and exit scenarios. Analysis of customer-consented data from BMW’s intelligently connected vehicle fleet demonstrates that these functions contribute to greater road safety. In the last month alone, the fleet analysed* in Europe covered 1.6 billion kilometres. Customers were alerted to potential collisions around 8 million times through visual and acoustic warnings. In 243,977 cases, active steering and braking interventions by assistance systems helped prevent a potential collision.

BMW Symbiotic Drive takes driver assistance in BMW’s new vehicle generation to a new level by creating an intuitive partnership between driver and vehicle. The system understands the driver’s intentions through steering inputs and line of sight, enabling assistance functions to intervene only when necessary. As a result, functions such as the Lane Keeping Assistant only provide warnings or steering interventions when the vehicle detects an unintended lane departure or an imminent collision. When a manoeuvre is initiated deliberately by the driver, the system does not intervene, provided there is no foreseeable risk of a collision or the vehicle leaving the roadway. Indicators of driver intent include activating the turn signal, making an active steering input or performing a shoulder check.

The new BMW iX3 received the top rating of five stars in the latest safety test conducted by the independent testing organization Euro NCAP, significantly exceeding the required scores. The BMW iX3 was one of the first vehicles to be evaluated according to the test protocols that were fundamentally revised in 2026. The NCAP result confirms BMW’s holistic approach to safety.

New Exit Warning can prevent “dooring accidents” more effectively.

Dooring accidents occur when the door of a parked vehicle unexpectedly opens into the traffic lane. This is particularly dangerous for cyclists. According to the German Insurance Association, 8% of all bicycle accidents in Berlin in 2024 were related to dooring**. The exit warning has been standard equipment on many BMW models for years and alerts drivers to potential hazards with both audible and visual signals. With the launch of the Neue Klasse, this feature is being expanded as standard to include active door opening delay. Using side radars, the system continuously monitors the traffic area around the parked vehicle and detects approaching vehicles, bicycles, or other road users. If a risk of collision is detected, the electronic door lock specifically delays the opening of the door until the danger has passed.

New and enhanced features highlight BMW's expertise in safety. 

In addition to the cooperative Lane Keeping Assistant and the improved exit warning, numerous innovations and enhancements demonstrate BMW’s extensive expertise in active safety technologies. These systems are designed to provide reliable support when needed, while remaining discreet and non-intrusive in everyday driving. They include, among others: 

• For the first time, the emergency steering intervention automatically steer the vehicle around an obstacle while keeping it within its own lane – for example, if a person steps onto the road between two vehicles after a breakdown, or if a cyclist is overlooked in low-light conditions. This feature is currently unique among competitors.
• In situations with a risk of a side-impact collision, the emergency steering intervention also helps prevent accidents – for example, when another vehicle is getting dangerously close. A brief, active steering intervention gently steers the vehicle away from the object within its own lane, given  sufficient space to maneuver has been detected.
• The Emergency Brake Assistant with evasive steering support helps prevent imminent head-on collisions. It can automatically apply the brakes up to full deceleration. Thanks to improved sensor technology, the feature can also assist in situations involving animals on the road and wildlife crossings.
• The Road Priority Warning now assists drivers even more effectively by displaying recognized traffic signs in the BMW Panoramic Vision display directly in the driver's field of view. In addition to red traffic lights, yield signs, stop signs, and no-entry signs, this now also includes warnings at crosswalks.
• The Attentiveness Assistant with emergency stop can provide support in medical emergencies. If the driver camera detects that the driver is no longer fit to drive, the system temporarily takes control of the vehicle. It brings the vehicle to a controlled stop. In doing so, it automatically activates the hazard lights and triggers an eCall. The driver can override the system at any time.

More safety features parking and maneuvering. 

Enhanced and further refined safety assistance systems can also help prevent collisions during parking and manoeuvring.

• Active Park Distance Control can prevent collisions using ultrasonic sensors and surround-view cameras. The feature applies the brakes at the rear – and, for the first time, on the sides as well – to bring the vehicle to a stop when it detects stationary or moving objects.
• When backing out of a parking space onto busy streets – a maneuver that often offers limited visibility – the emergency braking function for cross-traffic can prevent serious accidents involving cyclists and other road users. The rear side radars scan the surrounding area. The rearview camera and the bird’s-eye-view display on the Central Display provide additional visibility.
• The standard start monitoring detects potential pedal misapplications. A typical example is confusing the accelerator with the brake. If the system detects an obstacle less than one meter away at speeds of up to 2 km/h and, at the same time, an unusually rapid and forceful depression of the accelerator pedal, it intervenes. The vehicle then brakes in a controlled manner, either forward or backward, until it comes to a stop.

BMW Panoramic iDrive provides clarity for the driver.

With the new generation of sensors and the improved Assisted View display in the BMW Operating System X, the current driving situation is presented with precision and in great detail. The visualizations are shown on the Central Display, the Panoramic Vision, or optionally on the 3D Head-Up Display. They help the driver intuitively grasp traffic conditions and detected objects and provide additional clarity regarding the currently active driver assistance systems and their interventions.

New high-performance computer integrates all driver-assistance functions.

With the new BMW iX3 and subsequent models, BMW is laying the technical foundation for the next generation of intelligent, symbiotic, and safe driver-assistance systems. All new active safety, automated driving, and automated parking functions are managed by the central “Superbrain of Automated Driving.” This water-cooled high-performance computer has approximately 20 times the computing power of the previous system.

New test site in Sokolov is paying off.

The “Future Mobility Development Center” (FMDC) test facility in Sokolov, Czech Republic, which opened in 2023, has made a significant contribution to the development of new active safety systems and driver-assistance features.

“The Future Mobility Development Center in Sokolov is much more than a proving ground for us. It is a central component of our development strategy enabling us to bring innovations in advanced driving assistance systems to series production quickly, safely and with a clear customer focus. This unique testing environment allows us to recreate real-world driving scenarios under highly demanding and reproducible conditions. As a result, we are reinforcing the BMW Group’s technological leadership for the long term.,” says Dr. Martin Sautter, Senior Vice President Vehicle Certification at the BMW Group.

At around 600 hectares, the BMW Group’s largest proving ground worldwide offers approximately 25 kilometres of test tracks for validating realistic driving and traffic scenarios under reproducible conditions. These range from urban traffic and motorway driving to automated parking manoeuvres. The state-of-the-art facility complements virtual driving simulations and millions of kilometres of testing on public roads in extreme heat, snow and ice across Europe, North America, South Africa and China.

* 1.3 million BMW vehicles equipped with the previous generation of driver-assistance technology, whose owners have given their active consent to data collection.
** According to the German Insurance Association (GDV), there were 392 "dooring" accidents in Berlin alone in 2024, accounting for just under 8 percent of all bicycle accidents in Berlin.

Q&A: Short Answers to the Most Important Questions

What is new in terms of active safety with the Neue Klasse?

With its new generation of driver-assistance systems, BMW is offering even more active safety features as standard across all model lines. These systems support driving, parking, and exiting the vehicle safely. They provide reliable support when needed, while remaining discreet and non-intrusive in the background in everyday driving.

What makes BMW's new exit warning special?

The new exit warning can detect approaching road users and actively delay the opening of the door if there is a risk of collision. This helps prevent dangerous “dooring” accidents, which occur when a car door is unexpectedly opened into the traffic lane. This is particularly dangerous for cyclists.

What does BMW Symbiotic Drive mean?

BMW Symbiotic Drive enables intuitive interaction between the driver and the driver assistance systems. All systems provide targeted support when a potential hazard is detected, while remaining quiet, intelligent companions in the background when no intervention is required.

What makes active safety assistance systems with BMW Symbiotic Drive special?

The system understands the driver’s intentions through steering inputs and line of sight, enabling assistance functions to intervene only when necessary. As a result, functions such as the Lane Keeping Assistant only provide warnings or steering interventions when the vehicle detects an unintended lane departure or an imminent collision.

What role does the new proving ground in Sokolov play?

BMW tests real-world driving and traffic scenarios there under reproducible conditions. This supports the development and robust validation of new assistance systems.

- Le deuxième modèle de la « Neue Klasse » entre en production en série à l'usine BMW de Munich - Les coûts de fabrication ont encore été réduits de 10 % - À partir de 2027, l'usine de Munich produira exclusivement des véhicules 100 % électriques

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CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

- Une étape majeure pour l'usine BMW Group de Debrecen - La montée en puissance la plus rapide jamais enregistrée pour une nouvelle usine du groupe BMW. - Forte demande pour la BMW iX3, premier modèle de la « Neue Klasse » - Collaboration intensive au sein du réseau de production

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Debrecen, Hungary. BMW Group Plant Debrecen has produced the 50,000th BMW iX3. Just nine months after the start of series production, the plant has thus reached an important milestone in the ramp-up of the first series-production model of the Neue Klasse.

“The 50,000th BMW iX3 underscores the capabilities of our plant in Debrecen: Never before have we built so many vehicles so quickly at a new plant. This milestone is the result of an outstanding team effort,” said Raymond Wittmann, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production.

The rapid ramp-up was significantly accelerated by the introduction of the second shift, which started in February 2026 – well ahead of schedule. This was the BMW Group’s response to the high demand the BMW iX3 has been experiencing since its market launch. Supported by strong customer orders, the company is on track to soon reach the next important milestone of 100,000 incoming orders.

New model, new architecture, new plant

As the first series-production vehicle of the Neue Klasse, the BMW iX3 also marks the start of a new vehicle architecture – in a completely newly built plant. The plant thus plays a key role in the further scaling of the Neue Klasse across the BMW Group’s production network.

“The production of the 50,000th BMW iX3 reflects the dedication and expertise of our team. As the home of the first series-produced Neue Klasse model, Plant Debrecen is helping shape the future of the BMW Group’s global production network,” highlighted Hans-Peter Kemser, President and CEO of BMW Group Plant Debrecen.

Plant Debrecen’s pioneering role – other plants benefit from its experience

The pioneering experiences from the launch of the first Neue Klasse model provide Plant Debrecen and the other BMW Group plants worldwide with valuable insights for the upcoming launches.

“Each of our plants benefits from launch experiences we have made at Plant Debrecen. By the end of 2027, we will launch 40 new or updated models. Efficiency, speed, and quality are crucial for the successful launch of all vehicles. Knowledge transfer between our production sites worldwide is a key lever,” said Wittmann.

To achieve this, the BMW Group relies on close collaboration among its production sites. Insights from one plant flow directly into the global network and support the ramp-up of further models. This enables potential quality deviations, for example, to be identified and avoided at an early stage – before they recur at another location. Digital tools and a shared database provide the foundation for this.

+++ Début de la production en série en décembre +++ Une production efficace grâce à l'intelligence artificielle et à la réalité virtuelle +++ Normes de qualité les plus strictes : une production de batteries « zéro défaut » +++

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Woodruff, South Carolina, USA. In December, the new BMW Group Plant Woodruff will begin series production of high-voltage batteries for the new fully-electric BMW iX5. As part of the vehicle’s world premiere, the company offered a first glimpse of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. With AI-supported production processes, digital twins and virtual reality applications, the new plant is setting industry standards for the assembly of high-voltage batteries.

Site strengthens electromobility in the US and footprint in South Carolina

“Plant Woodruff plays a key role in the ramp-up of electromobility in the US,” said Raymond Wittman, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production. “With our Gen6 high-voltage battery, we’re not only taking a major technological leap – we are also setting new standards in production. In Woodruff, we are combining cutting-edge processes, artificial intelligence and the expertise of our employees to create a production facility designed for the highest quality.”

“With Plant Woodruff, we are further expanding our footprint in South Carolina and strengthening the close integration of battery and vehicle production,” said Robert Engelhorn, President and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC. “This creates the ideal foundation for the next generation of fully electric BMW X models assembled at Plant Spartanburg.”

Intelligent production for maximum quality

The BMW Group has established state-of-the-art, intelligent and efficient production processes for its in-house developed sixth-generation (Gen6) high-voltage battery. The new cylindrical round cells are integrated directly into the high-voltage battery, based on the “cell-to-pack” principle. All production steps are continuously monitored inline and comprehensively documented in real time. In-house developed AI assistants and agents analyse this data and, together with more than 300 employees and 250 robots at Plant Woodruff, ensure the zero-defect battery production. At the same time, the extensive use of artificial intelligence enhances Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) in production. Well before commissioning, digital twins of production and virtual reality applications support planning and employee training.

Training in a virtual factory

All production staff at Plant Woodruff complete a VR training program developed on site. Within a virtual factory, they can practice real manufacturing operations under realistic conditions. This virtual environment replicates the plant’s production lines in meticulous detail, requiring only a set of VR goggles and a PC. The training helps employees develop an understanding of relevant processes and builds confidence in operating the equipment before using the actual manufacturing systems for the first time.

Just three years from start of construction to series production

Following the official groundbreaking in June 2023, construction of the new plant began in September 2023. In September 2024, while construction was still under way, installation of the manufacturing equipment commenced. Preparations for production started in summer 2025, and the first test and pre-series batteries have been rolling off the assembly line since then. The series launch is scheduled for December 2026. “Plant Woodruff demonstrates how quickly we can scale a new battery concept to industrial production,” said Rich Everly, Vice President of Production at BMW Group Plant Woodruff. “The key factor is the synergy between a skilled and dedicated team and the continuous exchange of experience within the production network.”

Gen6 battery cells with reduced carbon footprint

The Gen6 battery cells used in the BMW iX5’s high-voltage battery include a high proportion of secondary materials in the cobalt, lithium and nickel content. Renewable energy is also used in the production of anode and cathode materials, as well as in cell manufacturing. Compared with the Gen5 cell used in the BMW iX, CO₂e emissions have been reduced by around 28 percent per watt-hour. Plant Woodruff does not use any fossil fuels during normal operations, while the site’s industrial trucks are powered by hydrogen.

Global production strategy: local for local

Installation of the Gen6 high-voltage batteries takes place at five new production facilities, which the BMW Group is building close to its vehicle plants, in line with its “local for local” principle. In addition to Woodruff, state-of-the-art high-voltage battery assembly plants are also being built in Irlbach-Straßkirchen (Lower Bavaria), Shenyang (China) and San Luis Potosí (Mexico). The latest generation of high-voltage batteries has been in series production in Debrecen, Hungary, since October 2025. This “local for local” approach strengthens regional infrastructure and existing facilities and helps secure jobs. The global production network for high-voltage batteries benefits from close collaboration between the German pilot plants and series production facilities worldwide.

How the BMW Group assembles its Gen6 high-voltage batteries

The BMW Group sources battery cells for its high-voltage batteries from leading cell manufacturers. The highest technical standards apply. Upon receipt of goods, additional measurements – such as voltage checks – are carried out. Next comes so-called cell clustering, where the battery cells are connected to coolers. This step ensures optimal insulation and cooling of the cells. The cell clusters and cell contact system are then laser-cleaned and welded with pinpoint precision. The inline inspection continuously monitors each weld seam in real time. An innovative foaming process follows, ensuring that all elements are protected as a mechanical unit. The hardened foam guarantees the safety, stability and durability of the high-voltage battery. The housing is then closed, sealed and riveted. In the final assembly step, the Energy Master – the central control unit – is installed onto the high-voltage battery. A permanently elastic sealing adhesive is applied to ensure a reliable seal. Finally, each high-voltage battery undergoes a 100% end-of-line inspection. From Woodruff, the high-voltage batteries are transported to Plant Spartanburg, located just 15 miles away.

The BMW iX5's high-voltage battery: 800-volt, with high energy content

The first battery-electric BMW iX5 is based on sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology, featuring round cells and 800-volt technology. With an available energy content of 144 kWh in the US and 141 kWh in the EU (net), the BMW iX5 60 xDrive boasts the largest high-voltage battery of any fully-electric BMW model to date. Propulsion is provided by e-drives on both the front and rear axles, and by the electric BMW xDrive all-wheel drive.

+++ L'accent est mis sur le développement d'une pile logicielle reliant les données, la robotique et les applications dans la production de composants +++ Projet soutenu par des partenaires issus du monde universitaire et de l'industrie +++

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Landshut. The BMW Group is expanding its expertise in the field of physical AI, with BMW Group Plant Landshut taking on central software development tasks for AI-supported robotics in component production. The focus is on open software platforms, the generation, provision and processing of training data, simulation and motion planning, as well as the training of robotic systems. These activities complement the pilot projects already underway exploring the use of humanoid robotics at Plants Leipzig and Spartanburg.

Landshut is leveraging its role as a centre of expertise for in-house component production. The wide range of products and manufacturing processes provides ideal conditions for developing and evaluating new approaches using AI-supported robotics under real-world production conditions. At the heart of these activities is the question of which tasks will be suited to humanoid robotic systems in the future – particularly where flexibility, fine motor skills and an understanding of the working environment are required. For this purpose, Plant Landshut is developing software that enables robots to perceive their environment, evaluate situations and derive appropriate actions independently.

“At BMW Group Plant Landshut, we are combining software expertise with industrial practice in our component production. This allows us to test new technologies at an early stage and carefully evaluate their benefits for production,” says Dr Wolfgang Bluemlhuber, head of Driving Dynamics and In-house Component Manufacturing.

Technological foundations for AI-supported robotic systems
The starting point is further development of the software architecture. At its Landshut facility, the BMW Group relies on open platforms that enable the flexible and scalable training of robots by combining traditional (deterministic) programming with modern AI models (Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models), integrating visual information, language comprehension and robot actions. The goal is a modular robotics ecosystem in which diverse systems work together. This creates a technical basis for new functionality and a wide variety of industrial applications.

This requires reliable data. At Plant Landshut, the project team captures data from real production environments and test setups, and integrates it into robot simulations, in which movement patterns and motion planning are modelled virtually. This enables processes to be tested in advance and learning processes to be accelerated. New approaches are initially trialled outside of ongoing production, implemented in pilot projects and then scaled up in stages.

In parallel, humanoid robotic systems acquire new skill sets through demonstration-based learning. In this process, movement patterns and work sequences are first demonstrated by the project team. The data generated in this way is collected by camera systems, motion capture suits and data gloves. It is then converted into generalisable behavioural models – known as policies – that can be applied to different tasks and use cases.

“For us, it is crucial to develop the technology in very close alignment with real-world requirements. We are not just testing what is technically possible, but also where humanoid robotics can truly deliver reliable benefits in component production. This gradually creates a clear picture of which applications are suitable for industrial use,” says Christoph Jagoda, the Physical AI project manager at BMW Group Plant Landshut. 

Potential uses in component production
On this basis, Plant Landshut is working on applications for humanoid robotics in component production. The focus is on tasks requiring a high degree of flexibility, fine-motor skills and a good understanding of objects and working environments. This includes recognising and interpreting environments, determining position and status, planning efficient movements, and precisely gripping and moving components.

To refine the basic technology, the BMW Group is working closely at its Landshut site with partners from industry and academia. This includes, in particular, direct cooperation with Athenyx Robotics, a startup founded specifically for this field of technology that originated at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) at RWTH Aachen University and is located in close proximity to BMW Group Plant Landshut.

The tech company is developing AI-based software for intelligent robotic systems in conjunction with BMW Group specialists. The primary focus is on creating a so-called “intelligence stack” that integrates perception, learning, simulation and decision-making. The aim is to enable humanoid robots to perform complex tasks in industrial environments independently. This requires the systems to be able to perceive their environment, evaluate situations and derive appropriate actions accordingly. The platform-based approach means that acquired skills can be transferred across different robotic systems and use cases in the future.

In addition, Plant Landshut is collaborating with specialists the University of Applied Sciences Landshut – for example, on data generation, simulation and the development and testing of specific use cases.

Ce projet pilote permettra de démontrer, dans des conditions réelles, que les carburants renouvelables peuvent dès aujourd'hui être déployés à grande échelle en utilisant les véhicules, les infrastructures de ravitaillement et les technologies de certification numérique existantes.

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BMW Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Repsol and Bosch are launching a pilot in Spain to demonstrate under real-world conditions how existing vehicles can operate exclusively on 100% renewable gasoline.

-The six-month initiative, which began in July 2026, will deploy Toyota and BMW vehicles powered by Repsol’s Nexa 95 100% renewable gasoline, supported by Bosch’s digital fuel tracking system.

-The pilot will provide real-world evidence that renewable fuels can be deployed at scale today using existing vehicles, refuelling infrastructure and digital certification technologies.

Munich, 15 July 2026 – The BMW Group, in collaboration with Toyota Motor Europe (TME), Bosch and Repsol, today announces the launch of a pioneering six-month pilot project in Spain. The pilot, which started in early July, will demonstrate the real-world potential of Vehicles running Exclusively on Eligible Fuels (VEEF)*.

The initiative will deploy a fleet of around 20 Toyota and BMW vehicles, powered by Repsol’s 100% renewable gasoline (Nexa 95), and supported by Bosch’s advanced digital fuel tracking technology.

This pilot aims to provide tangible, real-world evidence that Vehicles Exclusively running on Eligible Fuels can be effectively deployed at scale, supporting Europe’s transition to decarbonise mobility through a complementary, technology-neutral approach while leaving no one behind.

"Technology openness is a key pillar of the BMW Group strategy – at the same time our goal is always to have more environmentally friendly and efficient vehicles on the road. Our vehicles as a part of this future oriented pilot, will help to gain valuable data helping us to offer our global customer the best and most efficient powertrain also in the future.” says Dr. Stefan Heller, Head of Development of the VEEF programme at BMW Group.

The pilot will focus on three key objectives:
-Availability of renewable gasoline in the market – leveraging Repsol’s infrastructure, currently the only provider of 100% renewable gasoline at public fuel stations in Spain
-Readiness of digital tracking and certification technologies – enabled by Bosch’s “Digital Fuel Twin” system, which certifies renewable fuel usage across the full lifecycle
-Operational deployment of VEEF fleets – demonstrating that existing vehicles can run today on 100% renewable fuels using existing infrastructure

Bosch’s system will collect and validate refuelling data from multiple sources, including vehicle data, fuel stations and fuel card transactions, ensuring robust, transparent tracking of renewable fuel usage.

“With our 'Digital Fuel Twin,' Bosch is bringing full digital transparency to the entire fuel value chain to reliably track and verify the renewable fuels from the moment they enter the market right down to the end consumer. By precisely monitoring fuel usage on individual vehicles in real-time, we are building the foundation of trust and regulatory compliance needed for higher acceptance of renewable fuels in the mobility and transport sector”, says Dr Marko Babic, Head of Product Area at Bosch– in charge of the Digital Fuel Twin.

A scalable solution using existing vehicles and infrastructure
Unlike solutions that require new vehicle technologies or infrastructure investments, the pilot uses existing Toyota and Lexus passenger cars provided by Toyota España (TES), and BMW Group fleet vehicles.

It highlights the immediate scalability of renewable fuels as a drop-in solution for decarbonising road transport. Repsol’s Nexa 95 renewable gasoline is produced from RED-compliant feedstocks, offering significant greenhouse gas reductions compared to fossil fuels, while remaining fully compatible with today’s gasoline engines and infrastructure.

Spain has been selected as the optimal location for this demonstration due to the availability of renewable gasoline, strong partner collaboration, and Toyota España’s operational support.

“At Repsol, we believe every emissions-reduction solution has a role to play in decarbonizing transport. This project underscores how renewable fuels can expand consumer choice, offering another way to reduce carbon footprints using existing vehicles and infrastructure. As the only company currently supplying 100% renewable gasoline at public service stations in Spain, Repsol is proud to contribute its expertise and infrastructure alongside Toyota, BMW, and Bosch. The project’s real-world data will demonstrate the value of a technology-neutral approach to Europe’s mobility transition”. – Estíbaliz Pombo, Deputy Director of Energy Products at Repsol

Strengthening the case for technology neutrality in Europe The pilot is designed to generate robust data and insights that will support ongoing European policy discussions on decarbonising the automotive sector.

With EU policy currently focused predominantly on electrification, the project aims to demonstrate that renewable fuels can play a complementary and scalable role in reducing CO₂ emissions. Data and intermediate findings from the pilot will be shared with EU policymakers, industry stakeholders and media audiences, contributing to discussions around technology neutrality and the potential inclusion of VEEF vehicles within future regulatory frameworks.

“We believe renewable fuels can play a key role alongside electrification in reducing CO₂ emissions. As the transition progresses, it is becoming clear that there is a growing risk that 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035 may not be fully achieved. In such a scenario, renewable fuels can help bridge the gap to deliver carbon neutrality, especially when combined with hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies. This pilot aims to demonstrate how renewable fuels can make a meaningful and sustainable contribution to decarbonisation today, for both new and existing vehicles.” — Pascal Ruch, Vice President Corporate & Governmental Affairs, Toyota Motor Europe

Driving measurable impact
A key success factor of the project will be promoting the effective use of renewable fuel across the fleet, supporting emissions reductions and advocacy impact. The pilot will also provide valuable insights for R&D validation and monitoring methods, the scalability of existing approaches for tracking physical fueling, and fuel operator’s ability to link fuel consumption to individual vehicles.

* Eligible fuels: Refers to renewable and low-carbon fuels that comply with EU sustainability criteria under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and deliver significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions on a well-to-wheel basis compared to fossil fuels. This includes sustainably produced biofuels and renewable fuels derived from waste, residues or renewable energy sources, as recognised in ACEA and FuelsEurope positions supporting the deployment of Vehicles Exclusively running on Eligible Fuels (VEEF).

+++ Le nouveau BMW X5 sera le premier véhicule proposé avec cinq options de motorisation +++ Le BMW iX5 est confirmé comme étant le premier modèle BMW entièrement électrique à être assemblé aux États-Unis à partir de fin 2026 +++ Milan Nedeljković, nouveau président du directoire du groupe BMW : « L'achèvement de nos investissements à Spartanburg et Woodruff témoigne de notre confiance envers les États-Unis et renforce le rôle de la Caroline du Sud au cœur des activités mondiales du groupe BMW » +++ D'ici 2030, le groupe BMW assemblera au moins six modèles entièrement électriques aux États-Unis +++ Les principes clés de la « BMW iFACTORY » sont mis en œuvre dans les usines de Spartanburg et de Woodruff +++
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Spartanburg, South Carolina. The BMW Group announced today the completion of a $1.7 billion investment in its South Carolina operations. The company celebrated the milestone at the "Home of X" event at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, reaffirming its longstanding commitment in the United States through continued investment and innovation leadership. With this milestone, BMW Group has completed the expansion of Plant Spartanburg and the construction of Plant Woodruff, establishing the foundation for the assembly of fully electric BMW vehicles in South Carolina. The United States remains one of BMW Group’s most important markets and business ecosystems worldwide.

The event also marked the world premiere of the new, fifth-generation BMW X5. BMW confirmed that the BMW iX5 will be the first fully electric BMW assembled in the United States, starting in late 2026.

"When we announced our investment plans for South Carolina in 2022, we made a clear commitment to the future of the BMW Group in the United States," said Milan Nedeljković, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW AG. "Today, we are delivering on that commitment. The completion of our investments in Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff demonstrates our confidence in the United States and reinforces South Carolina’s role at the center of BMW Group’s global operations."

Together, Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff form a highly integrated network supporting the future of BMW X model assembly and electrification in the United States.

Home of X.

Home of X recognizes the significant role the United States plays in BMW Group’s global operations. South Carolina is the home of BMW Group’s largest plant worldwide. For more than 50 years, BMW has maintained a strong commitment in the United States, growing its presence to nearly 30 locations across 12 states. Today, BMW Group’s business activities in the U.S. support more than 120,000 jobs nationwide and contribute more than $43.3 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

Established more than three decades ago, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg is the global center of competence for BMW X models. Since 1994, more than 7.3 million BMW vehicles have been assembled in South Carolina for customers in the United States and around the world. In 2025, 412,799 BMW X models were assembled at Plant Spartanburg – this marked the seventh time the plant has exceeded 400,000 units.

Approximately half of the plant's current production is exported to nearly 120 countries, helping to make BMW the leading automotive exporter in the United States by value. To date, nearly 3 million BMWs have been exported from the United States, valued at over $113 billion.

The completion of BMW Group’s $1.7 billion investment in South Carolina represents the latest chapter in the company’s longstanding commitment in the United States. Together, Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff will enable the assembly of the next generation of BMW X vehicles, including fully electric models, while strengthening BMW Group’s ability to serve customers around the world.

With two plants, over 400 suppliers, and many longstanding strategic partners across the country, the United States remains central to BMW Group’s global strategy. This foundation supports future growth, innovation, electrification, and customer choice for decades to come.

New BMW X5 Available in Five Drivetrains.

A centerpiece of the Home of X celebration was the world premiere of the new BMW X5. The X5 established the premium Sports Utility Vehicle segment and became one of the most successful products in BMW history. Since 1999, over 3 million BMW X5 models have been sold around the world, a third of which were sold in the U.S.

Assembled at Plant Spartanburg for over 25 years, the new BMW X5 becomes the first vehicle offered with five drivetrain technologies. The options span internal combustion, battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, diesel and, soon, fuel cell electric powered by hydrogen. This breadth reflects BMW Group's technology-open approach and commitment to customer choice.

"Our strategic course remains unchanged. We will continue to pursue the same technology-open strategy that has made BMW successful and will continue to make us successful in the future," continued Nedeljković.

Plant Spartanburg will be the first plant in the BMW Group’s global production network capable of assembling a single vehicle with five different drivetrain technologies on one assembly line, demonstrating the technology-open strategy at the highest level.

By offering a broad range of drivetrain technologies, BMW enables customers to select the vehicle that best suits their needs, driving habits, and preferences. This flexibility reflects BMW Group’s conviction that multiple technologies will play an important role in the transition to sustainable mobility.

"The new BMW X5 demonstrates our belief that innovation and customer choice go hand in hand," said Sebastian Mackensen, President & CEO, BMW of North America. "Our customers both in the U.S. and around the world will love the new BMW X5 – and our technology-open approach puts them in the driver’s seat to enjoy the performance and premium experience that define BMW, regardless of which drivetrain they choose."

BMW Group also confirmed that the BMW iX5 will be the first fully electric BMW vehicle assembled in the United States. Assembly is scheduled to begin at Plant Spartanburg before the end of 2026.

The announcement represents another important milestone in BMW Group’s electrification strategy. It fulfills a key commitment made as part of the company’s 2022 investment announcement. By 2030, BMW Group will assemble at least six fully electric BMW models in the United States, supported by locally assembled high-voltage batteries from Plant Woodruff.

"The future of BMW X models will continue to be shaped in South Carolina," said Dr. Robert Engelhorn, President & CEO, BMW Manufacturing Co. "From highly efficient combustion engines and plug-in hybrid systems to battery-electric and future hydrogen-powered vehicles, Plant Spartanburg will be able to assemble a broad range of drivetrain technologies for customers in the U.S. and around the world. This flexibility of Plant Spartanburg and our global production network strengthens our resilience, supports customer choice, and enables us to meet customer demand at any level."

Digitalization and AI in Production: Key Principles of BMW iFACTORY are implemented in Plants Spartanburg and Woodruff.

The BMW iFACTORY concept defines the BMW Group’s strategic vision for the future of its global production network, driven by efficiency, sustainability, and digitalization. At both Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff, the guiding principles of the BMW iFACTORY are already a reality.

Smart automation, end-to-end data integration, and virtual planning form a highly connected production system — with a highly skilled workforce at its core. Digital twins allow processes in both plants to be optimized long before the first component reaches the assembly line. 3D virtual simulations enable seamless implementation, reduce complexity, and enhance workflows and ergonomics for associates.

Artificial intelligence is deeply anchored in the assembly of both plants. AI-supported applications, including self-correcting robotics and vision-based quality controls, help ensure consistently high standards in a dynamic manufacturing environment. At both plants, AIQX (Artificial Intelligence Quality Next), an in-house IT platform at the BMW Group, is being applied. AIQX uses sensors and camera systems along the production line to automate quality processes. AI evaluates the data and provides real-time feedback to employees on the line.

At the same time, Plant Spartanburg is advancing the next stage of innovation through physical AI. By utilizing humanoid robots from Figure AI, Plant Spartanburg has become a pioneer of BMW’s Physical AI Initiative. These applications support associates in physically demanding and repetitive tasks, enabling greater focus on precision, craftsmanship, and quality that define every BMW vehicle.

At Plant Woodruff, the BMW Group is deploying intelligent, next-generation manufacturing powered by cutting-edge technologies — first proven in virtual environments. Guided by the BMW iFACTORY principles, the new plant also reduces complexity and sets new standards in high-voltage battery assembly. Following the “Cell-to-Pack” principle, the cells are assembled directly into the housing without the former processes of cell coating and cell module production.

All in all, innovative technologies at both plants support and protect people. In doing so, digitalization enhances production performance, resilience, and the flexibility and adaptability needed to meet the mobility demands of today and tomorrow.

Le BMW Highway Assistant* est largement utilisé au quotidien et, grâce à son concept de sécurité éprouvé, permet une conduite assistée mains libres sur les autoroutes et les voies rapides dans un nombre croissant de pays.

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+++ Utilisation d'ensembles de données industrielles pour l'entraînement des modèles d'IA +++ L'IA améliore l'analyse des simulations de collisions +++ Allier expertise technique et capacités avancées en matière d'IA +++

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Munich / Paris.  The BMW Group and Mistral AI are partnering to advance the use of AI in crash simulation. The aim is to improve quality, accuracy and speed in complex engineering tasks. The collaboration marks a first step towards scaling domain-specific AI across further areas of vehicle development and the BMW Group value chain.   

+++ La production en présérie de l’« Energy Master » destiné à la BMW iX5 Hydrogen démarre dans l’usine du Groupe BMW à Landshut +++ Parallèlement, une deuxième ligne de production dédiée à l’Energy Master des BMW électriques de la Neue Klasse est mise en service +++ L’usine renforce ainsi son rôle dans le domaine des technologies de propulsion électrique à batterie et à hydrogène +++

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Landshut. BMW Group Plant Landshut has started pre-series production of a key control unit for the BMW Group hydrogen drivetrain. The so-called “Energy Master” will in future be used in the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen. At the same time, the site is commissioning a second production line for the control unit used in the battery-electric vehicles of the Neue Klasse (BMW iX3 and BMW i3).

The Energy Master is the central control unit of the high-voltage system. In battery-electric vehicles, it is mounted on the high-voltage battery. In the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, a modified version performs a central control function within the drivetrain system and is installed on the BMW Hydrogen Flat Storage system. The control unit combines energy and data flows, manages the power supply for the e-machine and on-board electrical system, and ensures safe, intelligent operation of the overall system. This makes it the key interface between the fuel cell system, the innovative high-voltage battery and the electric drive machines.

Josef Hochreiter, Vice President Hydrogen Vehicles at the BMW Group: “Our ambition for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is clear: a genuine BMW – with sheer driving pleasure. To achieve this, a perfectly coordinated overall system is crucial. The Energy Master is a key component in this: it intelligently controls the innovative high-voltage battery and, together with the third-generation fuel cell system, delivers assured driving dynamics.”

The plant’s expertise creates synergies between battery-electric and hydrogen-based drivetrain technologies. The close integration of electrical/electronics expertise and industrial series production makes the plant ideally suited to manufacture components for both technology paths. At the BMW Group, the development and production of the Energy Master are being carried out fully in-house for the first time.

Thomas Thym, Head of BMW Group Plant Landshut: “With the start of pre-series production of the hydrogen-specific Energy Master, we are reinforcing Plant Landshut’s role as a centre of expertise for innovative drivetrain technologies. Here we combine development, manufacturing expertise and industrial scaling – for battery-electric vehicles as well as hydrogen fuel cells.”

Landshut’s role in electromobility
BMW Group Plant Landshut is home to two production areas for the Energy Master. For battery-electric vehicles (BEV), the highly complex control unit has already been in series production since last year – currently for the BMW iX3 and BMW i3 models of the Neue Klasse. With the commissioning of the second production line, capacity for this will almost double. At the same time, pre-series production of the hydrogen-specific Energy Master for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is now beginning.

In addition, Landshut plays a central role in the BMW Group hydrogen drivetrain network: the media distribution plate and the fuel cell stack housing for the current pilot fleet of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen were already produced here and have since been further refined. The media distribution plate ensures the precise distribution of hydrogen and air within the fuel cell, while the stack housing structurally integrates and protects the cell stack.

The new BMW iX5 Hydrogen
For the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, which will be launched in 2028, the BMW Group is introducing a new hydrogen tank concept. The arrangement and size of the tanks enable a range of up to 750 kilometres*. The BMW Hydrogen Flat Storage system makes particularly efficient use of the available installation space and is compatible with the Gen6 high-voltage battery without taking up interior space. This makes it possible to produce fuel cell models on the same production line as vehicles with other drive systems.

The BMW Hydrogen Flat Storage technology forms part of the drivetrain. Together with the fuel cell system and an innovative high-voltage battery, it delivers the brand-typical BMW driving pleasure. The latest generation of fuel cell technology (Gen3) will also be used; it is more compact, more efficient and more powerful than all previous generations and is being developed jointly by the BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation.

Series production of the fuel cell systems will begin from 2028 at BMW Group Plant Steyr; Landshut is firmly integrated as a technology and component location.

The BMW Hydrogen strategy
The BMW Group sees technological openness and a broad product portfolio as key success factors. By integrating fuel cell technology into the new BMW X5 series, the company is strategically expanding its series offering and making the advantages of hydrogen available to customers.

Hydrogen stands for electric driving with long range and fast refuelling, diversifies energy sources and reduces dependence on a single infrastructure or raw material supply chain.

Investment and funding strengthen Germany as an industrial location
Through the "HyPowerDrive" project the development of the powertrain and the tank system of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) within the framework of the IPCEI Hy2Move. The federal government is providing funding of EUR 191 million. In addition, the project is (co-)financed by the state of Bavaria with a total of EUR 82 million. The funding is implemented by the Project Management Jülich (PtJ) and coordinated by NOW GmbH.

Since 2020, the BMW Group has invested a high three-digit million-euro sum in expanding electromobility and related key technologies at Plant Landshut.

CO2 emissions & consumption.

* As this is a prototype in the development phase, the statutory WLTP consumption data (and EPA) is not yet available.

+++ La production ouverte à toutes les technologies reste un principe directeur +++ L'électromobilité connaît une croissance rapide à l'échelle mondiale +++

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Munich/Dingolfing. One out of two million: A BMW i5 M60 xDrive sedan in Tansanit Blue assembled at Plant Dingolfing is the two-millionth all-electric vehicle produced by the BMW Group. The anniversary vehicle is going to a customer in Spain.

BMW Group Plant Dingolfing: home to the most all-electric models

Plant Dingolfing began series production of all-electric automobiles in 2021 with the BMW iX. Today, it builds the widest range of BEV models within the BMW Group: the BMW iX, the BMW i5 sedan and touring, and the BMW i7. Since 2021, more than 320,000 all-electric vehicles have already been built at the Lower Bavarian site. This means that almost every sixth of the BMW Group’s total of two million BEVs comes from Dingolfing. In 2025, more than a quarter of the vehicles produced at Plant Dingolfing were all-electric.

Clear strategy with maximum flexibility

As part of the BMW iFACTORY, the BMW Group continues to pursue a technology-open approach in its plants: vehicles with different powertrains are flexibly produced in a mixed build on a single production line. For several years now, at least one all-electric model has been rolling off the line at every German BMW Group plant - e-mobility has become the new normal across the company’s production network. In doing so, the BMW Group is making a significant contribution to Germany being the world’s second-largest production location for electric cars today.

+++ Intégration optimale de la technologie hydrogène +++ Géométrie innovante de l'espace d'installation +++ Cinq variantes de motorisation pour un seul modèle +++ Production hautement flexible +++ Le plaisir de conduire typique de BMW +++

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CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

+++ Quand la tradition rencontre l'avenir : 104 ans d'existence et les technologies les plus récentes +++ La production en série de la nouvelle BMW i3 débutera en août 2026 +++ D'autres modèles suivront +++ À partir de 2027, une usine dédiée aux véhicules entièrement électriques +++

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Munich. BMW Group Plant Munich is approaching the biggest milestone in the transformation process: series production of the BMW i3, the second model in the Neue Klasse range, gets underway here in August. This marks the start of the rollout of the Neue Klasse within the BMW Group’s global production network.

“We have been making rigorous preparations. With the BMW iFACTORY we have devised a consistent, strategic framework for our production,” explains Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Production. “We have paved the way for the upcoming start-ups in all our plants and have invested heavily in technologies, digitalisation and AI.”

BMW Group Plant Munich has undergone extensive modernisation in recent years. The result is a plant that now works even more efficiently, flexibly and digitally, and is optimally positioned for the requirements of electric mobility and the Neue Klasse.

But that’s not all: as of 2027, the Munich plant will exclusively produce all‑electric vehicles and thereby achieve a further boost in efficiency. This is assisted by proactive planning, close collaboration with development teams and suppliers, as well as modern production technology in the new structures. “We have considerably reduced production costs over recent years. With the start of production of the BMW i3, we will reduce overall production costs at the Munich plant by a further 10 per cent, bringing them below the level of the current vehicle generation,” says Peter Weber, Head of BMW Group Plant Munich. In addition to optimised production processes and targeted automation and digitalisation, the new vehicle architecture of the Neue Klasse also ensures efficiency.

Plant Munich is investing around 650 million euros in its transformation into a fully electric production site.

Highly efficient production at historic site

Plant Munich has been consistently reinventing itself for more than 100 years – from a location outside the city to today’s site surrounded by it. The facility has undergone a fundamental process of redevelopment for the Neue Klasse – with production of up to 1,000 vehicles a day continuing during this period. A new body shop and state-of-the-art vehicle assembly including new logistics areas were set up on an area spanning around a third of the plant’s footprint. Extensive updates have also been made to existing technologies.

Plant manager Peter Weber highlights what the workforce has achieved: “The people at the factory played an essential role in making this transformation a success. With their high level of expertise, enthusiasm and tremendous dedication, our employees have shown that world-class industrial production is possible even under the toughest conditions. The BMW i3 is just the beginning – several Neue Klasse models will be manufactured in Munich in the future, including the BMW i3 Touring.”

A vision for all technologies: the BMW iFACTORY

The BMW iFACTORY focuses on the areas of efficiency, sustainability and digitalisation. Within this framework, the company’s plants around the world are implementing site-specific solutions and, in so doing, strengthening the company’s resilience as well as its ability to deliver reliably at any time and worldwide. This vision has now also been consistently implemented across all technologies at BMW Group Plant Munich.

“We have rethought the entire value stream from supplier to finished customer vehicle. We have looked at every single process in detail and made optimisations. Now our plant is even more efficient, more flexible and even more digitised than ever before. We are thereby safeguarding the future viability of the plant,” adds Peter Weber.

In the press shop, steel and aluminium boards are turned into tens of thousands of components on highly automated press lines daily. Uniform press and tool standards across the global production network result in efficiencies on many levels: installation and integration of the systems are standardised, tools for the presses can be swapped within the network, and employees can work at various locations and help each other. An AI-assisted camera system supports quality control before an underground transport system moves the parts to the body shop. Output has increased significantly compared with previous structures. Cuts of steel and aluminium are collected, sorted and then used to manufacture new steel or aluminium coils.

Plant Munich has set up a new body shop for the Neue Klasse featuring systems planned and realised using a virtual twin. A total of 800 new industrial robots take care of the joining processes here; decreasing the number of joining processes to five reduces process complexity. With an automation rate of around 98 per cent, robots perform the majority of standardised processes. Automated surface inspection (ASI) assists with quality assurance.

In the paint shop at Plant Munich, digital and AI-assisted systems control central quality processes. Automated surface inspection (ASI) uses cameras and artificial intelligence to detect even the most minor deviations on the surface and documents them digitally. Automated surface processing (ASP) works on the variations detected directly during the running process. To purify the exhaust air, the paint shop uses the energy-efficient, electrically powered eRTO process. This is complemented by heat and energy recovery as well as water-saving cycles.

What once was the home of engine manufacturing at BMW Group Plant Munich has become a new assembly area for the Neue Klasse. The assembly area is set up for end-to-end digital processes: vehicles, systems and tools are interconnected and digital live tracking and automated inline quality checks support employees in the assembly line process. During assembly already, the BMW i3 digitally transmits the status of up to 20,000 features to the production system. Ergonomic workstations, height-adjustable systems and simplified processes lighten the load for employees, while targeted training supports new digital fields.

Aspart of the transformation, logistics at BMW Group Plant Munich has focused squarely on efficiency and direct integration of production. The logistics department at the Munich plant moves around 2.5 million parts every day; in future around 70 per cent of these parts will be delivered directly to the assembly workstations. This will reduce internal transport distances, save space and accelerate supply to the production lines. This is made possible by a multi-storey building structure developed specially for the plant’s city location. Delivery is at ground level and then conveyor technology transports the parts to the right levels, where they are distributed directly to the assembly workstations. This enables the principle of direct delivery to be applied systematically even in a multi-storey plant. At the same time, the level of automation in logistics has been significantly increased. Automated supply systems, smart transport robots and driverless transport systems will handle around 60 per cent of supply tasks in the future. A digital logistics control station manages all processes centrally, ensuring transparency and data-driven optimisation.

Unique to Plant Munich is the in-house seat manufacturing facility. It is a “plant inside a plant” and takes on a central role for quality assurance and expert evaluation within the production network. The seats for all versions of the models produced in Munich are manufactured here and delivered to vehicle assembly directly and “just in sequence”. The in‑house seat manufacturing facility is regarded as the benchmark for quality assurance across the BMW Group. Modern, largely automated processes ensure seamless quality control. This is complemented by fully automated end-of-line checks, including for safety-relevant components. The seat manufacturing facility also systematically strengthens the BMW Group’s in-house expertise. It serves as a competence centre and innovation hub, tests new materials, technologies and manufacturing concepts, and supports the evaluation of costs, quality and production processes – making an impact far beyond the Munich location.

Global network, regional value creation: high-voltage batteries and e-drive

With the new assembly plant for high-voltage batteries in Irlbach‑Straßkirchen (Lower Bavaria, Germany) around 90 minutes away, the BMW Group is significantly boosting value creation in the Bavaria region. In keeping with the “local for local” approach, Irlbach-Straßkirchen will deliver high-voltage Gen6 batteries to the Munich plant as well as other German locations. Here, the batteries will be installed in the BMW i3. Manufacture of the high-voltage batteries combines a rigorous zero-defect approach with the latest production technologies, which were developed at Bavarian pilot plants. With seamless inline quality controls, digital twins and the systematic use of artificial intelligence, the BMW Group is setting new standards in battery production.

The Gen6 e-motor for the BMW i3 is produced at BMW Group Plant Steyr in Austria – a location that has been manufacturing drivetrains for over 40 years. With the first e-motor in the portfolio, the plant is developing its role as a prime example of technology openness. All core components of the highly integrated e-drive – from the rotor and stator to the inverter and transmission – are produced on-site. New production lines and state‑of‑the‑art clean room environments have been set up for this. The aluminium foundry at BMW Group Plant Landshut supplies the e-motor housing for Plant Steyr.

+++ Le centre de recyclage et de démantèlement (RDC) du groupe BMW va devenir un centre de compétences dédié à la circularité +++ Renforcement de l'économie circulaire, de l'utilisation efficace des ressources et du développement technologique +++ Un signal fort pour l'avenir du site de Wackersdorf +++

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Munich/Wackersdorf. The BMW Group is relocating its Recycling and Dismantling Centre (RDC) from Unterschleißheim to the company’s Wackersdorf site, with a significant expansion. At the new location, a technologically state-of-the-art competence centre for circularity is being built, advancing vehicle dismantling and recycling expertise for the future. Commissioning is scheduled for early 2029.

“The circular economy is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy,” says Jörg Lederbauer, Vice-President Circular Economy, Spare Parts Supply High Voltage Battery and Electric Powertrain at the BMW Group. “Our new competence centre in Wackersdorf will be a core component of our circular value chain and will help make the mobility of the future more resource efficient. We want to find the best way to keep materials in the cycle, ensuring that resources retain their value for further use in the long term. This will also reduce our dependence on primary raw materials. At the same time, the use of high-quality secondary materials will continue to significantly lower our vehicles’ carbon footprint.”

For more than 30 years, at its current location in Unterschleißheim, near Munich, the BMW Group Recycling and Dismantling Centre (RDC) has developed methods aimed at achieving significant advances in the recycling of parts and the recovery of materials, and has tested them in practice. The insights gained by the RDC into the recyclability of components and materials, in line with Design for Circularity principles, are already incorporated into product development at the BMW Group. These insights also feed into the cooperation with PreZero, which the BMW Group recently entered into in order to leverage the strategic and economic potential of the circular economy in end‑of‑life vehicle recycling. 

The recycling industry’s global network also benefits from the work of the RDC. Around 3,000 businesses in 32 countries rely on a shared recycling database for information on how recyclable components can be disassembled cost-effectively and valuable materials efficiently recovered.

At the future site, process, material and technology development will be even more closely integrated with vehicle recycling operations. The new scope of activities at the Competence Centre Circularity includes the recycling of hydrogen vehicles, automation of dismantling processes and development of expertise in innovative shredding and sorting technologies.

The BMW Group sees Wackersdorf as the ideal new location for the Competence Centre Circularity, with BMW Group Plant Wackersdorf having embodied flexibility for decades: Housing cockpit production, the Rolls-Royce door and flap production centre, parts supply for overseas plants and the battery testing centre, the site has wide-ranging expertise and is firmly established within the BMW Group network.

“In recent years, the company has set a decisive course for the future of the Wackersdorf location. Throughout this process, the entire plant team has consistently demonstrated flexibility. Building the competence centre for circularity here provides our site with a broader foundation. In this way, we are tapping into an attractive, future-oriented area of activity,” says Stefan Betz, head of BMW Group Plant Wackersdorf.

“The company is systematically continuing its successful transformation. Establishing the new Competence Centre Circularity here represents an important strategic decision by the company in favour of the Wackersdorf location – and, above all, its employees. As employee representatives, we also supported this,” says André Mandl, Works Council Chairman for BMW Group Plants Regensburg and Wackersdorf.

“In Wackersdorf, BMW has been a strong partner by our side for many decades. We are delighted that the BMW Group is reaffirming its commitment to the location with this move. It sends a clear signal for our site and for sustainable future technologies,” says Thomas Falter, Mayor of Wackersdorf.

“The cutting-edge Competence Centre Circularity will make a major contribution to regional value creation and further development of the circular economy,” adds Thomas Ebeling, District Administrator of Schwandorf District. “In combination with the trechnology transfer centre planned for Wackersdorf by the Regensburg University of Applied Sciences and the University of Applied Sciences Amberg Weiden, close integration of business and academia on the circular economy will now also be possible. In this way, we are strengthening the region.”

Following the location decision, the detailed planning phase for the Competence Centre Circularity at the new site can now begin. The existing RDC in Unterschleißheim will remain fully operational until the relocation. The BMW Group will provide further information on the next steps in due course.

Bornem. Il s'agit donc de voitures électriques qui ont été rechargées au moins une fois en Belgique au cours de l'année écoulée. Ensemble, elles ont représenté 9,7 millions de sessions de recharge. BMW est présent sur le marché des voitures électriques depuis 12 ans, mais l'âge médian du parc (à peine 1,83 an) montre que la transition à grande échelle vers la conduite électrique est encore récente. Le kilométrage médian de 24 000 kilomètres le confirme également.

Néanmoins, l'impact de la conduite électrique sur nos émissions locales est énorme : au total, les BMW et MINI électriques belges ont parcouru pas moins de 2,867 milliards de kilomètres. Par rapport à une voiture à moteur à combustion qui émet 150 grammes de CO2 par kilomètre via son pot d'échappement, cela représente une économie totale de plus de 430 000 tonnes de CO2 qui n'ont pas été émises sur les routes belges. Cela correspond à 0,5 % des émissions totales de CO2 de la Belgique en un an (2023).

Les Belges qui conduisent une BMW ou une MINI électrique n'attendent pas que leur batterie soit presque vide : en moyenne, seulement 2 % des sessions de recharge sont lancées lorsque la voiture a une autonomie inférieure à 30 kilomètres. La plupart des Belges branchent leur voiture lorsqu'il leur reste plus de 30 % de capacité de batterie.

Enfin, il s'avère que les Belges sont des « rechargeurs du vendredi ». Avec 16,24 % de toutes les sessions de recharge lancées, le vendredi est le jour de la semaine le plus populaire où les Belges (avec le week-end en perspective) branchent leur voiture électrique. Les voitures électriques semblent également profiter du repos dominical car c'est le jour où les Belges rechargent le moins leur BMW ou leur MINI (11,92 % des sessions de recharge lancées).

A propos du BMW Group

Avec ses marques BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce et BMW Motorrad, le BMW Group est le leader mondial en matière de construction de voitures et de motos et de fourniture de services financiers et de mobilité haut de gamme. Le réseau de production BMW Group compte plus de 30 sites dans le monde entier et dispose d'un réseau de distribution mondial avec des bureaux dans plus de 140 pays.

En 2024, BMW Group a réalisé plus de 2,45 millions de voitures et plus de 210 000 motos dans le monde. Le résultat avant impôt de l’exercice 2024 s’établit à 11,0 milliards d’euros, pour un chiffre d’affaires de 142,4 milliards d’euros. Au 31 décembre 2024, l’entreprise employait 159 104 collaborateurs et collaboratrices dans le monde.

Une réflexion sur le long terme et une conduite responsable sont depuis toujours le fondement du succès économique du BMW Group. La durabilité constitue un élément important de la stratégie d'entreprise du BMW Group, de la chaîne d'approvisionnement à la fin de la phase d'utilisation de tous les produits, en passant par la production.

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Bornem. L’électrification continue de progresser. Si l'on examine les commandes reçues au cours de l'année écoulée, celles-ci ont atteint pour la première fois 55 % chez BMW en 2025, ce qui préfigure favorablement les immatriculations pour les mois à venir. BMW Belux prévoit une augmentation des commandes électriques à environ 60 % pour 2026, portée par l’accueil enthousiaste du BMW iX3 électrique, premier modèle de la Neue Klasse, qui inaugure une nouvelle ère de mobilité électrique numérique et connectée.

Il est également à noter que les clients du leader du marché BMW passent de plus en plus directement à la mobilité entièrement électrique, sans passer par l’étape hybride. Alors que les hybrides rechargeables représentaient encore plus d’un tiers des commandes en 2023, ce pourcentage est tombé à 13 % en 2025. La part des véhicules essence et diesel est restée stable autour d’un tiers des commandes ces trois dernières années, et cette tendance devrait également se poursuivre en 2026.

Alexander W. Wehr, CEO de BMW Group Belux, déclare : « La forte croissance des BMW électriques sur le marché belge reflète clairement notre ambition et la confiance de nos clients en une mobilité plus durable. Parallèlement, BMW Group reste fidèle au principe de ‘technology openness’. Nous ne croyons pas à une solution unique pour l’avenir de la mobilité, mais embrassons un large éventail de technologies de propulsion, des véhicules entièrement électriques aux hybrides, en passant par les modèles essence, diesel et même hydrogène. Cette approche polyvalente nous permet de répondre de manière flexible aux besoins divers de nos clients et aux différentes conditions du marché, tout en travaillant ensemble pour une mobilité durable et innovante pour tous. »

A propos du BMW Group

Avec ses marques BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce et BMW Motorrad, le BMW Group est le leader mondial en matière de construction de voitures et de motos et de fourniture de services financiers et de mobilité haut de gamme. Le réseau de production BMW Group compte plus de 30 sites dans le monde entier et dispose d'un réseau de distribution mondial avec des bureaux dans plus de 140 pays.

En 2024, BMW Group a réalisé plus de 2,45 millions de voitures et plus de 210 000 motos dans le monde. Le résultat avant impôt de l’exercice 2024 s’établit à 11,0 milliards d’euros, pour un chiffre d’affaires de 142,4 milliards d’euros. Au 31 décembre 2024, l’entreprise employait 159 104 collaborateurs et collaboratrices dans le monde.

Une réflexion sur le long terme et une conduite responsable sont depuis toujours le fondement du succès économique du BMW Group. La durabilité constitue un élément important de la stratégie d'entreprise du BMW Group, de la chaîne d'approvisionnement à la fin de la phase d'utilisation de tous les produits, en passant par la production.

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Munich/Salching. The new Cell Recycling Competence Center (CRCC) in Salching in Lower Bavaria has now been officially commissioned – marking a major step forward in implementing innovative direct recycling as a joint project between the BMW Group and Encory GmbH. For construction and operation of the new Competence Center, the BMW Group and Encory are relying on regional partners.

Innovative direct recycling enables reuse of battery raw materials

Direct recycling allows residual materials from battery cell production, including complete battery cells, to be mechanically dismantled. The raw materials are not entirely reverted to their original state, but are instead “directly” fed back into the cell production cycle. This direct recycling methodology, developed by experts from the BMW Group, therefore eliminates the conventional, energy-intensive chemical or thermal processing previously required. At the new CRCC, direct recycling will be scaled up and introduced in stages until, once fully operational, the annual volume of battery cell material recycled will be in the mid-double-digit tonne range. Going forward, the recovered raw materials will be directly reused in pilot production of battery cells at the company’s own Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) in Parsdorf.

Direct recycling: A process for the future

“Our direct recycling process puts us at the forefront of the industry,” explains Markus Fallböhmer, SVP of Battery Production at BMW AG. “This technology has tremendous potential to further optimise battery cell production.” It is also conceivable that, for the first time, cell manufacturers could be enabled to use direct recycling in series production.

Joint venture runs Competence Center – IP remains with BMW Group

An existing hall owned by the company Sturm in Salching in Lower Bavaria (Straubing-Bogen district) will be used for the new Competence Center. In addition to the production area and warehouse space of around 2,100 m², the building also offers just under 350 m² of offices and break rooms, as well as photovoltaic systems on the roof. While the Competence Center will be built and operated by Encory GmbH, the intellectual property for the recycling method is fully owned by the BMW Group. As a joint venture between the BMW Group and the Interzero Group, Encory will develop and implement logistics and consulting solutions, including for recovery, recycling and reconditioning of vehicle components. Both partners hold a 50-percent stake in the company. The new Competence Center will employ about 20 people.

Strong partners from the region

With the exception of one Swiss company, only German firms were contracted for the construction and operation of the Competence Center. Nearly half of these companies are located within a 100-kilometer radius of Salching.

Optimal location for new Competence Center in Bavaria

The BMW Group consolidates its battery cell expertise at its Competence Centers in Munich, Parsdorf and Salching. The Battery Cell Competence Center (BCCC) in the north of Munich offers state-of-the-art labs and research facilities for developing the battery cells for next-generation high-voltage batteries and producing them in small quantities. The best battery cell from the BCCC will be scaled up for series processes on a pilot line at the Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) in Parsdorf. Recycling of surplus material from pilot production in Parsdorf will take place at the new Cell Recycling Competence Center (CRCC) in Salching. The recovered raw materials will then be reused in cell production, ensuring short distances between all Competence Centers and preventing valuable raw materials from being lost. Following on from the BCCC and CMCC, the CRCC thus represents the next step in the BMW Group’s battery cell strategy on the road to the circular economy.

Circular economy at the BMW Group

The BMW Group views the circular economy as one of the key issues in shaping more resource-efficient mobility. Its approach is aimed at finding the best ways to keep materials in the cycle – ensuring that resources are not lost, but retain their value for long-term use. The BMW Group applies the principles of Re:Think, Re:Duce, Re:Use and Re:Cycle. From vehicle design and production, to recycling and reuse, everything is geared towards ensuring that vehicles can serve as a source of raw vehicles at the end of their use phase. The BMW Group is taking steps to increase the percentage of recycled materials. It returns selected production residues to the material supplier or material processor, enabling their recovery and reintroduction into a new manufacturing process. In this way, recycled and reused materials are already making their way into BMW Group vehicles today. The circular economy requires holistic thinking – from product design, all the way through to vehicle recycling. 

+++ Over 18 million BMW 3 Series built worldwide +++ Manufactured at 18 plants in 13 countries since 1975 +++ A driving force for the production network and a trailblazer for the BMW iFACTORY +++

Munich. Built on four continents, the BMW 3 Series has been one of the most important products in the BMW Group’s international production network for 50 years. Since manufacturing began in 1975, the BMW 3 Series has rolled off the assembly line more than 18 million times at 18 plants across 13 countries. Core themes of the BMW iFACTORY – such as efficiency, flexibility, digitalisation and resource-efficient production – thread consistently throughout the production history of the BMW 3 Series.

BMW Group Plant Munich: Origins and role as a technology pioneer

The main plant in Munich has been the centre of BMW 3 Series production since 1975. From an early stage, the BMW Group committed to flexible manufacturing at the site, enabled by modern technologies, such as overhead conveyor systems and freely programmable welding machines. A fully-automated body shop was introduced in Munich in 1982 for the second generation of the BMW 3 Series. Through the use of industrial robots, it was possible to achieve an automation rate of more than 90 percent for this technology. Supplemented by flexible shift systems and modified work-time models, capacity increased significantly. Continuous modernisation, from powder coating technologies to computer-controlled engine production, ensured that the facility always remained state-of-the-art. Today, the plant deploys numerous digitalisation applications and AI-supported quality systems. In this way, the BMW 3 Series has consistently been a major driving force for the technological development of BMW Group production.

BMW 3 Series as a driver of growth and internationalisation

Volume growth at the plants was also influenced by the BMW 3 Series. In 1980, 3 Series production expanded from the main plant in Munich to Plant Dingolfing, and later to Plant Regensburg in 1986. The BMW 3 Series also provided the momentum for the internationalisation of BMW production. In the 1980s, additional production lines were established at other sites, including Rosslyn, South Africa (from 1984) and Spartanburg in the United States (from 1994). These locations enabled local supply for their respective markets and laid the foundations for the company’s global distribution of value creation – today, a key feature of the BMW Group production network.

The BMW 3 Series – an enabler for new plants

Since the opening of the Regensburg plant, the BMW 3 Series has served as the enabler for all new BMW plants – with the exception of the facility in Debrecen. The plants in Spartanburg, Leipzig and San Luis Potosí, as well as the BBA joint venture in China, all initially ramped up with the BMW 3 Series. Over the decades, various 3 Series derivatives – ranging from sedans and convertibles to Touring and M versions – have been produced at nearly all BMW Group plants with maximum flexibility. Multiple derivatives and different drive technologies – vehicles with internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and fully-electric drive trains – all come off the same assembly line.

Today, the seventh generation of the BMW 3 Series is produced in Munich, Shenyang (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico) and at the company's own regional plants in Chennai (India), Rayong (Thailand) and Araquari (Brazil), as well as at partner plants in further countries.

Preparations for the eighth generation of the successful model series are proceeding in parallel: A fully-electric version of the BMW 3 Series will ramp up at Plant Munich from the second half of 2026 as the next vehicle of the NEUE KLASSE, with subsequent production in China and Mexico. A return of the BMW 3 Series to Plant Dingolfing is also planned.

Seven generations of the BMW 3 Series across the production network (full plants)

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Sandra Schillmöller, Head of Communications Production Network BMW Group

Cell phone: +49-151-601-12225

Email: Sandra.Schillmoeller@bmwgroup.com

Martina Hatzel, Communications Production Network BMW Group

Cell phone: +49-151-601-11966

Email: Martina.Hatzel@bmwgroup.com

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

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 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 2024, the BMW Group sold 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key component of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy – from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products. 

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Munich. Comfortably rest your hands in your lap and initiate overtaking maneuvers with a glance in the wing mirror – BMW customers will soon be able to experience this in many more European countries with the Highway Assistant*. The BMW Group is the first car manufacturer in Germany to receive approval for driver assistance systems for the new BMW iX3 in accordance with UN Regulation No. 171 for Driver Control Assistance Systems (DCAS). The DCAS regulation provides an international legal framework for innovative Level 2 driver assistance systems with a focus on customer safety. The approval enables the BMW Group to offer the Highway Assistant* with Level 2 "hands-off" function in numerous other models and countries in the future, as well as with an extended range of functions. Further innovative assistance functions will also follow for urban driving scenarios. The current generation of the Highway Assistant has just been awarded the Tech Award in the "Comfort assistance systems" category by the German car magazine "auto motor und sport".

Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President Driving Experience Development:

"The safety-oriented DCAS-regulation ensures that we can launch our Highway Assistant with hands-off function in many more countries. Further innovative assistance systems with our special, symbiotic approach between vehicle and driver will follow. We are creating a perfect interplay between rule-based algorithms and artificial intelligence. The driver remains involved, our systems are controllable at all times, and their behaviour is reproducible."

When the Highway Assistant is activated, drivers can take their hands off the steering wheel permanently at speeds of up to 130 km/h, but must remain attentive and ready to intervene. The system assists with vehicle guidance within its own lane and can also change lanes automatically if necessary - all the driver needs to do is confirm this with a glance. The new DCAS approval also enables even more extensive functions. With active BMW Maps route guidance, the system suggests a lane change in good time at Motorway junctions and exits, which can be confirmed with a glance in the wing mirror. The Highway Assistant remains active when driving through freeway junctions and until the end of freeway exits. This means that drivers of the BMW iX3 can enjoy Level 2 driver assistance in even more situations without touching the steering wheel.

The Highway Assistant of the previous technology generation celebrated its premiere in the current 5 Series Sedan in 2023. The BMW Group had received a limited exemption from the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Germany for the approval of the system. With DCAS approval, exemptions are no longer required, and the systems can be offered throughout Europe and in other ECE countries.

BMW Symbiotic Drive: next-generation symbiotic driver assistance.

In addition to the new possibilities offered by the DCAS regulation for driver assistance systems, the BMW Group continues to consistently design its systems so that driver and driver assistance work together symbiotically. BMW Symbiotic Drive creates a seamless transition between assistance and driver input and reaches the next level of development in the “Neue Klasse” vehicles. In addition to symbiotic steering, the BMW iX3 is the world's first model with symbiotic brakes. With active driver assistance, the driver can influence the system individually at any time according to their wishes by lightly intervening in steering and braking without switching off the driver assistance. The system remains active to provide support. The innovative power of the symbiotic brake is underpinned by more than two dozen BMW Group patent applications resulting from the development of these technologies.

* The Highway Assistant will be available in Germany for market launch of the BMW iX3. Other countries and functions will follow. The availability, range of functions and system limits of the Highway Assistant may vary from country to country.

CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

BMW iX3 50 xDrive WLTP energy consumption combined: 17,9 - 15,1 kWh/100 km; WLTP CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO2-class: A; WLTP electric range: 679 - 805 km.

Luxembourg / Munich. The BMW Group is using its presence at the "Fleet Europe Days" on 22 and 23 October in Luxembourg to show fleet operators ways to decarbonise their fleets. In addition to fully electrified vehicles, the focus will be on fuels based on renewable raw materials.

Their advantage: the potential to save CO₂. With more than 250 million existing vehicles in Europe, their CO₂ footprint can be improved if the proportion of renewable fuels is increased. A new technical solution used by the BMW Group is proof that all BMW diesels in a fleet are fuelled exclusively with HVO100. Refuelling data from the vehicle is compared with data from the fleet operator's payment system. This means that the fuel used by the vehicle can be traced seamlessly. An important step towards an "HVO100 only fleet" for fleet customers.

Dr. Martin Kaufmann, Head of Powertrain Development at the BMW Group: "Our goal is always to have more environmentally friendly and efficient vehicles on the road. With the diesel replacement fuel HVO100, we have an opportunity to reduce the CO₂ footprint of vehicle fleets. Especially in the area of fuels that are not based on fossil fuels, we see a potential that we are ready to realise.”

Bernhard Kuhnt, Head of Sales Region Europe, BMW Group: "Fleet customers are extremely important for sales in Europe and at the same time diesel remains a very good powertrain technology for many fleets.

The use of HVO100 offers a way to quickly reduce CO₂ emissions that takes into account individual use cases - whether driving long distances or towing a trailer - and can thus help our fleet customers reduce their CO₂ footprint."

Initial contractual agreements with the operators of large BMW diesel fleets in Germany and Italy are imminent. These test fleets, together with the internal BMW Group fleet that has already been launched, will provide important data and findings for the further improvement of the technical solution.

HVO100 used in the first fuelling of all diesel produced in Germany

Since January 2025, all diesel models produced in Germany are being fuelled with HVO100 before delivery to dealers. This step underlines BMW's commitment to making decarbonisation possible and achievable today. The abbreviation HVO stands for 'Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil' and the suffix '100' indicates that it is filled with 100 per cent pure fuel.

 
"Neste MY Renewable Diesel™" HVO100 is used at the BMW Group plants in Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg and Leipzig.

The fuel from Finnish manufacturer Neste enables a CO2e reduction of up to 90 per cent ("well to wheel") compared to fossil diesel. The initial filling at the plants before delivery to the BMW Group dealer organisation is five to eight litres, depending on the model.

For the BMW Group, technological openness is a top priority. "Options instead of bans" is its motto. The company continues to invest in a broad portfolio - from battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells to highly efficient combustion engines that can run on renewable fuels.

The BMW Group has long approved its vehicles for a variety of renewable fuels - including HVO100, B10 and eFuels according to the EN590 standard for diesel engines, and E25 and eFuels according to the EN228 standard for petrol engines.

Regulatory framework conditions must catch up

Regulation must catch up. To accelerate the uptake of renewable fuels across the market, the BMW Group is calling for an ambitious implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), including national quotas that require at least a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from fuels, to be transposed into national law by 2025.

Dr. Thomas Becker, Head of Policy, External Relations and Sustainability at the BMW Group, says: "The BMW Group demands that every measure to reduce CO₂ emissions is taken into account at every stage of a vehicle's life cycle. This also includes the use of renewable fuels - especially for vehicles that primarily run on CO₂-neutral fuel (CNF). These must be formally recognised in EU fleet legislation. The fuels are available, what we need now is a pragmatic and quickly implementable regulation that enables companies to develop innovations and make them marketable."

Munich. BMW Charging and MINI Charging have partnered with Digital Charging Solutions GmbH (DCS) to present an innovative fleet application that greatly simplifies the monitoring and centralised billing of vehicle charging for companies.

This solution links the charging accounts of the fleet vehicles with a central company account. Charging for each driver is automatically invoiced and consolidated into one payment for the company. Fleet drivers can take advantage of the same features, tariffs and brand experiences as private customers.

The introduction of this new fleet solution from BMW Charging and MINI Charging marks another milestone in the electrification of corporate fleets. Specially designed for small and medium-sized companies with up to 50 electric vehicles, it provides an efficient and user-friendly charging solution – and features a central overview that shows all charging sessions and combines them into a single invoice. Businesses benefit from a solution with no setup costs that offers automatic reimbursement for fleet drivers. 

Implementing the fleet solution is quick and straightforward. First, fleet managers create a company account with CHARGE NOW to register their company. Then fleet drivers create a business customer account including a charging contract with BMW Charging or MINI Charging and activate the option for bill payment by the company. Finally, the fleet manager links the driver accounts to the company account, enabling centralized and automated billing. 

This solution optimises charging cost management for electric fleets, reduces the administrative workload and improves cost transparency.

Fleet managers benefit from consolidated invoicing for all charging sessions as well as a central dashboard for monitoring up to 50 vehicles from different brands.

Fleet drivers, meanwhile, enjoy a consistent user experience offering the same functions (e.g. Plug & Charge), tariffs and brand experiences provided for private customers – thanks to seamless integration in the vehicle and the My BMW App or MINI App.

Once activated, charging sessions are automatically paid by the company, without any need for private advance payments or manual refunds. 

The solution was launched in August of this year in eleven European markets: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. They were followed in September by Sweden, Norway, Poland, Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Hungary and Finland. 

Further information can be found via the following link:

CHARGE NOW | Réseau chargement | Belgique

Leipzig. L'usine BMW Group de Leipzig prévoit la construction d'une canalisation d'hydrogène, ce qui lui permettra de devenir la première usine automobile au monde à être alimentée en hydrogène par canalisation. Des contrats ont déjà été signés avec MITNETZ GAS GmbH et ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH. La liaison d'environ 2 kilomètres de long sera construite par MITNETZ GAS et comprendra un système de mesure et de pression du gaz, qui reliera à terme l'usine au futur réseau central d'hydrogène. BMW et ONTRAS sont en train de convenir du raccordement approprié au réseau d'hydrogène. La liaison devrait commencer à fournir de l'hydrogène à l'usine à la mi-2027.

Une fois le pipeline en place, l'usine de Leipzig n'aura plus besoin d'être approvisionnée en hydrogène par camion. « Grâce à l'approvisionnement par pipeline, nous pourrons utiliser l'hydrogène de manière totalement nouvelle, en particulier pour nos processus les plus énergivores, tels que nos fours de cuisson dans l'atelier de peinture », explique Petra Peterhänsel, directrice de l'usine BMW Group de Leipzig.

En octobre 2022, l'usine de Leipzig a mis en service un brûleur à combustible flexible dans son atelier de peinture, une autre première mondiale dans la production automobile. Aujourd'hui, elle exploite au total onze brûleurs bivalents de ce type, alimentés de manière flexible au gaz ou à l'hydrogène.

En 2013, Leipzig a également introduit des chariots élévateurs et des trains remorqueurs alimentés par des piles à combustible à hydrogène et exploite désormais une flotte intralogistique comprenant plus de 230 véhicules de ce type, la plus grande d'Europe. Ils font le plein dans neuf stations-service à hydrogène situées dans les halls de l'usine.

Le réseau central d'hydrogène est un projet d'infrastructure national qui comprendra environ 9 000 kilomètres de canalisations d'hydrogène. Il sera mis en service par étapes, atteindra sa pleine capacité d'ici 2032 et reliera l'Allemagne au réseau transrégional d'hydrogène.

Si vous avez des questions, veuillez contacter :

Jochen Müller, Communications BMW Group Usine de Leipzig

Mobile : +49-(0)151-60743152

E-mail : Jochen.Mueller@bmw.de

Kai Lichte, responsable de la communication BMW Group Usines de Leipzig, Berlin, Eisenach

Téléphone : +49-(0)341-445-38000

Mobile : +49-(0)176-601-51240

E-mail : Kai.Lichte@bmwgroup.com

BMW Group

Avec ses marques BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce et BMW Motorrad, le BMW Group est le leader mondial en matière de construction de voitures et de motos et de fourniture de services financiers et de mobilité haut de gamme. Le réseau de production BMW Group compte plus de 30 sites dans le monde entier et dispose d'un réseau de distribution mondial avec des bureaux dans plus de 140 pays.

En 2024, BMW Group a réalisé plus de 2,45 millions de voitures et plus de 210 000 motos dans le monde. Le résultat avant impôt de l’exercice 2024 s’établit à 11,0 milliards d’euros, pour un chiffre d’affaires de 142,4 milliards d’euros. Au 31 décembre 2024, l’entreprise employait 159 104 collaborateurs et collaboratrices dans le monde.

Une réflexion sur le long terme et une conduite responsable sont depuis toujours le fondement du succès économique du BMW Group. La durabilité constitue un élément important de la stratégie d'entreprise du BMW Group, de la chaîne d'approvisionnement à la fin de la phase d'utilisation de tous les produits, en passant par la production.

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Debrecen. With an impressive ceremony that artistically combined Hungarian culture and modern automotive production, Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, today officially opened the BMW Group plant in Debrecen. The BMW Group’s newest and most innovative production site marks the beginning of a new era for the company. In late October, the new BMW iX3 will enter series production in the Hungarian university town of Debrecen as the first vehicle of the Neue Klasse. Plant Debrecen was planned virtually and realised in practice fully in line with the principles of the BMW iFACTORY, becoming the first BMW Group car plant to rely entirely on electricity from renewable energy during normal operation.

In addition to Oliver Zipse, high-ranking representatives from Hungarian politics, such as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Mayor of Debrecen, László Papp, as well as Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management for Production, Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources and Real Estate, and Hans-Peter Kemser, President and CEO BMW Manufacturing Hungary Kft., attended the grand opening.

“In our global production network, our new plant in Debrecen is a pioneer: It is our first fully-electric plant, the first production site to operate entirely without fossil fuels – and the first to build vehicles for the Neue Klasse. This makes our plant in Debrecen a decisive factor in the BMW Group's future success,” said Oliver Zipse. “The opening also sends a strong signal: We are expanding our footprint on our home continent and reaffirming our commitment to Europe as a strong and competitive location for industry.”

Hans-Peter Kemser added at the ceremony: “This is not only a new BMW Group plant – it is a cornerstone of progress. We are a partner to culture, to education and to the University of Debrecen, where together we foster the talents that will shape the future. And above all, it is a community – deeply embedded in the life of Debrecen and Hungary.”

Strengthening the industrial base and expanding training

The official opening ceremony began with a look back at the plant’s construction, following a 2018 decision that launched one of Hungary’s largest greenfield investments. The BMW Group’s first Central European location has firmly placed Debrecen on the region's automotive map, creating more than 2,000 direct jobs – and many more along the supply chain, at regional suppliers and service providers that have recently established themselves in Debrecen, alongside national and international companies. The new plant has also strengthened the industrial park and driven additional investment in transport and infrastructure.

At the same time, through collaborations with institutions such as the local university and the Vocational Training Centre of Debrecen, DSZC, Plant Debrecen has also become one of the largest training hubs for dual education programmes in Hungary.

Only the best of the best for Debrecen

Plant Debrecen is the first BMW Group production site not tied to a specific primary plant. Instead, it serves as a network plant, combining best practices from different locations worldwide. For example, the press shop is modelled on the systems used in Spartanburg (USA) and Swindon (Great Britain), with their know-how and technologies further refined for Debrecen. In the body shop, the positioning of nearly 1,000 industrial robots, along with their processes, was digitally simulated in detail beforehand. The number of joining methods was also significantly reduced, with further streamlining allowing design features for the Neue Klasse to be integrated early in development.

Paint shop key to largest reduction in CO₂e emissions

At BMW Group Plant Debrecen, the paint shop plays a critical role in significantly reducing the BMW iX3’s CO₂e footprint. Production of the new BMW iX3 will generate a total of about 80kg CO₂e (scope 1/2 emissions). This figure covers CO₂e emissions from Plant Debrecen, as well as in-house parts production at other BMW Group facilities, including components manufactured in Landshut, for example. This represents a reduction of approx. two-thirds compared to production of existing BMW derivatives. For Plant Debrecen alone, this approach will reduce CO₂e emissions from the manufacture of a vehicle, including its high-voltage battery, by around 90% – to about 34 kg CO₂e (when operating at full capacity, compared with other BMW Group facilities).

About a quarter of the plant's annual power needs will be supplied by the 50‑hectare on-site photovoltaic system, one of the largest in Hungary. Surplus solar energy, such as that generated on non-working days, is stored in a 1,800 m³ thermal storage system with a capacity of 130 MWh.

Digitalised assembly processes and smart “finger structure”

Complete digitalisation of production processes further boosts assembly efficiency – for example, sensors and camera systems along the production line are used to automate quality processes. AI evaluates the data and provides real-time feedback to employees on the assembly line. The building's “finger structure” – an optimised version of BMW Group Plant Leipzig – allows 80% of parts to be delivered directly to the correct point of assembly on the line. In-house logistics are fully electric.

High-voltage battery assembly in line with “local for local” principle

High-voltage batteries are assembled directly on site, allowing for short distances in line with the “local for local” principle. Plant Debrecen will be the first of five plants worldwide to begin series production of Gen6 high-voltage batteries at this location. Seamless in-line quality inspections and 100% end‑of‑line monitoring enable a consistent zero-defect approach.

Final photo with employees and two BMW iX3s

The opening ceremony concluded with a music and dance performance celebrating Hungarian culture and traditions, which the BMW Group also supports through local events and organisations. To wrap up, numerous employees joined Viktor Orbán and Oliver Zipse on stage, alongside two new BMW iX3s.

+++ Une approche ouverte sur le plan technologique comme facteur de réussite stratégique +++ Une première chez BMW : cinq variantes de motorisation dans un seul véhicule +++ Initiative HyMoS pour promouvoir le développement d'écosystèmes hydrogène locaux +++

//

Munich. The BMW Group is launching a vehicle with five different drivetrain technologies. The new BMW X5 will be the first model to offer customers a choice of battery electric, plug-in hybrid, petrol, diesel, and hydrogen fuel cell technology. The HyMoS (Hydrogen Mobility at Scale) initiative is designed to promote the development of hydrogen ecosystems and refueling stations in metropolitan areas and aims for an initial pilot implementation in Germany.

“By launching the new BMW X5 with a choice of five drive system variants, we are once again demonstrating our leading position as a technology pioneer,” says Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development at an BMW event in New York. “Hydrogen has an essential part to play in global decarbonisation, which is why we are committed to driving the technology forward.”

Technology-open approach is a strategic success factor

Product diversity continues to be a key success factor for the BMW Group. A wide-ranging portfolio of drive systems – encompassing ICE engines, plug-in hybrids, battery electric drive systems and, starting with the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen in 2028, hydrogen fuel cell technology – lays the foundations for successfully meeting the varying demands and needs of customers worldwide both now and in the future.

Flexible manufacturing structures and high levels of integration expertise enable this array of drive technologies to be implemented efficiently in the new BMW X5 range in terms of development, purchasing and production. This means the BMW model line-up will include two types of fully electric drivetrain (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell) from 2028, underlining the rigorous application of the brand’s technology-open approach.

The new BMW iX5 Hydrogen

Following successful testing of the pilot fleet worldwide, the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen* will enter the market as the brand’s first-ever series-produced hydrogen-powered model. “The new BMW iX5 Hydrogen will be a true BMW - pioneering in its class and delivering the BMW typical driving pleasure,” says Michael Rath, Vice President Hydrogen Vehicles BMW Group.

The drive technology is based on the third-generation fuel cell system that the BMW Group is developing in collaboration with the Toyota Motor Corporation.

This technological advance paves the way for a system with a more compact design that is also more powerful and efficient, thereby increasing range and output at the same time as reducing energy consumption.

Benefits of hydrogen-powered technology

Hydrogen is recognized as a promising future energy carrier for global decarbonization. It acts as an effective storage medium for renewable energy sources, helping to balance supply and demand and enabling a more stable and reliable integration of renewables into the energy grid. Hydrogen is the missing piece for completing the electric mobility puzzle where battery electric drive systems are not an optimal solution.

HyMoS initiative: alliance for strengthening the hydrogen infrastructure

As well as developing the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen, BMW is also actively involved in efforts to expand the hydrogen refueling network. The HyMoS (Hydrogen Mobility at Scale) initiative was established to support hydrogen ecosystems for mobility in cooperation with industry and institutional partners. The aim of this initiative is to increase the economic viability of hydrogen mobility ecosystems by pooling the demand for all types of vehicles, including trucks, buses and passenger cars. This will help to reach an optimal distribution and usage of hydrogen stations. The initiative supports existing hydrogen ecosystem projects in achieving their full potential by sharing experiences across projects and providing ground support of its industry partners. A pilot phase started with the support of existing ecosystems in Germany and France to gather experiences for deployment to further metropolitan areas and a potential later expansion to other countries.

CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

+++ Première usine automobile du groupe BMW à fonctionner entièrement à l'électricité issue d'énergies renouvelables; aucune utilisation de combustibles fossiles +++ L'utilisation d'électricité dans l'atelier de peinture permet de réduire les émissions de CO₂e liées à la production du BMW iX3 +++ Une iFACTORY typique : planification et tests virtuels, processus et structures efficaces, utilisation intelligente de l'IA +++ Batteries haute tension assemblées sur place +++

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CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

Munich. BMW Group Plant Steyr is getting ready for series production of fuel cell systems. The third generation of the BMW Group’s hydrogen drive system will be manufactured in Steyr from 2028, and the company’s competence centres in Munich and Steyr are already building the first prototypes. Further drive system components will come from the technology hub in Landshut.

“The launch of the first-ever fuel cell production model from BMW in 2028 will add another exceptionally efficient high-performance drive system with zero emissions to our technology-open product portfolio,” says Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development. “The choice of Steyr as the production location clearly demonstrates our commitment to a European innovation footprint. The BMW competence centres in Munich and Steyr have a key role to play in the development of pioneering fuel cell systems.”  

The third-generation BMW fuel cell system: more compact, more powerful, more efficient 

The first generation of the fuel cell drive system was supplied entirely by the Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and was fitted in the BMW 535iA back in 2014. The second generation made its debut in the current BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet. This time, BMW developed the overall fuel cell system itself, while the individual fuel cells came from Toyota. 

For the new generation, the BMW Group and the Toyota Motor Corporation jointly develop the powertrain system for passenger vehicles, with the core fuel cell technology creating synergies for both commercial and passenger vehicle applications. This close collaboration enables both companies to leverage synergies in development and procurement while creating brand-specific models.

The third generation of fuel cell technology brings some major improvements:

• Compact design: The space taken up by the fuel cell system has been reduced by around 25%. A considerable increase in power density has enabled a much more compact construction compared to the preceding generation.  
• High degree of integration: The third generation can be seamlessly integrated into future vehicle architectures. This paves the way for a technology-open approach that will make it possible to offer customers a variety of drive system variants in future. 
• Optimised components and increased efficiency: The system is set to be substantially more efficient than its predecessor. This is being achieved by upgrading individual component parts that are based on the drive technology jointly developed with Toyota and by improved operating strategies. These advances result in increased range and output combined with lower energy consumption, which represents a significant improvement over the second generation. 

Technological expertise at the BMW Group in Munich

The BMW Group is making prototypes of the highly efficient fuel cell systems at the company’s competence centre for hydrogen in Munich. An electrochemical reaction takes place in the fuel cell, which involves hydrogen from the tanks reacting with oxygen from the air. This reaction produces electricity that powers the electric motor and thereby supplies the vehicle with energy. 

The fuel cell system comprises not only the fuel cells themselves, but also all the components and systems needed for their efficient operation. These include the cooling system and hydrogen- and air subsystems. The compact layout ensures the entire drivetrain delivers the levels of performance and safety for which BMW is renowned. 

Prototype production is currently focused on development and validation of the assembly and testing processes, with particular attention paid to industrialisation, quality assurance and scalability in the longer term. In parallel to this, the prototypes are being used to develop operating strategy and for validation on both a system and vehicle level. These steps are crucial in preparing fuel cell technology for series production. 

Series production at BMW Group Plant Steyr

Production of the fuel cell systems is due to get underway in 2028 at BMW Group Plant Steyr, which can call on decades of development and production expertise covering all drive system types across the BMW Group model range. New test rigs and production facilities are now being built and buildings modified to incorporate the new drive technology and constantly refine it. 

“We are proud to be producing another innovative drive technology at Plant Steyr in future alongside the latest generation of electric motors and combustion engines,” says Klaus von Moltke, Senior Vice President Engine Production at BMW AG and Director of BMW Group Plant Steyr. “This, together with the development expertise we have available on-site, makes our plant a prime example of the BMW Group’s technology-open approach.” 

Component manufacture at BMW Group Plant Landshut

BMW Group Plant Landshut is responsible for manufacturing key components for the fuel cell vehicles. Construction of new hardware and equipment for series production of the hydrogen-specific BMW Energy Master will start there in late May 2026. The BMW Energy Master controls the supply of power in the vehicle across a range from 400 – 800V. It also acts as the interface for data from the high-voltage battery. This control unit is supplemented by various components that are specifically required for the fuel cell application. Production of the first prototypes of the hydrogen-specific Energy Master will begin in mid-2026 just a few miles away at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, where the prototypes of the BMW Energy Master for the Neue Klasse models were also made.  

As with the BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet, Plant Landshut will once again manufacture the housing and pressure plate for the next model generation. 

+++ Award in the category "Supplier" for outstanding interaction of lean management, digitalization, and innovative power +++ Martin Frensch, Senior Vice President of Body, Exterior Trim and Interior in the purchasing and supplier network at BMW Group: "Lean before Digital is our guiding principle for efficient and forwardlooking production." +++

Landshut/Wackersdorf. The cockpit production at the BMW Group plants in Landshut and Wackersdorf will be awarded with the  Automotive Lean Production Award in the category "Supplier". The  jury was impressed by the outstanding ensemble of lean management, digitalization, and innovation in the interior components production at the BMW Group. The award will be presented at the 19th Automotive Lean Production Congress on November 25 and 26, 2025, in Poznań, Poland.

Smart production of cockpits: increased flexibility and efficiency in the production and supply chain.
With highest precision, employees at the BMW Group plants in Landshut and Wackersdorf manufacture interior components for the BMW 1 Series, 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, and 7 Series, as well as the BMW iX. Every day, several thousand instrument panels and glove boxes leave the two component plants. "Technological know-how, highly automated production processes, AI-supported quality controls as well as lean value streams form the foundation for efficient work in this field of production," explains Wolf Duwenkamp, Vice President Purchasing, Quality, Production Cockpit and Door Panels at the BMW Group plants in Landshut and Wackersdorf.

Excellent processes, digital transformation and highest quality standards.
The production process at the cockpit production of the BMW Group plants Landshut and Wackersdorf is based on the PULL principle. The workstations where sequencing begins are optimally supplied through self-regulating control loops, ensuring a smooth material flow. The digital transformation of employee roles, such as the mobile operator, demonstrates the close collaboration between humans and machines and brings out additional benefits. Automated end-of-line inspections using AI-supported camera systems, allow an early detection and elimination of potential sources of error.

“Lean before Digital is our guiding principle for an efficient and forward-looking production in the component manufacturing. The combination of excellent processes, digital transformation, and the highest quality standards forms the foundation of our success. By sharing our knowledge, we actively contribute to the global supplier qualification, ensuring robust industrialization of all partners,” explains Martin Frensch, Senior Vice President of Body, Exterior Trim and Interior in the purchasing and supplier network at BMW Group. “To remain competitive, we must continuously question and develope ourselves. The Automotive Lean Production Award shows that we are benchmark, which is something to be proud of,” Frensch adds.

About Automotive Lean Production – Award & Study.
The goal of the joint project by AUTOMOBIL PRODUKTION and Agamus Consult is to demonstrate how the European automotive industry leverages the potentials of lean and digitalization. For 19 years, companies – both OEMs and suppliers – have been participating in a benchmark study, facing international competition for the prestigious Automotive Lean Production Awards with the guiding  principle “Learning from the best!”.

In the event of enquiries please contact:

BMW Group, Corporate Communications

Carolin Seidel, Press Spokesperson BMW Group Plant Landshut
Email: Carolin.Seidel@bmwgroup.com, Phone: +49 151 601 90340

Stefanie Schindler, Communications BMW Group Plant Landshut
Email: Stefanie.Schindler@bmw.de, Phone: +49 151 601 41977

Saskia Graser, Head of Communications Regensburg and Wackersdorf Email: Saskia.Graser@bmw.de, Phone: +49 151 6060 2014

Dr. Annika Biss, Communications BMW Group Plant Wackersdorf
Email: Annika.Biss@bmwgroup.com, Phone: +49-151-601-52588

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en
Email: presse@bmw.de

BMW Group Plant Landshut

At BMW Group Plant Landshut, around 3,800 employees produce light metal cast engine, suspension and body structure components, electrical and electronic components, plastic components for the vehicle exterior, carbon body components, cockpit and equipment features, engines and propeller shafts. Plant Landshut is the BMW Group’s largest component plant and supplies components to all BMW Group vehicle and engine plants worldwide – and therefore for virtually every BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicle, as well as for BMW Motorrad. Component production at BMW Group Plant  Landshut is characterised by digitalisation, a focus on sustainability and a commitment to responsible use of resources. With its forward-looking technologies, BMW Group Plant Landshut assumes the role of innovation driver in the technological transformation of the automotive sector and its supplier industry. At the Technology Centre adjacent to the plant, specialists from a wide range of disciplines are brought into development processes for new vehicles in the early stages and help to actively drive sustainable development of future vehicle models. BMW Group Plant Landshut is a socially responsible, innovative and attractive employer for the region of Landshut and Lower Bavaria.

https://www.bmwgroup-werke.com/landshut/en.html

BMW Group Plants Regensburg und Wackersdorf

The BMW Group vehicle plant in Regensburg has been in operation since 1986 and is one of more than 30 BMW Group production locations worldwide. Every workday, around 1,400 vehicles of the BMW X1 and BMW X2 models roll off the production line at Plant Regensburg, destined for customers around the globe. Different types of drive trains are flexibly manufactured on a single production line – ranging from vehicles with internal combustion engines to plug-in hybrids and fully-electric models.

BMW Group Plant Regensburg was recognised as “FACTORY OF THE YEAR” 2024 in the category “excellent large-series assembly” of the prestigious industrial competition. As it implements the BMW iFACTORY, the BMW Group is focused on digitalisation of the Regensburg plant site to create a digital and intelligently connected factory. It is already possible to experience in virtual form what the factory will look like a few years from now. Production of models for the NEUE KLASSE, BMW’s next generation of vehicles, will ramp up in Regensburg in the second half of the decade.

The BMW Group plant in Wackersdorf is home to cockpit production and parts supply for overseas plants. With the opening of a new battery testing centre and commissioning of the first phase in autumn 2024, the location has also become a key facilitator for electromobility. An entirely new area of expertise for the site is the door and flap production centre for Rolls-Royce.

The BMW Group core staff at the Regensburg and Wackersdorf locations in eastern Bavaria consists of around 9,250 employees, including around 350 apprentices.

www.bmwgroup-werke.com/regensburg/en.html

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 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 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.

The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life.

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Regensburg. As it transitions from natural gas to renewable energy, the BMW Group is gradually electrifying its paint shops as part of its efforts to decarbonise vehicle production. A recently concluded pilot project at Plant Regensburg demonstrates how this transition can be simplified and accelerated. The key lies in the installation of a thermal oil system. Using thermal oil as a heat transfer medium enables heat generation to be decoupled from the rest of the system’s components. This allows the energy supply to the coating lines to be adapted flexibly at any time.

“One advantage of switching to thermal oil is the flexibility to choose the energy source for heat generation in our paint shops. For example, thermal oil can be heated using electricity, geothermal energy, solar thermal energy – or even a hydrogen-powered heating system. The ability to change fuels quickly at any time makes our paint shops more resilient. If an energy source becomes scarce or unavailable, we can respond at short notice,” explains Samuel Flieger, project manager for technical planning in the Regensburg paint shop.

This means paint shops can already be set up to run on renewable energy – even if gas-free heating is not yet an option. The power grid is not currently equipped at all locations to handle the high energy demands of a fully electrified paint shop, largely due to its extremely energy-intensive drying processes. A thermal oil-based system can also be operated with gas as an interim solution.

Testing successfully concluded in Regensburg

The Regensburg pilot project team took advantage of the production downtime over the New Year period to install the thermal oil technology. Within just a few days, they replaced the gas-powered drying equipment used for one of the three top coat lines with an electrically heated thermal oil system – complete with an innovative electric-powered eRTO exhaust air unit.

The key innovation lies in using the new electric heating unit to transfer heat to the thermal oil, instead of directly heating the air around the car bodies in the drying chamber after paint application. The heated oil circulates in a closed loop and, in a second step, heats the air in the drying chamber via heat exchangers. The circulating thermal oil reaches temperatures of several hundred degrees Celsius. Unlike water, it remains stable even at these high temperatures.

Retrofitting boosts energy efficiency

Wherever waste heat is generated, it is recovered and reused as process heat. This reduces the temperature of the exhaust air released through the hall's roof. As a result of these retrofitting measures, the drying equipment’s total energy consumption has been reduced by approximately 40 percent. Switching to thermal oil heating, combined with the system's improved energy efficiency, will reduce the carbon footprint of BMW Group Plant Regensburg’s paint shop by approximately 480 tons of CO₂e per year.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Christian Dürrschmidt, Communications Regensburg
Cell phone: +49 151 6060 5194,
Email: Christian.Duerrschmidt@bmw.de
 
Saskia Graser, head of Communications Regensburg and Wackersdorf
Cell phone: +49 151 6060 2014,
Email: Saskia.Graser@bmw.de
 
Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en
Email: presse@bmw.de

BMW Group Plants Regensburg and Wackersdorf
 
The BMW Group vehicle plant in Regensburg has been in operation since 1986 and is one of more than 30 BMW Group production locations worldwide. Every workday, around 1,400 vehicles of the BMW X1 and BMW X2 models roll off the production line at Plant Regensburg, destined for customers around the globe. Different types of drive trains are flexibly manufactured on a single production line – ranging from vehicles with internal combustion engines to plug-in hybrids and fully-electric models.

BMW Group Plant Regensburg was recognised as “FACTORY OF THE YEAR” 2024 in the category “excellent large-series assembly” of the prestigious industrial competition. As it implements the so-called BMW iFACTORY, the BMW Group is focused on digitalisation of the Regensburg plant site to create a digital and intelligently connected factory. It is already possible to experience in virtual form what the factory will look like a few years from now. Production of models for the NEUE KLASSE, BMW’s next generation of vehicles, will ramp up in Regensburg in the second half of the decade.

The BMW Group plant in Wackersdorf is home to cockpit production and parts supply for overseas plants. With the opening of a new battery testing centre and commissioning of the first phase in autumn 2024, the location also makes a significant contribution to electromobility. An entirely new area of expertise is the door and flap centre for Rolls-Royce.

The BMW Group core staff at the Regensburg and Wackersdorf locations in eastern Bavaria consists of around 9,250 employees, including about 350 apprentices.

www.bmwgroup-werke.com/regensburg/de.html

Munich. The new BMW iX3 demonstrates the BMW Group's take on implementing a holistic approach to product sustainability across the entire life cycle. During product development, extensive measures were implemented throughout the supply chain, production and use phases, explicitly focused on conserving resources and reducing the model’s environmental footprint. As such, the Neue Klasse marks an important milestone toward achieving the company's 2030 and 2050 CO₂e targets.
 
CO₂e benefits achievable after only one year of use
The extensive decarbonization measures in the supply chain results in an early break-even point: when charged with electricity from the European energy mix, the CO₂e footprint of the new BMW iX3 50 xDrive is lower than that of a comparable model with a combustion engine after about 21,500 kilometers (WLTP combined). When charged exclusively with electricity from renewable sources, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive beats the comparable ICE model after only 17,500 kilometers (WLTP combined), allowing customers to potentially achieve CO₂e benefits in as little as one year.

Decarbonization in the supply chain
The key levers to reduce CO₂e emissions in the supply chain are the use of secondary materials and renewable energy, alongside product and process innovations. This combination of measures has led to a decrease of CO₂e emissions in the supply chain of 35% during product development.
The Gen6 battery cells of the BMW iX3 high-voltage storage system are made of 50% secondary cobalt, lithium, and nickel materials. In addition, renewable energies are harnessed in the anode and cathode materials and cell production. This is how CO₂e emissions per watt hour were reduced by 42% compared to the Gen5 cell of the previous model.

The BMW Group is increasingly focused on the use of innovative and secondary materials in other components as well. 
For instance, 30% of the secondary raw material  used for the engine compartment cover and the storage compartment under the front hatch is recycled maritime plastic. This post-consumer material consists of old fishing nets and ropes, preventing these materials from potentially being dumped in the ocean.
Secondary aluminum accounts for 80% of the wheel carriers and swivel bearings as well as 70% of the cast aluminum wheels.

‘Design for Circularity’: consistent implementation in the Neue Klasse 
The BMW Group applied the ‘Design for Circularity’ approach consistently in developing the BMW iX3. The approach builds on the concepts of secondary first (the prioritized use of secondary materials), strategic material selection and disassembly optimization. As a result, secondary materials account for one third of all material used in the new BMW iX3 50 xDrive.
One example of implementing these three concepts is the Econeer seat cover, available in the interior trim Essential, whose fabric, adhesive and fleece are all made from PET. This mono-material choice increases recyclability. Moreover, the textile yarn used consists entirely of recycled PET as well.
Other components whose development followed the ‘Design for Circularity’ approach include the center console, instrument panel and interior floor trim.

Significantly improved efficiency in the use phase    
BMW EfficientDynamics involves consistently identifying and harnessing efficiency potential in all vehicle subsystems. Applying this approach, the energy consumption of the new BMW iX3 is 20% lower than in the predecessor model (WLTP combined).
This significant improvement is primarily based on optimized aerodynamic properties, reduced rolling resistance and on-board power consumption as well as the drive’s unparalleled combination of efficiency and dynamics. 

Sustainability-centric production at BMW Group’s Debrecen plant
Designed and built according to the BMW iFactory principles, the new BMW Group plant in Debrecen, Hungary, is fully focused on efficiency, digitalization and sustainability. It is the first BMW Group car factory that is operated and produces vehicles without using fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, under normal operating conditions.
The only energy source to power operations at the site is electricity. According to current planning, up to 25% of the plant's annual electricity needs can be covered by the photovoltaic system located on the premises. The remaining electricity is obtained from other renewable energy sources. Surplus solar energy is stored in a heat storage unit and used to heat the paint shop ovens as needed.
Only 0.1 tons of CO₂e are emitted in the production of a BMW iX3 car, about two third below production at other BMW Group plants.

The BMW Group’s sustainability targets
The BMW Group's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and to achieving Net Zero by 2050 or earlier is an integral part of the comprehensive 360° sustainability approach incorporated in the corporate strategy. The company is pursuing ambitious, scientifically derived CO₂e targets for the coming years. For instance, the BMW Group intends to reduce its CO₂e emissions by at least 40 million tons in 2030 (baseline: 2019).

Publicly accessible, TÜV-verified Product Carbon Footprint 
For years, the BMW Group has released its vehicle footprint, which includes a greenhouse gas report for its vehicles verified by Germany’s TÜV Technical Inspection Association. The report for the new BMW iX3 50 xDRIVE can be downloaded here and is also available in the My BMW app. It offers increased transparency regarding raw materials used and CO₂e emissions over the entire vehicle lifecycle.

^{All information regarding the BMW iX3 50 xDrive’s mileage, energy consumption, range, energy content, dimensions, weights, share of secondary raw materials/recycled materials and other technical data and derivations thereof are provisional as of the start of production in November 2025.}

^{All model variants, equipment levels, technical data, fuel consumption and emission data mentioned correspond to the range offered in the German car market, provided the respective model is available there. Deviations in other markets are possible. Dimensions refer to the base model available in Germany; depending on wheel and tire size as well as optional equipment selected, dimensions may vary depending on the specific configuration.}

^{Power consumption and range data were measured in accordance with the mandatory WLTP procedures and comply with the German Passenger Car Energy Consumption Labelling Ordinance (EnVKV). For more information, see www.bmw.de}

^{If you have any questions, please contact:}

^{BMW Group Corporate Communications
Dr. Cornelia Bovensiepen, Spokesperson Sustainability BMW Group
Phone: +49 89 382-94935
E-Mail: Cornelia.Bovensiepen@bmw.de
   
Sofia Elena Rizzi, Spokesperson Product Communications BMW Compact & Mid-size Segments
Phone: +49-151-601-67436
E-Mail: Sofia-Elena.Rizzi@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 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 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.}

^{The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life.}

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LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwgroup
X: https://www.x.com/bmwgroup} 

Munich/Steyr (Austria). The BMW Group Plant Steyr today began series production of the e-engine for the Neue Klasse. “Today, we are laying the foundations for the future of the BMW Group,” explained Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production. “As the first production site for the Gen6 electric engine, Plant Steyr is central to the Neue Klasse and the continued development of our global production network.” The electric engine for the sixth generation of BMW eDrive (Gen6) is the first fully-electric drive train to be produced at the Steyr location in Austria. From there, it will be shipped throughout the production network, providing the drive train for the Neue Klasse. “Three years ago, we announced that we would build this electric engine in Steyr. Today, we are proud to deliver it,” said Klaus von Moltke, SVP of Engine Production for BMW AG and plant director of the Steyr facility. “What we are launching here today is more than just a production ramp-up. It is a firm commitment to Europe, to technology and to the future.”

Technology openness: Plant Steyr as centre of drive train expertise
Between the project launch in 2022 and 2030, the BMW Group is investing over a billion euros in expanding development and production expertise for e-drives at the Steyr location. This capacity expansion will ensure the plant remains the BMW Group's leading location for drive trains. For over 40 years, the plant has developed and manufactured internal combustion engines for the BMW and MINI brands. This extensive experience and wealth of expertise in drive trains make the engine plant the ideal facility to produce the Gen6 electric engines. The site will continue to manufacture diesel and petrol engines in parallel. “Technology openness is our strength – it gives us the necessary flexibility to secure long-term jobs,” said von Moltke. Around 1,000 employees will work in the new electric engine assembly. Depending on global demand, half of the Steyr location’s total workforce could be employed in e-mobility by 2030. von Moltke: “Steyr will remain the heart of our drive train expertise – both for combustion engines and electromobility.”

Powertrain components produced in Steyr, aluminium housings from Landshut
Rotor, stator, transmission and power converter – all core components of the innovative, highly integrated e-drive – will be manufactured at Plant Steyr. The housing for the electric engine will be cast at Plant Landshut's aluminium foundry and further processed in Steyr. The power converter will be produced in a new in-house clean-room environment, marking the Austrian engine manufacturer’s entry into the field of electrical engineering. E-drive components from Steyr will be assembled on two new lines. The overall production concept for the Gen6 e-drive follows the principle of a modular system, making it possible to produce different highly flexible electric drive train derivatives for the entire range of Neue Klasse models. The modular concept generates positive economies of scale and cost savings in both development and production. It also improves the scalability of production volumes. The modular approach keeps production, supply networks and procurement highly flexible.

Comprehensive improvements to electric engine
The electric engine has undergone significant further development for Gen6: The rotor, stator and power converter have all been holistically designed for the Gen6 technology’s new 800-volt architecture, maximising performance capabilities and the efficiency of the drive system. Improvements in geometry and cooling, along with reduced friction, optimise the two-stage spur gearbox. Customer-friendly acoustics have also been further refined. In the e-drive's electric “brain” – the power converter – 800-volt technology and silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor technology are now being used to boost efficiency. Fully integrated into the electric engine housing, the power converter converts direct current from the high-voltage battery into alternating current for the electric engine.

Lower weight, costs and energy loss lead to greater vehicle efficiency
Overall, the intelligent use of new technologies in the e-drive and systematic further development of existing systems produce remarkable results. Comparing one of the future models of the Neue Klasse with a Gen5 xDrive model shows the following improvements in the electric engine: “Energy loss is reduced by 40 percent, costs by 20 percent and weight by 10 percent. All this makes a significant contribution to the approximately 20-percent increase in overall vehicle efficiency”, explains Martin Kaufmann, SVP of global Powertrain Development at BMW AG., The efficient design of the powertrain together with the high energy content of the high-voltage battery, enable a range of up to 800 km (WLTP) in the BMW iX3, the first model of the Neue Klasse.


If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications
Christian Marxt
Press spokesperson, Production Network, Drive Trains and High-Voltage Batteries
Cell phone: +49-151-601-79158
Email: Christian.Marxt@bmwgroup.com

Sandra Schillmöller
Head of Communications Production Network BMW Group
Cell phone: +49-151-601-12225
Email: Sandra.Schillmoeller@bmwgroup.com

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en
Email: presse@bmwgroup.com

+++ BMW Group adds to the range of My Trips driving statistics with an update for the My BMW App and MINI App +++ The driver’s carbon impact is based on their vehicle’s footprint and routes they have driven +++ Available for selected models with all types of drive system +++

Munich. The BMW Group is now offering customers even broader scope for personalising analysis of their driving stats in the My BMW App and MINI App. The latest update, available from June, will allow drivers to view their personal carbon footprint for the first time. Almost three years after My Trips was launched to help drivers evaluate their journeys, this function will now also provide data on the emissions those trips are producing.

“Our usage research shows: The information in My Trips is one of the most popular features in the app,” says Dirk Wiedmann. “We are now expanding this successful function with carbon footprint calculation, giving our customers simple and straightforward access to sustainability-related information via a popular and widely used channel.”

Emissions from vehicle production and use: two sets of figures make up the driver’s personal footprint.
The personal carbon footprint function has been designed with a technology-open approach and is available for vehicles with combustion engines, as well as plug-in hybrid and fully electric models. At launch, this feature will be rolled out across selected models in various European countries *. Calculation of the personal footprint is based on two central sets of figures.

• Emissions from vehicle use: My Trips analyses the routes the driver has completed and uses the energy consumed in the process to work out the CO₂ emitted. To this end, CO₂ equivalents are calculated using data from the International Energy Agency (IEA). For vehicles with combustion engines, the app calculates the amount of CO₂ emitted based on the fuel consumed. For battery-electric vehicles, it shows the emissions generated when using the average national energy mix – and also tells the driver how high emissions would be by comparison if green energy were used.
• Emissions from vehicle production: These are emissions generated during the manufacturing process. Emissions are recorded from the processing of raw materials, procurement of materials, transport logistics and the production of the model at hand. The BMW Group already sets out the emissions figures for numerous models in the form of Vehicle Footprint Reports. These are calculated according to recognised standards for life cycle assessments and certified by the TÜV Rheinland agency. They can also be downloaded from the BMW Group website.

Ready for electric mobility: My BMW App helps with the transition.

The My BMW App also includes the Electric Vehicle Analysis introduced last summer. This function allows customers whose BMW is powered by a combustion engine to simulate how well a fully electric BMW fits their personal driving profile. Here, the customer selects an electric BMW model as an alternative vehicle in the app. Once the combustion-engined model has made at least 200 journeys and covered a distance of 2,000 kilometres (over 1,240 miles), the analysis shows the journeys the user could have completed on a single charge with the electric vehicle selected, and also flags up charging stations close to frequently visited destinations. More than 100,000 customers had used this analysis by May 2025.

Over 14 million customers around the world use the My BMW App and MINI App. The My Trips function is available in more than 90 countries and is actively used by 1.9 million users.

* The new function will only be available to users of selected vehicles for which a TÜV-certified carbon footprint has been calculated. This feature will launch in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and be available in the BMW 1 Series (key number 81GE), BMW 2 Series (31GH), BMW X2 (71GM, 21GM), BMW X3 (11GR, 31GP, 65GP), BMW 5 Series (31FK, 11JF, 71FJ), BMW 5 Series Touring (11HH, 11GW, 21GV), BMW M5 (81FK) and BMW iX (41CF) and MINI Cooper (11GC), MINI Cooper C (11GD), MINI Aceman (31GC) and MINI Countryman (41GA, 11GA).

In the event of enquiries please contact:                                                                   

Corporate Communications

Wieland Bruch

Product Communication BMW

Electric Mobility and Sustainability

Telephone: +49-89-382-72652

Mobile: +49-176-601-72652

E-mail: Wieland.Bruch@bmw.de  

Martin Tholund, 
Spokesperson Digital Car, Electronics and Software, Technology Partnerships, Digital Products and Services

Telefon: +49-151-601-77126

E-Mail: Martin.Tholund@bmwgroup.com  

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

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

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 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 2024, the BMW Group sold 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.

The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life. 

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Munich. The BMW Group uses plastic wire (filament) and granulate from waste 3D printing powder and used parts to produce new components using the 3D printing technology. Waste powder generated from production of thousands of components each year and previously been disposed of, along with shredded used parts, is now processed into new filament. The filament is rolled onto spools like wire, which can then be used to print new items, such as auxiliary production devices and tools. This filament is used at the Additive Manufacturing Campus in Oberschleißheim, as well as at various sites across the BMW Group's global production network. In addition to recycled filament for the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process, the Campus also provides recycled granulate for use in Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) technology, thus enabling manufacturing of large tools.

“I’ve been involved with this project from the very beginning and I’m thrilled to see how far we’ve come – from our initial ideas and attempts at startup level to now being able to produce large quantities of highly robust components from recycled filament at any BMW Group production location. It’s incredibly exciting to continuously develop and test new processes. The use of waste powder and discarded 3D printing components is a key element of a functional and efficient circular economy,” says Paul Victor Osswald, project manager for Predevelopment Non-Metals, who has worked on this development since 2018.

First steps taken in 2018 with innovative “bottleUP” project
The foundation for today’s 3D printing loop at the BMW Group was first established in 2018. As part of the BMW Start-up Accelerator programme, the innovative “bottleUP” project focused on obtaining 3D printing material for various applications by recycling PET bottles. Just one year later, the first industrial waste was being used to produce recycled filament on a pilot basis. By 2021, Osswald’s team successfully printed the first holders and auxiliary production devices using their own recycled filament. Today, various locations across the BMW Group’s global production network are supplied with 3D-printed components from the Additive Manufacturing Campus in Oberschleißheim, where the company has consolidated its production, research and training activities in additive manufacturing under one roof. Each year, up to 12 tonnes of waste powder can be recycled into filament and granulate and can then be reused for the manufacture of auxiliary production devices in the plants and for pre-development projects at the Additive Manufacturing Campus. The use of these components reduces costs, enhances process efficiency and product quality, and improves ergonomics for employees at the plants.

Additive Manufacturing Campus supports production sites with comprehensive package of recycled filament, printing parameters and expertise
As part of the BMW Group’s centre of competence concept, the Additive Manufacturing Campus facilitates the ongoing rollout of its in-house developed recycling filament. It enables locations by sharing expertise and providing comprehensive solutions. In collaboration with established and experienced 3D printing facilities at BMW Group production plants, suitable 3D printers are tested, and optimised printing parameters for the recycled filament are developed and validated for the respective models. This package – consisting of printer recommendations, recycled filament and validated parameter settings – is then made available to other plants. This ensures that locations are efficiently enabled and can quickly achieve high-quality printing results on site. The Campus provides further support by building know-how at the plants through relevant skills development and training opportunities. This includes foundational courses in 3D printing, advanced training on the topic of design for additive manufacturing and application-focused sessions on integrating 3D printing into the production environment. A strong and constantly evolving network has developed across the sites, benefiting from knowledge-sharing and mutual support. The next 3D printing facility, which is currently under construction at Plant Debrecen in Hungary, will benefit from the network’s experience and will support the new production plant for the Neue Klasse going forward.

3D printing at BMW Group production sites: proven driver of success
Installation and operation of 3D printers throughout the BMW Group's production network will ensure the successful implementation and continuous rollout of 3D printing technology. Thanks to rapid on-site response times, components can be available within just a few days – or even hours, in some cases. This enables short iteration loops and swift optimisations, helping prevent assembly line downtimes. The flexibility and design freedom of 3D printing spark creative ideas and solutions that can be developed and implemented directly by employees on the ground. Collaboration between the 3D printing facilities at the plants and the Additive Manufacturing Campus continuously drives further development of 3D printing and consistently leads to new applications and optimisations within the BMW Group’s production system.

Printed components for diverse applications
The use of 3D printing at the BMW Group’s production plants continues to expand. Today, every BMW Group plant is equipped with a 3D printer, enabling local production of several hundred thousand components each year. The areas of application are highly diverse – ranging from ergonomic and occupational safety solutions for employees to scratch protection, fitting aids and special manufacturing equipment, up to and including gauges, templates, special tools and tool organisation. Mould cavities, pre-assembly mounts and even entire grippers can be produced with the help of 3D printing.

A wide variety of components are now being printed with recycled filament.

For instance, at BMW Group Plant Munich, a specific component used in the marriage of chassis and body is now being 3D-printed. This component temporarily secures the steering rod in a defined position, allowing it to be guided through the opening in the body without risk of collision. The reusable component is installed in the vehicle shortly before the marriage and then removed again afterwards.

At the BMW Motorrad plant in Berlin, 3D-printed support pedestals are used in applying decor to the motorcycles’ trim panel. The pedestals, which are customised to fit the trim panel components precisely, also feature locking mechanisms. This ensures the components are held securely in place, preventing them from slipping while the decor is applied.

Solutions to optimise operations are often developed in response to acute workplace needs. For example, employees at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing have developed their own fitting aids to prevent screws from being lost during their assembly in the vehicles. Using 3D printing, a holder for magnetic screw attachment on various cordless screwdrivers has been developed which enables the screws to be carried safely.


If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications
Benedikt Torka
BMW Group, Communication Production Network
Cell phone: +49-151-601-32455
Email: Benedikt.Torka@bmwgroup.com

Sandra Schillmöller
Head of Communications Production Network BMW Group
Cell phone: +49-151-601-12225
Email: Sandra.Schillmoeller@bmwgroup.com

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en
Email: presse@bmwgroup.com

Munich/Beijing. BMW Group is expanding its footprint in China’s digital innovation landscape with a new partnership focused exclusively on the Chinese market.

In collaboration with Momenta, a leading Chinese ADAS technology provider, BMW will co-develop advanced driver assistance solutions specifically for the BMW product portfolio offered in China – starting with Neue Klasse.

The cooperation builds on the BMW driving philosophy, combining Intelligent Interaction, Control and ADAS for the maximum benefit of the driver in all situations.

 Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President, Driving Experience, BMW Group:
“This collaboration of partners sharing the same mindset, will enable us to offer our customers in China a very unique automated driving experience.
We are combining 20+ years of pioneering safety with locally trained driving knowledge and state of the art Chinese AI technology.“

Sean Green, President and CEO of BMW Group Region China, adds:
“This expands BMW's collaboration with Chinese tech players from digital ecosystems and AI based user interaction into the realm of the ADAS domain.”

The focus of the partnership is software development and integration specifically for Chinese road-networks, traffic-conditions and user expectations, utilising advanced AI algorithms and data driven development methods.

In the event of enquiries please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Bernhard Ederer

Communication Drive Technology, Driving Experience, Efficient Dynamics

Mobile: +49-176-601-28556

E-mail: Bernhard.Ederer@bmwgroup.com

Almut Stollberg

Head of Communication Innovation, Design, Technology, Digital Car

Mobile: +49-151-601-96543

E-mail: almut.stollberg@bmw.de

+++ Les usines pilotes de Parsdorf, Hallbergmoos et Munich ouvrent la voie au lancement mondial de la production en série +++ Nedeljković, membre du conseil d'administration : « Renforcer la capacité d'innovation de l'Allemagne » +++ Approche cohérente de la production zéro défaut +++

//

Munich/Parsdorf. Avec la Neue Klasse, BMW Group inaugure une nouvelle ère de conduite purement électrique, dont la production en série débutera à la fin de l'année 2025. La batterie haute tension est un élément essentiel de tout véhicule électrique. Avant de lancer la production en série à grande échelle, il faut mettre au point des processus de production et tester minutieusement les batteries de présérie. C'est ce que font les installations de préproduction de BMW Group pour les batteries haute tension à Parsdorf et Hallbergmoos, ainsi que le Centre de recherche et d'innovation (FIZ) de Munich. « Nos installations de préproduction de batteries haute tension renforcent la capacité d'innovation de l'Allemagne », déclare Milan Nedeljković, membre du conseil d'administration de BMW AG responsable de la production. « Elles jettent les bases des nouvelles installations de production en série dans le monde entier et assurent un démarrage en douceur de la production de batteries haute tension. » Pour produire les batteries haute tension destinées à la sixième génération de BMW eDrive (Gen6), la société met en place cinq sites d'assemblage sur trois continents : à Irlbach-Straßkirchen (Basse-Bavière), Debrecen (Hongrie), Shenyang (Chine), San Luis Potosí (Mexique) et Woodruff (États-Unis).

La qualité est essentielle : Approche zéro défaut cohérente

Pour la batterie haute tension Gen6 développée en interne, BMW Group met en œuvre des processus de production intelligents et ultramodernes utilisant les technologies les plus récentes. « Pour la production de nos batteries haute tension, nous poursuivons une approche cohérente de zéro défaut », explique Markus Fallböhmer, responsable de la production de batteries chez BMW AG. « Des contrôles de qualité hautement intelligents, assistés par l'IA, sont intégrés au processus de production pour nous aider à atteindre cet objectif. » Car la qualité est essentielle : dans les carrosseries de la Neue Klasse, la batterie haute tension sert de composant structurel (« pack to open body »). Les nouvelles cellules cylindriques rondes sont intégrées directement dans la batterie haute tension (« cell to pack »). Grâce à leurs processus de production innovants, les usines pilotes et de série de BMW Group établissent de nouvelles normes industrielles pour la production de batteries. Parmi les exemples, on peut citer l'approche systématique du zéro défaut, l'utilisation de jumeaux de production numériques pour des tâches telles que la formation des employés, ainsi que l'exploitation de bases de données d'IA étendues pour optimiser la logistique d'approvisionnement et de production. Toutes les étapes de la production font l'objet d'une surveillance en ligne transparente avec un stockage complet des données, ce qui permet une stabilité maximale du processus et une optimisation continue basée sur les données.

Les usines pilotes à la loupe : Parsdorf, Hallbergmoos et Munich (FIZ)

La plus grande usine pilote pour les batteries haute tension Gen6 est située à Parsdorf, où plus de 350 employés construisent les premiers prototypes depuis 2023. Depuis la mi-2024, une partie des batteries haute tension produites dans cette usine a déjà été livrée à l'usine de véhicules de Debrecen, en Hongrie, où elles sont installées dans des véhicules d'essai de la Neue Klasse. Une usine de présérie pour les batteries haute tension est également située près de l'aéroport de Munich. Depuis l'été 2024, le site de Hallbergmoos développe des technologies de fabrication pour l'assemblage de batteries haute tension. Environ 200 personnes travaillent dans cette petite usine de batteries. Le site de Hallbergmoos sert de modèle pour la production en série à l'usine Woodruff près de Spartanburg, en Caroline du Sud, aux États-Unis. Au centre de recherche et d'innovation de Munich (FIZ), 200 autres employés fabriquent et testent des prototypes et des variantes de modules plus petits de la batterie haute tension. Plusieurs étages du centre d'aéroacoustique et d'entraînement électrique (AEZ), récemment ouvert, sont consacrés à ces travaux.

Lancement en série de cinq usines de batteries en moins de deux ans

Les systèmes et processus mis au point dans les usines pilotes bavaroises seront déployés dans les usines de série du monde entier. En moins de deux ans, la production en série démarrera sur cinq sites répartis sur trois continents. Conformément à son principe "local pour local", BMW Group a positionné ses sites d'assemblage de batteries haute tension Gen6 aussi près que possible de ses usines de fabrication de véhicules. Cette approche permet de préserver la production, même en cas de développements politiques et économiques imprévus. Elle renforcera également les sites de production existants, tout en préservant et en créant des emplois. La production en série de la BMW iX3, le premier modèle de la Neue Klasse, démarrera à l'usine de Debrecen à la fin de l'année, parallèlement à la fabrication de batteries haute tension sur le même site. Le lancement à Debrecen sera suivi par les usines d'assemblage de batteries de Shenyang, Irlbach-Straßkirchen, Woodruff et San Luis Potosí.

Comment BMW Group fabrique les batteries haute tension Gen6

BMW Group s'approvisionne en cellules de batterie pour ses batteries haute tension auprès de fabricants de cellules de premier plan, qui produisent les cellules selon les spécifications de l'entreprise. Les normes techniques les plus strictes s'appliquent. À la réception des marchandises, des mesures supplémentaires - telles que des contrôles de tension - sont effectuées. Vient ensuite le regroupement des cellules, au cours duquel les cellules de la batterie sont connectées à des liquides de refroidissement. Cette étape garantit une isolation et un refroidissement optimaux des cellules. Les groupes de cellules et le système de contact des cellules sont ensuite nettoyés au laser et soudés avec une précision extrême. L'inspection en ligne surveille en permanence et en temps réel chaque soudure. Un processus innovant de moussage suit, garantissant que tous les éléments sont protégés en tant qu'unité mécanique. La mousse garantit ainsi la sécurité, la stabilité et la durabilité de la batterie haute tension. Le boîtier est ensuite fermé, scellé et riveté. Lors de la dernière étape de l'assemblage, l'Energy Master - l'unité de commande centrale - est installé sur la batterie haute tension. Un adhésif de scellement à élasticité permanente est appliqué pour garantir une étanchéité fiable. Enfin, chaque batterie haute tension fait l'objet d'une inspection à 100 % en fin de chaîne afin de garantir la qualité, la sécurité et le fonctionnement.

Le BMW Group

Avec ses marques BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce et BMW Motorrad, le BMW Group est le leader mondial en matière de construction de voitures et de motos et de fourniture de services financiers et de mobilité haut de gamme. Le réseau de production BMW Group compte plus de 30 sites dans le monde entier et dispose d'un réseau de distribution mondial avec des bureaux dans plus de 140 pays.

En 2024, BMW Group a réalisé plus de 2,45 millions de voitures et plus de 210 000 motos dans le monde. Le résultat avant impôt de l’exercice 2024 s’établit à 11,0 milliards d’euros, pour un chiffre d’affaires de 142,4 milliards d’euros. Au 31 décembre 2024, l’entreprise employait 159 104 collaborateurs et collaboratrices dans le monde.

Une réflexion sur le long terme et une conduite responsable sont depuis toujours le fondement du succès économique du BMW Group. La durabilité constitue un élément important de la stratégie d'entreprise du BMW Group, de la chaîne d'approvisionnement à la fin de la phase d'utilisation de tous les produits, en passant par la production.

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+++ L'assistant de maintenance "Factory Genius" accélère le dépannage chez BMW Group +++ Le projet pilote à l'usine de Dingolfing constitue la base d'une solution à l'échelle de l'entreprise +++ La méthodologie peut être transférée à d'autres secteurs +++

//

Munich. Whenever vehicle production equipment fails at a BMW Group plant, every minute counts. The maintenance team must work quickly to identify and resolve the cause of the fault. Now, employees can ask the new digital AI assistant, “Factory Genius”, for help: It can suggest solutions for the specific system problem within seconds, reducing the time required for error diagnosis to a minimum.

“AI applications have become an integral part of modern production systems and are a key element of the BMW Group’s digital transformation. Factory Genius is an example of how generative AI, in particular, can streamline operations for everyone involved and enhance economic efficiency,” says Michael Ströbel, head of Process Management and Digitalisation, Order to Delivery at the BMW Group. But how exactly does the digital assistant, recently launched in its initial development phase, support maintenance staff?

Knowledge discovery tool

The tool essentially works like a search engine, quickly filtering relevant answers to specific user queries from a vast amount of data and user reports. However, this search function does not draw content and information from the internet, but from equipment manuals, quality data, internal fault reports and planning documents it was previously trained on. To keep the data management system up to date, it is regularly fed with new knowledge – for example, in the form of daily-updated shift-log data.

By integrating a Large Language Model, similar to those used in chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, Factory Genius is also able to understand language: The software can search data for relevant content within the appropriate linguistic context, providing more accurate results than a conventional search engine. In addition to displaying the top matches with links to sources, the assistant can also summarise the maintenance instructions found through contextual search in just a few sentences, if preferred. The user can then ask questions in a chat.

Collaborative in-house development

A pilot project in the body shop at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing laid the groundwork for this in-house development. Alongside the tool developed in Dingolfing in spring 2024, other BMW Group locations, including the plants in Spartanburg, USA, and Rosslyn, South Africa, were working at the same time on similar solutions through a transparent process. All were pursuing the same goal: improving access to information when faults occur or during scheduled training and maintenance. AI experts at the company’s Munich headquarters consolidated this expertise, integrating the plants’ diverse requirements to create a company-wide “best of” application. This can now be used globally in its initial development phase through an internal platform.

In addition to search and chat functionality, Factory Genius also features a translation function, enabling it to switch languages at any time to overcome language barriers. This functionality has proven extremely useful while building the new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, for example, since manuals are often not available in Hungarian.

Transferable methodology

The technology behind Factory Genius has the potential to be applied to other production use cases as well. The general approach enables integration of a wide range of documents and development of assistants tailored to different user groups. Thanks to its cloud functionality, the tool will also be rapidly available worldwide.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Julian Friedrich, BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Head of Communications
Telephone: +49 8731 76 22020, Email: Julian.Friedrich@bmw.de

Benedikt Torka, BMW Group, Communications Production Network
Telephone: +49 89 382 32455, Email: Benedikt.Torka@bmwgroup.com

Bruxelles – BMW Group a conclu aujourd'hui son « Tour d'Europe » avec un événement de clôture de haut niveau à Autoworld, Parc du Cinquantenaire, à Bruxelles. Sur le thème « La route à suivre : conduire la décarbonation avec des carburants issus de ressources renouvelables », l'événement a réuni des leaders de l'industrie et des décideurs politiques pour explorer le rôle crucial des carburants issus de ressources renouvelables dans la réduction des émissions de CO₂ et dans la transition vers une mobilité neutre en carbone.

Au cours d’une tournée de six mois, le « Tour d'Europe » a couvert 20 pays à travers l'Europe, présenté 70 événements et mis en avant 14 véhicules fonctionnant exclusivement avec des carburants issus de ressources renouvelables. Soutenue par 28 partenaires, l'initiative a démontré comment les solutions disponibles aujourd'hui offrent déjà des avantages tangibles pour le climat et a encouragé le dialogue autour de solutions de transport plus respectueuses du climat. Sur trois routes à travers l'Europe, trois modèles BMW ont roulé exclusivement avec du HVO 100 (aussi appelé XTL) ou de l’essence incorporant une part de ressources renouvelables. Lors de la tournée du mois de juin, des événements ont été organisés à Munich, Vienne, Rome et Berlin, mettant en évidence le rôle de BMW dans la promotion de solutions pour la décarbonation.

Un message clair à Bruxelles : nous avons besoin de chaque technologie.

L'événement de clôture du Tour d'Europe a renforcé un message central : parvenir à la neutralité carbone dans le transport nécessite d'adopter toutes les technologies viables. Des progrès concrets exigent que l'Europe accélère l’adoption de ce qui fonctionne dès maintenant.

L'ouverture technologique est incontournable. 

BMW Group a souligné la nécessité d'avoir des solutions plutôt que des interdictions. L'entreprise continue à investir dans un large éventail d’options technologiques – des véhicules électriques à batterie, aux hybrides rechargeables, en passant par les piles à combustible à hydrogène et les moteurs à combustion interne hautement efficaces, alimentés par des carburants issus de ressources renouvelables.

BMW Group a depuis des années homologué ses véhicules pour une gamme de carburants issus de ressources renouvelables, y compris le HVO 100, le B10 et les carburants synthétiques (eFuels) conformément à la norme EN590 pour les moteurs diesel, ainsi que l'E25 et les carburants synthétiques (eFuels) conformément à la norme EN228 pour les moteurs à essence.

Depuis le début 2025, tous les modèles diesel BMW produits en Allemagne sont livrés avec du HVO100 – un biodiesel issu de ressources renouvelables de haute qualité qui réduit les émissions de CO₂ jusqu'à 90% sur le cycle de vie, sans nécessiter d’adaptation du matériel du véhicule ou de l'infrastructure. Cette initiative souligne l'engagement de BMW à offrir une décarbonation évolutive et concrète dès aujourd'hui.

Les cadres réglementaires doivent rattraper leur retard.

Alors que la technologie et l'industrie évoluent, la réglementation n’est pas encore prête. Afin de contribuer à accélération de l'adoption des carburants issus de ressources renouvelables sur le marché le plus large, l'entreprise appelle à une mise en œuvre ambitieuse de la Directive sur les Energies Renouvelables (RED III), incluant des quotas nationaux exigeant au moins 30 % de réduction des gaz à effet de serre provenant des carburants de transport, à transposer dans les lois nationales dès cette année. De plus, BMW préconise un cadre réglementaire basé sur la performance, qui récompense les réductions mesurables de CO₂. Les véhicules à « Carbon neutral fuel » (CNF), tels que ceux présentés lors du Tour, doivent être formellement reconnus dans la législation des flottes de l'UE.

Les technologies sont présentes, les carburants sont disponibles. Ce dont nous avons besoin maintenant, c'est d'une certitude réglementaire permettant à l'innovation de se développer.

Plus d'informations sur tourdeurope.eu

 BMW Group

Avec ses marques BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce et BMW Motorrad, le BMW Group est le leader mondial en matière de construction de voitures et de motos et de fourniture de services financiers et de mobilité haut de gamme. Le réseau de production BMW Group compte plus de 30 sites dans le monde entier et dispose d'un réseau de distribution mondial avec des bureaux dans plus de 140 pays.

En 2024, BMW Group a réalisé plus de 2,45 millions de voitures et plus de 210 000 motos dans le monde. Le résultat avant impôt de l’exercice 2024 s’établit à 11,0 milliards d’euros, pour un chiffre d’affaires de 142,4 milliards d’euros. Au 31 décembre 2024, l’entreprise employait 159 104 collaborateurs et collaboratrices dans le monde.

Une réflexion sur le long terme et une conduite responsable sont depuis toujours le fondement du succès économique du BMW Group. La durabilité constitue un élément important de la stratégie d'entreprise du BMW Group, de la chaîne d'approvisionnement à la fin de la phase d'utilisation de tous les produits, en passant par la production.

www.bmwgroup.com  

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bmwgroup  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwgroup

X: https://www.x.com/bmwgroup

Munich. The BMW Group is industrialising its Virtual Factory, with production planners continuously scaling applications in the digital twins of over 30 production sites to accelerate production planning worldwide. What once required several weeks of real-world modifications and testing can now be precisely simulated in the BMW Group’s Virtual Factory. To create optimal conditions for upcoming launches at the plants, the BMW Group will integrate more than 40 new or updated vehicles into its global production between now and 2027. This will first be done virtually to ensure immediate stability at the plants. Going forward, the BMW Group’s Virtual Factory is projected to reduce production planning costs by up to 30 percent.

Virtual planning is a core element of the BMW Group iFACTORY and involves a wide range of tools. The intelligent linking of building data, equipment data, logistics data, vehicle data and even 3D simulation of manual work processes creates digital twins of all BMW Group plants worldwide. In an industrial 3D metaverse application based on NVIDIA Omniverse, simulations can be performed in real time, enabling virtual optimisation of layouts, robotics and logistics systems. The BMW Group’s Virtual Factory is continuously expanding to incorporate generative and agentic AI functionalities and assistants.

Digital, automated, fast: Collision checks for new vehicle models

For every launch, it is essential to verify that the new product fits on the production line and does not collide with its surroundings at any point. In the BMW Group’s Virtual Factory, this collision check is digital, automated and fast, using construction data combined with 3D scans. The movement and rotation of a vehicle through the production lines are precisely simulated, allowing the system to automatically check for possible collisions. What now takes just three days to simulate virtually previously required almost four weeks of real testing.

In the past, a real vehicle body had to be manually guided through the production lines – often over several weekends – to identify potential collisions. In the paint shop, this process sometimes required completely emptying and cleaning the dip coating tanks where vehicle bodies are submerged for priming. The costs and time investment for this were enormous.

Growing number of scalable applications

The BMW Group's Virtual Factory is rapidly evolving, enabling an increasing number of applications to be scaled. In addition to virtual, automated collision checks, this includes human simulation to optimise manual production steps and automated identification of maps of the surroundings from existing 3D scans for smart transport systems.

Learn more about the BMW Group’s Virtual Factory at NVIDIA GTC Paris:

Thursday, 12 June 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. CEST.

Accelerating Automotive Innovation with Accelerated Computing, Digital Twins and AI by the BMW Group.

The BMW Group is bringing large-format, pure ASSB cells from Solid Power to its test vehicle, a BMW i7, which is being operated in the Munich area. The potential benefits of ASSB technology: higher energy density in a very compact storage system compared to current technologies.

Since 2022, the BMW Group and Solid Power, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLDP) have intensified their activities for the development of all-solid-state battery (ASSB) technology through their technology transfer agreement.

The BMW Group and Solid Power believe in the potential of genuine ASSB technology. With a higher energy density compared to current battery technologies, ASSB batteries have the potential to achieve longer ranges in vehicles without the disadvantages with regard to the weight of the overall storage system.

“Solid Power is extremely proud that our partnership with BMW has resulted in the first demonstration of truly all-solid-state battery cells in a vehicle,” said John Van Scoter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Solid Power.  “We believe in the promise of ASSB’s and continue to drive innovation of our sulfide electrolyte in support of that future for EV’s.”

Martin Schuster, Vice President Battery Cell and Cell Module at the BMW Group, says: “Our BMW i7 ASSB test vehicle on the road is a perfect example of the BMW Group's technology-open mindset. We are continuously advancing the development of new battery cell technologies and are constantly expanding our know-how with valuable partners such as Solid Power. ”

The concept battery integrated in the BMW i7 test vehicle combines proven Gen5 construction principles (prismatic cells in modules) with new, innovative module concepts for integrating ASSB cells from Solid Power.

The management of cell expansion will be investigated here. In addition: How is the operating pressure controlled and how to adjust the temperature conditions.

The use of solid power cells with sulfide-based electrolytes and their complete integration into a battery pack will provide the BMW Group with further important findings in the test program over the coming months.

The innovative cells were developed and manufactured by Solid Power in collaboration with experts from the BMW Group. Further development steps are required to implement ASSB technology in a competitive overall storage system.

The BMW Group and Solid Power have been cooperating since 2016 through an extended “Joint Development Agreement”, which was supported by BMW Group's investment in Solid Power in May 2021 as part of a financing round.

At the end of 2022, BMW and Solid Power agreed to further deepen their partnership. BMW will operate a solid cell prototype line at the CMCC (Cell Manufacturing Competence Center) in Parsdorf on the basis of a research and development license and using the experience and expertise of Solid Power.

Since 2008, the BMW Group has been steadily expanding its expertise in the area of battery cell technology. Since 2019, this know-how has been bundled at the BMW Group's Battery Cell Competence Center (BCCC) in Munich. The BCCC covers the entire value chain, from research and development to battery cell design and production capability.

In order to be able to implement innovations in battery cell technology quickly and efficiently, the BMW Group cooperates in a network of around 300 partners, including established companies, start-ups and universities.

The cooperation with Solid Power underlines the BMW Group's battery strategy -to further develop innovative battery technologies on equal footing with leading partners in the industry. This strategically strong position in the value chain ensures the BMW Group access to all new and innovative battery cell research worldwide.

+++ Pilot project “GenAI4Q” at BMW Group Plant Regensburg: AI system developed for tailored quality checks in vehicle assembly +++ Learning-based analysis tool enables customised quality inspections in any situation +++

Regensburg. Can artificial intelligence (AI) make quality control in vehicle production more efficient, faster and more reliable? A software solution developed at BMW Group Plant Regensburg as part of the “GenAI4Q” pilot project is making this a reality. At its core is an AI that delivers tailored inspection recommendations for the approximately 1,400 vehicles manufactured each day.

“The use of artificial intelligence supports the digital transformation of BMW Group production towards an intelligently connected factory – for example, we are using AI for quality control in vehicle assembly. In this way, we are optimizing our production processes and creating added value for our products and, ultimately, for our customers” says Armin Ebner, head of BMW Group Plant Regensburg.

BMW vehicles meet the highest standards of product quality. To ensure this, Plant Regensburg conducts numerous quality tests throughout the production process. Shortly before leaving the plant, vehicles undergo a final inspection: Trained specialists examine each finished vehicle once more to ensure it meets premium quality standards.

A new vehicle rolls off the Regensburg assembly line every 57 seconds. Each vehicle is built to individual customer specifications for the global market. Different types of drive trains are flexibly manufactured on one production line – ranging from vehicles with internal combustion engines to plug-in hybrids and fully-electric models, as well as countless model and equipment variants. Virtually no two vehicles are alike. “Our AI tool generates an individual inspection catalogue for each specific customer vehicle,” explains Rüdiger Römich, responsible for Test Floor and Finish in Regensburg’s vehicle assembly.

The AI analyses vast amounts of data to create these custom specifications. This includes not only vehicle data, such as model and equipment variant, but also real-time production data for each specific vehicle. By recognising patterns and correlations, the AI system quickly and automatically determines the scope of the inspection and organises it intelligently, in the right order, within a smartphone app. Römich: “Intuitive usability makes it easy to record findings. Employees can also access additional functions when needed – for example, a microphone icon in the app activates voice recording.” The AI also manages speech recognition and transcription using standardised coding.

AI-based quality inspection was developed at BMW Group Plant Regensburg in collaboration with Munich startup Datagon AI.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Christian Dürrschmidt, Communications Regensburg
Cell phone: +49 151 6060 5194, Email: Christian.Duerrschmidt@bmw.de 

Saskia Graser, head of Communications Regensburg and Wackersdorf

Cell phone: +49 151 6060 2014, Email: Saskia.Graser@bmw.de

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

Email: presse@bmw.de

BMW Group Plants Regensburg and Wackersdorf
The BMW Group vehicle plant in Regensburg has been in operation since 1986 and is one of more than 30 BMW Group production locations worldwide. Every workday, around 1,400 vehicles of the BMW X1 and BMW X2 models roll off the production line at Plant Regensburg, destined for customers around the globe. Different types of drive trains are flexibly manufactured on a single production line – ranging from vehicles with internal combustion engines to plug-in hybrids and fully-electric models.

BMW Group Plant Regensburg was recognised as “FACTORY OF THE YEAR” 2024 in the category “excellent large-series assembly” of the prestigious industrial competition. As it implements the so-called BMW iFACTORY, the BMW Group is focused on digitalisation of the Regensburg plant site to create a digital and intelligently connected factory. It is already possible to experience in virtual form what the factory will look like a few years from now. Production of models for the NEUE KLASSE, BMW’s next generation of vehicles, will ramp up in Regensburg in the second half of the decade.
The BMW Group plant in Wackersdorf is home to cockpit production and parts supply for overseas plants. With the opening of a new battery testing centre and commissioning of the first phase in autumn 2024, the location is also a key facilitator for electromobility. An entirely new area of expertise is the door and flap centre for Rolls-Royce.

The BMW Group core staff at the Regensburg and Wackersdorf locations in eastern Bavaria consists of around 9,250 employees, including about 350 apprentices.

Munich. As it pulls back the curtain on a new era in 2025, fuelled by the all-electric Neue Klasse models, BMW is creating a holistic driving and user experience that breaks genuinely new ground. One of the elements of the far-reaching BMW Panoramic iDrive concept is the new HypersonX soundscape. Developed by the BMW Group Sound Design Studio, it comprises 43 sound signals and special driving sounds for Personal Mode and Sport Mode. The multi-dimensional spectrum adapts the sounds precisely to the driving situation at hand and, in so doing, creates an emotional interaction between the driver and their vehicle.

This new stage in the evolution of the automotive sound experience has been made possible by the technological advances in hardware and software brought by the Neue Klasse. The revolutionary BMW Operating System X and a newly developed control unit pave the way for an innovative audio architecture. This allows the overall experience offered by the Neue Klasse to be perfected at an acoustic level, as well as in terms of vehicle character, driving experience and functional range.

A new dimension in drive sounds: distinctive and precisely honed.

“The unique sound spectrum of HypersonX plays a major role in giving a Neue Klasse model its own, highly distinctive character acoustically. Through our focus on precision, warmth and lightness, we can create a direct emotional connection between the driver and their vehicle,” emphasises Renzo Vitale, Creative Director of Sound Design BMW Group. In both Personal Mode and Sport Mode, the drive sounds focus on the essentials and are inspired by tones from nature and structures from the worlds of art and science. HypersonX has fewer basic notes than the sound experience previously employed. But at the same time, the acoustic spectrum has grown to include a new dimensional level. This gives the sound more “colour”, depth and precision, and it embodies more than ever the pleasure of driving for which BMW is renowned.

One of the main elements underpinning this capability is the audio control unit developed for the Neue Klasse, which enables a significant expansion of the dynamic range.

Added to which, the spatial modulation of the drive sound achievable in the Neue Klasse ensures that the vehicle occupants are thoroughly immersed in the soundscape generated by HypersonX. Under acceleration, for example, the vehicle gives the impression of moving between different three-dimensional layers of sound, thus transporting the feeling of speed and BMW-typical driving dynamics authentically into the cabin.

Humanity is a central design element of the welcome sound.

As well as intelligent reduction to the essential elements, the human aspect played an important role in the development of the soundscape for the Neue Klasse. The middle and lower frequency ranges of the BMW HypersonX sound spectrum have been brought to the fore to create a well-balanced acoustic ambience. In conjunction with intuitive operation, precisely adjusted light effects and homely interior design, this gives those on board a fine sense of wellbeing.

A choir made up of BMW Group Design Studio employees brings voice – in their respective native languages – to moments of driving joy, infusing the welcome sound with a particularly empathetic flavour. Carefully isolated elements of these recordings enhance the overall composition of the welcome sound to excellent effect and treat the driver to moments of joy and human warmth.

BMW HypersonX gives the sounds for the Neue Klasse an expressive and distinctive, but also understated and sensitive feel. To this end, more than nine million sound instances based on BMW’s sound DNA were generated using a new algorithm. At the BMW Group Sound Design Studio, these were then filtered into a brand-typical essence that in turn generates a cohesive and multi-dimensional acoustic experience. The result is a sound that creates an emotional connection between human and vehicle in all driving situations and brings a positive, congenial and inviting aura to the acoustic presence of the Neue Klasse.

Debrecen. The future BMW Group plant in the Hungarian city of Debrecen is on the finish straight as the ramp-up of the assembly line sees the heart of the plant come to life. This is the beating heart of all the technologies in the plant, and also where the most employees work. The assembly launch thus marks the reaching of another milestone.

“Our highly efficient and ergonomic assembly line immediately started running without any issues,” said Hans-Peter Kemser, Managing Director BMW Group Plant Debrecen. “We achieved this thanks to virtual planning and tests, as well as the outstanding collaboration between our new, highly motivated employees in Debrecen and our experts within the BMW Group’s global production network.”

In assembly, the individual components and systems are installed in the painted body – at the end of the process, a car ready to drive rolls off the production line. The innovative vehicle architecture of the Neue Klasse opens totally new possibilities with regard to assembly: greater efficiency thanks to modularisation, fewer different connecting elements, and a simplified installation of the wiring harness. An innovative cockpit assembly also accelerates the process.

The BMW Group Plant Debrecen is already producing test vehicles for the first model of the Neue Klasse: the new BMW iX3.* Thus, the new plant is gradually ramping up for series production.

Neue Klasse allows simple, fast assembly process

A number of features of the Neue Klasse are new territory for everyone. Unlike in previous models, the cable harness is divided into multiple parts, making it easier and more ergonomic to install. The zonal wiring harness architecture requires 600 fewer metres of wiring and weighs 30 percent less than the previous generation.

On the other hand, some components are modularised when one module is formed from many small individual parts. The variation of connecting elements has also been radically reduced for the Neue Klasse. This in turn reduces the number of different plugs, screws and clips. All of this makes assembly significantly more simple. 

Furthermore, with the Neue Klasse, a wide range of quality checks can be performed digitally whilst still on the production line. This procedure will also be implemented at other sites after its initial use in Debrecen. The next point of use will be the home plant in Munich, which will produce the sedan model of the Neue Klasse as of 2026.

The innovative cockpit assembly accelerates processes at Plant Debrecen. It is one of the most compact in the BMW Group’s production network, yet still allows full flexibility and variety. As at Plant Lydia in China, cockpit pre-assembly is located right next to the main line. Once the cockpit has been pre-assembled, it is then installed directly in the vehicle just a few metres ahead.

Assembly in Debrecen adopts innovations from existing plants

When planning the new production site in Hungary, the BMW Group used a completely virtual design process. In line with the principles of the BMW iFACTORY, the tried-and-tested standards and high-tech solutions from existing plants were referred to many times. For example, many ideas and proven structures from Plant Lydia in China and Plant Leipzig can be found in the assembly in Debrecen.

Further development of the finger structure from Leipzig

These structures include the so-called finger structure, or comb structure, which the BMW Group developed specifically for Plant Leipzig, which opened in 2005. This structure allows supply parts and preassembled modules to be transported directly to the assembly lines. A record proportion of parts, up to 80%, can be delivered directly in Debrecen, as the fingers will enjoy logistics supply from both sides for the first time. This is the highest ratio in the BMW Group’s production network. The finger structure allows subsequent extension and the integration of further assembly steps – flexibility is a characteristic of production at the BMW Group.

Production processes, as at Plant Lydia in China

Plant Lydia in China was also an inspiration for many structures and processes in the assembly. The plant opened in 2022 and was the first BMW Group site to be completely planned and simulated in the virtual world from the outset. The shop floor for the assembly line and complete conveyor system in Debrecen are set up identically. Therefore, the technology was available quickly and had already been tried and tested, simplifying the commissioning of a completely new production line.

Series production of the new BMW iX3 set to start at the BMW Group Plant Debrecen in late 2025. The Hungarian plant has been designed specifically for the production of all-electric vehicles. As with the start of any new model or new plant, production capacities are increased gradually after start of production. The site in Debrecen will be the first automobile plant in the BMW Group to operate entirely without the use of fossil fuels.

*Since this is a pre-production model, consumption data for the new BMW iX3 is not available at this time.

Munich. Le BMW Group est le premier constructeur automobile à lancer un système nerveux numérique totalement inédit pour toutes les variantes de transmission et tous les segments de véhicules. Plus intelligent, plus puissant et plus efficace, il sera déployé pour la première fois sur les modèles de la Neue Klasse. Quatre ordinateurs hautes performances, également appelés « super-cerveaux », consolident la puissance de calcul pour les fonctions client les plus importantes : infodivertissement, conduite automatisée, dynamique de conduite et fonctions de base telles que l’accès au véhicule, la climatisation et le confort. Ces quatre super-cerveaux fournissent plus de 20 fois la puissance de calcul par rapport à la génération actuelle de véhicules et sont déjà conçus pour les mises à jour logicielles et fonctionnelles à venir, y compris les expériences client basées sur l’IA.

« L’ouverture technologique est la clé du succès de BMW. En commençant par le premier modèle de la Neue Klasse, nous déploierons les technologies de la Neue Klasse dans l’ensemble du futur portefeuille de modèles, sur tous les segments et toutes les motorisations. Cela s'applique également à notre toute nouvelle architecture électronique composée de puissants « super-cerveaux » et de plateformes logicielles hautement interconnectées. Cette architecture permet de dissocier le développement du véhicule et celui du logiciel. L’avantage : plus que jamais auparavant, tous les modèles futurs de BMW resteront à la pointe sur le plan numérique grâce à des mises à jour « over-the-air ». Ils recevront des mises à jour automatiques même à partir des générations de véhicules suivantes et ultérieures », explique Frank Weber, membre du Conseil d'administration en charge du développement chez BMW AG.

Le faisceau de câbles radicalement simplifié est un élément fondamental du système nerveux numérique. Il est basé sur une architecture de faisceaux de câbles dite zonale, qui utilise 600 mètres de câblage en moins et permet un gain de poids de 30 % par rapport à la génération précédente. Le faisceau est divisé en quatre zones : face avant, centre, arrière et toit. Les super-cerveaux sont reliés via des connexions de données haute vitesse à des unités de commande plus petites, les contrôleurs zonaux, qui gèrent et consolident le flux de données de l'électronique à l’intérieur et en dehors des zones. Le câblage dans le véhicule est lié à la zone et peut donc être plus court, plus fin et plus léger.

Les « fusibles électroniques intelligents » constituent une condition préalable essentielle à un câblage plus fin et plus léger. Ce sont des fusibles numériques qui remplacent jusqu’à 150 fusibles traditionnels. Ils peuvent être programmés de manière intelligente pour une distribution d'énergie contrôlée numériquement vers les composants. L’activation sélective des composants permet de concevoir des modes d’alimentation intelligents pour différents états du véhicule tels que la conduite, le stationnement, la recharge et la mise à niveau, dans lesquels les consommateurs inutiles peuvent être identifiés et désactivés. Ainsi, les fusibles électroniques contribuent de manière significative à l’amélioration de 20 % de l’efficacité énergétique.

L’architecture électronique totalement inédite constitue la base de la nouvelle génération de SDV. La prochaine génération de modèles BMW en bénéficiera dès le lancement de la Neue Klasse. La première version entièrement électrique de la Neue Klasse sera produite en série dans le courant de l’année à l’usine de Debrecen (Hongrie).

L'architecture logicielle avancée du BMW Group s'appuie sur cette nouvelle architecture électronique. Compte tenu de la multitude de fonctions numériques dans les SDV, il est essentiel que les fonctions puissent être développées en continu sur des plateformes logicielles stables plutôt que d’être nouvellement créées pour chaque nouvelle génération. C'est précisément ce qui est réalisé avec la Neue Klasse. Dans le véhicule, les plateformes logicielles fonctionnent sur les super-cerveaux respectifs, et les fonctions du véhicule s'exécutent dessus. La « couche de services partagés » fait office d’élément de connexion (middleware) et fournit, entre autres, une cybersécurité de pointe et des mises à jour over-the-air flexibles. Elle permet également des fonctions d'intelligence artificielle adaptées au client grâce à une mise en réseau intelligente des sources de données interdomaines.

« Avec l'introduction de la Neue Klasse, nous entrons dans un mode de développement où nous atteignons la continuité logicielle. Cela signifie que nous développons sans cesse des logiciels plutôt que de partir à chaque fois de zéro », explique Christoph Grote, Vice-président principal de BMW Group Electronics and Software. « Grâce à notre architecture logicielle avancée et au fait que nos équipes de développement mondiales produisent aujourd'hui 130 fois plus de logiciels qu'il y a dix ans, nous jouissons d’une excellente position concurrentielle. Plus que jamais, nos développeurs de logiciels peuvent se concentrer sur les innovations de produits. »

Pour la Neue Klasse, les équipes de développement travaillent sur plus de 1 000 modules logiciels, plus de 20 Go de logiciels et plus de 500 millions de lignes de code, qui seront finalement intégrés dans les super-cerveaux et dans le reste de l’architecture électronique du véhicule. Pour y parvenir, le BMW Group a établi ces dernières années des bases solides pour développer des logiciels automobiles à l’épreuve du temps et hautement efficaces. Des méthodes et des outils innovants ont été ancrés dans le réseau mondial de développeurs en croissance permanente. Au cœur du développement logiciel des véhicules se trouve l’environnement intégré des développeurs : une chaîne d’outils sur mesure baptisée « CodeCraft .» La vitesse et la qualité du développement ont été améliorées grâce à l’utilisation d’une variété d’outils qui soutiennent le développeur de logiciels grâce à l’IA générative. CodeCraft s'exécute dans le cloud sur jusqu'à 75 000 CPU virtuelles, prend en charge le travail simultané de plus de 10 000 développeurs de logiciels et enregistre jusqu'à 200 000 créations par jour aux heures de pointe. Cela correspond à une hausse de la productivité de plus de 130 fois par rapport à il y a dix ans.

Pour toute question concernant la période entre le 11.03.2025 et le 21.04.2025, veuillez contacter Benedikt Fischer (Benedikt.Fischer@bmwgroup.com).

BMW Group

Avec ses marques BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce et BMW Motorrad, le BMW Group est le leader mondial en matière de construction de voitures et de motos et de fourniture de services financiers et de mobilité haut de gamme. Le réseau de production BMW Group compte plus de 30 sites dans le monde entier et dispose d'un réseau de distribution mondial avec des bureaux dans plus de 140 pays.

En 2024, BMW Group a réalisé plus de 2,45 millions de voitures et plus de 210 000 motos dans le monde. Le résultat avant impôt de l’exercice 2023 s’établit à 17,1 milliards d’euros, pour un chiffre d’affaires de 155,5 milliards d’euros. Au 31 décembre 2023, l’entreprise employait 154 950 collaborateurs et collaboratrices dans le monde.

Une réflexion sur le long terme et une conduite responsable sont depuis toujours le fondement du succès économique du BMW Group. La durabilité constitue un élément important de la stratégie d'entreprise du BMW Group, de la chaîne d'approvisionnement à la fin de la phase d'utilisation de tous les produits, en passant par la production.

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Munich. BMW Group Plant Munich is gearing up to launch the NEUE KLASSE in summer 2026. During ongoing series operation, three new production halls are currently being built for the body shop, assembly and associated production logistics. “For the production start of the NEUE KLASSE, we will have a state-of-the-art plant in Munich that is characterised by flexibility, innovation and, above all, efficiency,” says Plant Director Peter Weber.

Starting in 2027, the plant in Munich will exclusively produce fully-electric vehicles, further enhancing efficiency boost. Forward planning, close cooperation with development teams and suppliers, and the integration of modern production technology within new structures will all play a key role. “With the NEUE KLASSE, we will significantly reduce manufacturing costs at the Munich Plant,” says Weber. In addition to optimised production processes and targeted automation, the NEUE KLASSE’s new vehicle architecture will also leverage further efficiencies. Focusing on a single drive train variant reduces production steps and the number of parts – for example, for wiring harnesses, which previously varied according to engine type and can be complex to install.

Unusual process: Pre-series production at pilot plant
The timeline for the ramp-up in Munich is carefully synchronised – in part due to the plant’s refurbishment. The first pre-series vehicles will be built at the pilot plant of the BMW Group Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ), with support from Plant Munich’s production team, before the end of the year. “Alongside the pilot plant at the FIZ, we are also using virtual simulations to ensure a smooth ramp-up,” says Weber, describing the unusual situation in the decisive year ahead of the launch. He adds that Plant Munich’s experienced launch team is also working closely with colleagues at the new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, where the first NEUE KLASSE model will enter production late this year.

International production network: Cooperation, flexibility and innovative processes
BMW Group plants are capable of producing different model variants and drive train types on a single line. Since the ramp-up of electromobility is not linear and will progress at varying speeds, the company has relied on “flex-plants”, which can manufacture vehicles with both internal combustion engines and electric drive trains. “In this way, we can ensure our delivery capabilities in different market situations and maintain good capacity utilisation at our locations,” explains Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management responsible for Production.

By the end of the decade, the BMW Group expects a significant increase in the market shares of fully-electric vehicles. For this reason, the plants in Debrecen and, later, Munich will be the first facilities dedicated exclusively to fully-electric vehicles, enhancing electrification capacities throughout the network.

The German plants lead the way on e-mobility in the BMW Group’s production network: Alongside traditional drive technologies, each of them builds at least one fully-electric model for the global market. Even in a volatile environment, the BMW Group continues to grow its domestic locations, manufacturing over a million vehicles there last year – accounting for a quarter of Germany's total automotive production.

At the same time, the company’s production also depends on a balanced global distribution of value creation. “The strategic and flexible structure of our production network strengthens our resilience and makes us more competitive,” adds Nedeljković.

Focus on employees: Developing skills for e-mobility
The shift towards electrified vehicles also brings changes to employee roles and required skills. With the flexible ramp-up of e-mobility at BMW Group plants, employees can gradually be prepared for new job content.

“Despite technical and structural innovations, our focus is always on people. We take pride in our employees’ expertise and experience, and their dedication to continuous improvement. It is thanks to their commitment that we are able to consistently deliver premium-quality vehicles,” emphasises Weber. Additional expertise will be developed and retained at the company through extensive further training and workforce flexibility. Last year alone, nearly 25,000 employees completed e-mobility training. Plant Munich is currently holding its third industrial electrician qualification course, conducted in cooperation with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

In recent years, around 5,500 jobs have been created across the BMW Group production network for the current and upcoming generation of e-drives. More than three quarters of these positions were filled through internal reorganisation. 

+++ Valeur totale des exportations de $10,1 milliards +++ De 2014 à 2024, la valeur totale des exportations de BMW a atteint plus de $100 milliards +++ L'usine se prépare à produire des BMW entièrement électriques en 2026 +++ Milan Nedeljković, membre du conseil d'administration : ‘’La forte part d'exportation de notre usine souligne l'importance du libre-échange’’ +++

//

Spartanburg, BMW Manufacturing a confirmé qu'il était le plus grand exportateur de voitures en valeur aux États-Unis en 2024. C'est ce qui ressort des données publiées ce mois-ci par le ministère américain du commerce. L'usine de Spartanburg a exporté près de 225 000 véhicules d'activité sportive et coupés BMW l'année dernière, pour une valeur à l'exportation de plus de $10 milliards. En outre, l'usine de South Carolina a exporté plus de 2,7 millions de BMW depuis 2014 - environ 63% de la production totale - pour une valeur à l'exportation de plus de $104 milliards.

‘‘L'usine de Spartanburg est un site important de notre réseau de production depuis plus de 30 ans et est aujourd'hui la plus grande usine du groupe BMW dans le monde », a déclaré Milan Nedeljković, membre du conseil d'administration de BMW AG, Production. « La forte part d'exportation de notre usine souligne l'importance du libre-échange pour les États-Unis. Ce qui est non seulement bénéfique pour notre usine, mais aussi pour le solide réseau de fournisseurs de la région.’’

‘’Lorsque la première BMW a été produite en 1994, ce fut le début d'une histoire à succès pour l'usine de Spartanburg aux États-Unis. Nos employés ont produit près de 7 millions de BMW et, grâce au succès des exportations, des millions de clients dans le monde entier bénéficient de la technologie innovante et de la qualité supérieure de nos voitures X », a déclaré Robert Engelhorn, président-directeur général de BMW Manufacturing. « En tant que premier exportateur automobile des États-Unis, BMW souligne son partenariat de confiance avec South Carolina et son engagement continu envers les États-Unis.’’

‘’La forte position de South Carolina dans l'industrie automobile américaine est directement liée au succès de BMW dans cet état. Les modèles BMW produits à l'usine de Spartanburg font l'objet d'une demande mondiale et sont expédiés vers des marchés du monde entier », a déclaré Henry McMaster, gouverneur de South Carolina. « Nous sommes fiers qu'une entreprise aussi dévouée à la prospérité de sa communauté, à la réussite de ses employés et à l'innovation de son industrie soit basée en South Carolina. Nous sommes impatients de célébrer de nombreuses autres étapes importantes avec BMW dans les années à venir.’’

Les BMW assemblées dans l'usine de South Carolina étaient principalement exportées par le port de Charleston, et par quatre autres ports de la côte est. Les principaux marchés d'exportation de l'usine de Spartanburg étaient l'Allemagne, la Corée du Sud, la Chine, le Canada et la Grande-Bretagne.

Points importants de l'usine en 2024

L'équipe de BMW Manufacturing a produit 396 117 véhicules d'activité sportive et coupés l'année dernière. Parmi eux, plus de 57 000 étaient des voitures électriques hybrides rechargeables, ce qui représente plus de 14 % du volume total de l'usine. Près de 50 % de toutes les BMW vendues aux États-Unis ont été assemblées à l'usine de Spartanburg.

Autres points marquants de l'année 2024 :

• Lancement réussi de la BMW X3 de quatrième génération, l'un des modèles BMW les plus vendus en Amérique.
• À l'occasion du 30e anniversaire de l'usine de Spartanburg, BMW a ouvert son premier atelier d'emboutissage en Amérique du Nord. Cet atelier de presse ultramoderne fabrique des pièces pour la BMW X3, notamment des pièces suspendues telles que les quatre portes, les ailes, le hayon et les côtés de la carrosserie.
• L'expansion de l'unité d'assemblage X3/X4 s'est poursuivie, l'usine de Spartanburg se préparant à produire des véhicules entièrement électriques. La construction est terminée et la plupart des outils et équipements ont été installés. La première voiture électrique sera livrée fin 2026, et d'ici 2030, BMW Group assemblera au moins six modèles tout électriques aux États-Unis.
• Bonne progression des travaux dans l'usine proche de Woodruff, la nouvelle usine d'assemblage de batteries haute tension de $700 millions de BMW. Les outils et les équipements sont en cours d'installation et tous les travaux seront pratiquement achevés d'ici à la fin mars 2025. Les employés de cette usine d'un million de mètres carrés assembleront des batteries de sixième génération pour alimenter les voitures entièrement électriques de l'usine de Spartanburg.
• L'extension de l'atelier de carrosserie principal a été achevée et plus de 300 robots ont été installés.
• La construction d'un nouvel entrepôt de huit étages pour le stockage des véhicules a été achevée.

Depuis 1992, le groupe BMW a investi plus de $14,8 milliards dans ses activités en South Carolina. BMW Manufacturing est la plus grande usine du groupe BMW dans le monde, assemblant plus de 1 500 voitures par jour. Près de 57 % de ses voitures sont expédiées vers environ 120 marchés mondiaux, ce qui fait de BMW le plus grand exportateur de voitures aux États-Unis depuis plus d'une décennie. En 2024, près de 50 % des voitures BMW vendues aux États-Unis proviendront de l'usine de Spartanburg. Elle emploie plus de 11 000 personnes.

BMW Group

Avec ses marques BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce et BMW Motorrad, le BMW Group est le leader mondial en matière de construction de voitures et de motos et de fourniture de services financiers et de mobilité haut de gamme. Le réseau de production BMW Group compte plus de 30 sites dans le monde entier et dispose d'un réseau de distribution mondial avec des bureaux dans plus de 140 pays.

En 2024, BMW Group a réalisé plus de 2,45 millions de voitures et plus de 210 000 motos dans le monde. Le résultat avant impôt de l’exercice 2023 s’établit à 17,1 milliards d’euros, pour un chiffre d’affaires de 155,5 milliards d’euros. Au 31 décembre 2023, l’entreprise employait 154 950 collaborateurs et collaboratrices dans le monde.

Une réflexion sur le long terme et une conduite responsable sont depuis toujours le fondement du succès économique du BMW Group. La durabilité constitue un élément important de la stratégie d'entreprise du BMW Group, de la chaîne d'approvisionnement à la fin de la phase d'utilisation de tous les produits, en passant par la production.

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+++ La sixième génération de technologie BMW eDrive marque une étape de taille en matière de mobilité électrique +++ BMW Energy Master : unité de commande centrale intelligente pour la batterie haute tension fondamentalement inédite – développée et produite en interne +++ Mise en commun de l’expertise de la chaîne de valeur de l’électromobilité en Bavière et en Autriche +++ Principe modulaire innovant et flexible pour la conduite électrique +++

Munich/Landshut. BMW Group présente son nouveau bond en avant dans le domaine de la technologie d’entraînement électrique et ouvre ainsi la voie à une nouvelle ère de la conduite entièrement électrique. À l'occasion des Tech Days de Landshut, l’entreprise a offert un premier aperçu du développement et de la production de batteries haute tension et de systèmes d’entraînement électrique faisant appel à la sixième génération de la technologie BMW eDrive. Chaque véhicule Neue Klasse tout électrique en bénéficiera. Le premier modèle de la Neue Klasse sera produit en série dans le courant de l'année à l'usine de Debrecen, en Hongrie. Voici un aperçu des points forts de la technologie :

• L’unité de commande centrale intelligente Energy Master sur la batterie haute tension – développée par le BMW Group et produite à l’usine de Landshut.
• Un nouveau concept de batterie haute tension qui, associé à la cellule cylindrique BMW, promet d’offrir un véritable bond technologique, notamment des améliorations significatives en termes de densité énergétique, de vitesse de recharge et d’autonomie.
• Le BMW Group démontre également son ouverture technologique en matière de systèmes d’entraînement électrique, grâce à l’utilisation de différents types de moteurs électriques : SSM et ASM.
• Une approche modulaire de la production de moteurs électriques confère au BMW Group un degré de flexibilité exceptionnel.
• Le BMW Group réunit l’expertise de l’ensemble de la chaîne de valeur de la mobilité électrique en Bavière et en Autriche – du développement au recyclage, en passant par les achats et la production.
• Il fait à la fois preuve d’une ouverture technologique et d’une expertise complète dans tous les domaines de la mobilité électrique.

Adopter une approche ouverte sur la technologie tout en donnant le rythme de la mobilité électrique

« Pour le BMW Group, la mobilité électrique représente l’avenir et constitue un domaine de croissance clé. Nous ouvrons actuellement la voie avec cette technologie de propulsion. Dans le même temps, nous adoptons délibérément une approche ouverte sur la technologie, en reconnaissant que les besoins de mobilité varient d'une région du monde à l'autre », explique le Dr Joachim Post, membre du Conseil d'administration de BMW AG, responsable des achats et du réseau de fournisseurs. « Nous souhaitons offrir à nos clients le meilleur concept d’entraînement parfaitement adapté à chaque besoin. Il est possible d’allier les deux : proposer la meilleure technologie pour tous les besoins et être à la pointe de la mobilité électrique. »

Plus minces, plus rapides, plus performantes : les batteries haute tension pour la Gen6

Avec la nouvelle technologie BMW eDrive de sixième génération (Gen6 en abrégé), le BMW Group fait un vrai bond technologique. Les améliorations côté produits comprennent une vitesse de recharge 30 % plus rapide et une augmentation de 30 % de l’autonomie, certains modèles atteignant des chiffres encore plus élevés. En outre, le concept de batterie haute tension Gen6 bénéficie de la nouvelle technologie 800 V. La Gen6 fera ses grands débuts cette année dans la Neue Klasse et sera ensuite utilisée pour les modèles de la gamme entièrement électrique du BMW Group. Le concept des batteries haute tension Gen6 est fondamentalement nouveau et trouvera des applications dans tous les segments de véhicules, jusqu’aux modèles hautes performances de BMW M GmbH. Le nouveau design de la batterie, encore plus fin, permet de l’intégrer dans une multitude de modèles, quelle que soit la hauteur du véhicule. La batterie haute tension joue un rôle de composant structurel dans les carrosseries des modèles Neue Klasse (« pack-to-open-body »), et les nouvelles cellules cylindriques y seront intégrées directement (« cell-to-pack »). Cette nouvelle cellule cylindrique BMW affiche une densité énergétique 20 % supérieure à celle de son prédécesseur, la cellule de batterie prismatique Gen5. En outre, la recharge dans les deux sens sera possible : le BMW Group a confirmé la recharge bidirectionnelle de série pour la Gen6.

Unité de commande centrale hautement intelligente : le BMW Energy Master

Tous les éléments permettant ce bond technologique sont réunis dans le BMW Energy Master. Cette unité de commande centrale est placée sur la batterie haute tension et fournit l’interface pour l’alimentation haute et basse tension et pour les données de la batterie haute tension. Elle contrôle également l’alimentation électrique du moteur électrique et du système électrique du véhicule et est le gage d’un fonctionnement sûr et intelligent de la batterie haute tension. Le BMW Group a déposé toute une série de nouvelles demandes de brevet pour le système électrique du véhicule, notamment ses fusibles électroniques. Le matériel et les logiciels de l’Energy Master ont été entièrement développés en interne au sein du BMW Group. Cela garantit que les développements technologiques et les mises à jour des véhicules peuvent être mis en œuvre indépendamment et en temps réel via des Remote Software Upgrades, offrant ainsi un avantage particulier aux clients.

Approche « local for local » pour assemblage des batteries haute tension et le réseau fournisseurs

Les batteries haute tension de la Neue Klasse sont assemblées dans cinq nouveaux sites de production que le BMW Group a implantés à proximité de ses usines de véhicules dans le cadre d’une approche « local for local ». Par exemple, des sites d’assemblage de pointe pour les batteries haute tension Gen6 sont actuellement en construction à Irlbach-Straßkirchen (Basse-Bavière), Debrecen (Hongrie), Shenyang (Chine), San Luis Potosí (Mexique) et Woodruff, près de Spartanburg (États-Unis). Cette approche préserve la production même en cas d'événements politiques et économiques imprévus. En outre, les sites existants sont renforcés, ce qui permet de garantir et de créer des emplois. Le principe du « local for local » se poursuit dans le réseau de fournisseurs de cellules de batterie : afin de couvrir la demande pour la Gen6, le BMW Group a conclu des accords contractuels avec différents partenaires pour cinq usines de cellules de batterie, réparties en Europe, en Chine et aux États-Unis.

« Cell-to-pack » et « pack-to-open-body »

La production des batteries haute tension Gen6 suit les principes « cell-to-pack » et « pack-to-open-body ». Le « cell-to-pack » consiste à positionner les cellules cylindriques – fabriquées par les fournisseurs conformément aux spécifications du BMW Group – directement dans le boîtier de la batterie haute tension, sans passer par l'étape intermédiaire de production d'un module. « Pack-to-open-body » fait référence au nouveau rôle de la batterie haute tension en tant que composant structurel de l’architecture du véhicule. De nombreuses innovations brevetées par le BMW Group sont disponibles ici.

Le savoir-faire de Bavière et d’Autriche – une demande dans le monde entier

Avant que la production en série des batteries haute tension ne débute à l’échelle internationale, les processus de production seront développés et les batteries de présérie seront soumises à des essais approfondis. Tout ceci aura lieu dans les usines pilotes de batteries haute tension du BMW Group à Parsdorf, Hallbergmoos et Munich. Les nouvelles usines de production en série à travers le monde seront alors prêtes. L'expertise en matière de produits et de processus est concentrée en Bavière. La fabrication de l’Energy Master se fera à l’usine de Landshut, qui fournira ensuite toutes les usines d’assemblage de batteries haute tension dans le monde. C’est là que l’unité de commande hautement intelligente sera installée sur la batterie haute tension. Le moteur électrique doté de la technologie BMW eDrive de sixième génération est produit à l’usine Steyr en Autriche, qui abrite également un centre de développement pour les systèmes d’entraînement électrique et la gestion thermique.

Production de l’Energy Master à l’usine du BMW Group de Landshut  

Un système de production ultramoderne pour le BMW Energy Master prend forme à l'usine de Landshut. Cette dernière conçoit actuellement l’unité de commande hautement complexe en présérie. La production en série sur la première ligne débutera en août 2025 et une nouvelle phase d’expansion suivra mi-2026. C’est la première fois que le développement et la production de cette unité de commande centrale ont lieu en interne au sein du BMW Group. « En tant que plus grand fabricant de composants internes de l’entreprise, Landshut joue un rôle majeur pour la Neue Klasse », explique le Dr Joachim Post. « L’usine est un pôle d’innovation et un moteur de transformation. » 200 personnes environ seront employées dans la zone de fabrication de l’Energy Master à Landshut lorsque la production commencera, pour atteindre jusqu’à 700 personnes au fur et à mesure qu’elle augmentera. Depuis 2020, le BMW Group a investi plusieurs centaines de millions d’euros dans l’expansion de la mobilité électrique à l’usine de Landshut, renforçant à la fois le site de production lui-même et le statut de puissance industrielle de l’Allemagne sur le long terme. Le système de fabrication modulaire utilisé pour produire l’Energy Master a également été entièrement conçu en interne par le BMW Group. Il est fourni en sous-composants par une chaîne d'approvisionnement mise en place par le BMW Group. Celle-ci s'étend à la chaîne d'approvisionnement à n niveaux pour les composants essentiels tels que les semi-conducteurs. Les avantages de cette configuration se manifestent à la fois en termes de coûts et de sécurité d’approvisionnement. Le système de production évolutif permet à l’entreprise de répondre rapidement et en toute flexibilité aux exigences du marché. Le haut degré d'automatisation, impliquant jusqu'à 400 robots dans la phase d'expansion finale, maximise l'efficacité. Une surveillance complète en cours de processus, qui comprend l’utilisation de systèmes de caméra basés sur l’IA, et des contrôles de système en bout de ligne à 100 % dans un environnement de salle blanche sont le gage d’une qualité optimale.

Différents processus de recyclage au sein de la chaîne de valeur

Avec l’essor de la mobilité électrique, l’accent est de plus en plus placé sur le recyclage des batteries haute tension à la fin de leur cycle de vie. Dans le cadre d’un partenariat à long terme avec SK tes – l’un des principaux fournisseurs de solutions innovantes pour le cycle de vie des technologies – le cobalt, le nickel et le lithium des batteries en fin de vie sont récupérés par BMW Group et intégrés dans la chaîne d’approvisionnement pour la fabrication de nouvelles batteries. Cette approche en boucle fermée accroît l’efficacité et la résilience de BMW Group dans le cadre d’une économie circulaire. BMW Group suivra une voie similaire aux États-Unis, au Mexique et au Canada jusqu’en 2026 en concluant un partenariat distinct.

Recyclage direct innovant au sein de BMW Group

BMW Group explore également d’autres options de recyclage dans le cadre du processus de création de valeur. La méthode de recyclage direct développée en interne en est un exemple. BMW Group travaille main dans la main avec sa coentreprise Encory à la mise en place d’un centre de compétences pour le recyclage des cellules de batterie en Basse-Bavière, où l’entreprise mettra en pratique ses idées de recyclage direct. Ce procédé innovant permettra de décomposer mécaniquement les matériaux résiduels de la production des cellules de batterie et les cellules de batterie entières en leurs précieux composants. Les matières premières ainsi obtenues seront réutilisées directement dans le processus de production pilote des cellules de batterie au sein des centres de compétence de l’entreprise.

Approche technologique ouverte pour la mobilité électrique : le nouveau système e-drive de la Gen6

BMW Group a retenu le principe d’un moteur synchrone à excitation électrique (EESM) pour son unité de puissance Gen6. Sur ce type de moteur synchrone, le champ magnétique dans le rotor est généré par des enroulements alimentés en courant continu plutôt que par des aimants permanents. Ainsi, la force du champ magnétique du rotor peut être adaptée de manière optimale aux conditions de charge prévalentes. Il en résulte à la fois d'excellents niveaux d'efficacité aux points de fonctionnement pertinents pour le client et une puissance de sortie constante à des vitesses de rotation élevées. Comme pour la version Gen5, le moteur synchrone sera placé au-dessus de l’essieu arrière et sera doté d’un boîtier compact intégrant l’unité d’entraînement électrique, l’électronique de puissance et la transmission. De nombreux détails techniques du moteur ont été créés à l’aide d’une expertise brevetée, le rotor sans pot représentant à lui seul plus de dix demandes de brevet.

La Neue Klasse intègre également la technologie ASM

Le groupe motopropulseur de la Gen6 utilise une seconde technologie de moteur électrique supplémentaire sous la forme du moteur asynchrone (ASM). Au lieu d'être généré par des aimants permanents (PSM) ou une excitation électrique (EESM), le champ magnétique du rotor est induit par le stator. Sur ce type de moteur, le rotor se présente sous la forme d’une cage métallique. Le moteur asynchrone offre l'avantage d'une conception plus compacte et d'une meilleure rentabilité. Les variantes de moteur ASM seront montées sur l’essieu avant des voitures Neue Klasse équipées de BMW xDrive.

Améliorations de taille de la technologie EESM

Outre l’ajout de la technologie ASM, la technologie EESM a également fait l’objet d’une mise à niveau majeure pour la Gen6 : le rotor, le stator et l’onduleur ont tous été entièrement conçus pour la nouvelle architecture 800 V de la technologie Gen6 afin de maximiser les performances et l’efficacité du système d’entraînement. Une refonte complète des systèmes de refroidissement de l'huile et de l'eau a également contribué à cette optimisation. En outre, les experts du BMW Group ont aussi réussi à améliorer le moteur électrique et le carter central en termes de poids et de rigidité. La transmission est toujours de type hélicoïdal à deux étages, mais sa géométrie et son refroidissement ont été optimisés, les frottements ont été réduits et l'acoustique est plus agréable. Le « cerveau » du moteur synchrone à excitation électrique, l’onduleur, est désormais doté de la technologie 800 V et de semi-conducteurs en carbure de silicium (SiC) pour accroître l’efficacité. Il est entièrement intégré dans le carter du moteur électrique. Sa mission consiste à convertir l’alimentation CC de la batterie haute tension en CA pour l’utiliser dans le moteur électrique. L’onduleur a été développé en interne par BMW Group et est produit à l’usine de Steyr en Autriche.

Réduction du poids, des coûts et des pertes d'énergie - pour une plus grande efficacité du véhicule

Les résultats obtenus grâce à l'intégration intelligente de nouvelles technologies dans le groupe motopropulseur électrique et à l'amélioration constante des systèmes existants sont impressionnants. Par rapport à un modèle xDrive Gen5, un futur modèle Neue Klasse doté des technologies EESM et ASM présente les améliorations suivantes : les pertes d’énergie ont été réduites de 40 %, les coûts de 20 % et le poids de 10 %. En combinant différents types de moteurs électriques, l’approche technologique de BMW Group est donc clairement mise en évidence dans le domaine de la mobilité électrique. À l’avenir, les clients pourront choisir parmi des modèles équipés d’un, deux, trois ou quatre moteurs électriques selon leurs préférences et leurs besoins individuels. La technologie BMW eDrive de sixième génération est un facteur important dans le gain d'efficacité global du véhicule d'environ 20 % pour la Neue Klasse. Ce chiffre est basé sur une comparaison avec la génération actuelle de véhicules tout électriques de BMW Group.

Le concept modulaire offre un avantage décisif pour la fabrication de moteurs électriques

Le concept de fabrication du système d’entraînement électrique Gen6 utilise le principe des blocs de construction modulaires. Il constitue la base d’une fabrication extrêmement flexible de différentes variantes de moteurs électriques sur l’ensemble de la gamme de modèles Neue Klasse. Le concept de « bloc de construction » modulaire permet de réaliser des économies d’échelle positives et des réductions de coûts au niveau du développement et de la production. Il a également pour effet d’améliorer l’évolutivité des volumes de production. L’approche modulaire garantit un degré de flexibilité élevé dans la production, les réseaux d’approvisionnement et les achats.

Les systèmes d’entraînement électrique Gen6 : fabriqués à Steyr

La production en série des systèmes d’entraînement électrique Gen6 débutera à l’usine BMW Group de Steyr à l’été 2025. La pré-production a déjà démarré sur le site autrichien en septembre 2024. Les moteurs de pré-production sont soumis à des tests rigoureux et certains sont déjà montés sur des véhicules d’essai Neue Klasse de l’usine de Debrecen. D’ici à 2030, BMW Group aura investi plus d’un milliard d’euros sur le site depuis le lancement du projet en 2022 afin d’étendre son expertise en matière de développement et de production de systèmes d’entraînement électrique. Grâce à l’augmentation de la capacité, l’usine conservera son statut de premier site de production du constructeur pour les systèmes d’entraînement. Elle développe et fabrique des moteurs à combustion pour les marques BMW et MINI depuis plus de 40 ans. Les nombreuses années d’expérience et le haut niveau d’expertise de l’usine de Steyr dans le domaine des systèmes d’entraînement en font le site idéal pour la fabrication des moteurs électriques Gen6. Sa capacité de production annuelle est de 600 000 unités d’entraînement électrique. Les moteurs diesel et essence continuent d’y être fabriqués parallèlement aux moteurs électriques. D’ici à 2030, près de la moitié des salariés sur site devraient travailler dans le secteur de la mobilité électrique, étape indispensable pour pérenniser les plus de 4 700 emplois de l’usine. À l’avenir, tous les composants clés de l’unité d’entraînement électrique innovante et hautement intégrée – à savoir le rotor, le stator, la transmission, l’onduleur et le boîtier – seront produits à Steyr. Les onduleurs seront notamment fabriqués pour la première fois dans une salle blanche interne, ce qui permettra à l'usine de moteurs d'entrer dans le domaine de l'ingénierie électrique. Les composants d’entraînement électrique seront construits sur deux nouvelles lignes d’assemblage à Steyr.

Gestion thermique : interaction complexe, cruciale pour les performances

La gestion thermique implique une interaction très complexe entre différents systèmes d’un véhicule électrique et est d’une importance cruciale pour une multitude de paramètres de performance, notamment l’autonomie, la consommation en conditions réelles, l’accélération et le temps de recharge. La gestion thermique consiste à maintenir en permanence la température du moteur électrique, de l’électronique de puissance et de la batterie haute tension dans une plage optimale, tout en préservant le confort des passagers. Une gestion thermique efficace est également essentielle pour une recharge rapide. Ici, la température de la batterie doit être maintenue dans une fenêtre définie afin de tirer le meilleur parti de la capacité de recharge disponible. Contrairement aux moteurs thermiques, les moteurs électriques dégagent peu de chaleur. Cela signifie que, selon l’état de fonctionnement, la batterie et l’habitacle doivent non seulement être refroidis, mais également chauffés. Le site de Steyr conçoit les systèmes de gestion thermique pour tous les véhicules électriques du BMW Group. Le centre de développement de l’usine est également responsable du cerveau au cœur du moteur électrique, à savoir l’onduleur.

Usine du BMW Group de Landshut – un fabricant de composants aux multiples talents

Le site de Landshut est la plus grande usine de composants du BMW Group dans le monde, fournissant des composants à toutes les usines de véhicules et de systèmes d’entraînement de l’entreprise. Ses quelque 3 700 employés produisent un large éventail de composants de pointe pour les véhicules du BMW Group. Travaillant en étroite collaboration avec le Centre de recherche et d’innovation (FIZ) du BMW Group de Munich, l’usine de Landshut joue un rôle central en tant que pôle d’innovation pour l’industrie automobile. Elle développe des technologies et des processus de fabrication pionniers qui permettent à l'entreprise de conserver son avantage concurrentiel. Dans le cadre du projet Neue Klasse, le site investit environ 200 millions d’euros dans sa fonderie de métaux légers afin d’augmenter la capacité de production annuelle des carters de moteurs électriques. Le procédé de coulée d’injecteurs (ICA, Injector Casting) développé et breveté à Landshut est un excellent exemple de la force d’innovation de l’usine. Ce procédé unique au monde est utilisé pour fabriquer les boîtiers en aluminium très complexes des moteurs électriques qui établissent de nouvelles normes en matière de légèreté et d’intégration fonctionnelle.

Pour toute question, veuillez contacter :

Corporate Communications

Christian Marxt

Porte-parole Réseau de production, Groupe motopropulseur et Batteries haute tension

Tél. : +49-151-601-79158

E-mail : Christian.Marxt@bmwgroup.com

Carolin Seidel

Porte-parole de l'usine du BMW Group de Landshut

Tél. : +49-151-601-90340

E-mail : Carolin.Seidel@bmwgroup.com

Florian Moser

Chef d'équipe Achats et Réseau de fournisseurs, porte-parole Dr Joachim Post

Tél. : +49-151-601-62847

E-mail : Florian.Moser@bmwgroup.com

Bernhard Ederer

Porte-parole Technologie d’entraînement, Batterie, Recharge, Efficient Dynamics

Tél. : +49-176-601-28556

E-mail : Bernhard.Ederer@bmwgroup.com

Diana Schaidnagel

Porte-parole Durabilité

Tél. : +49-151-601-38407

E-mail : Diana.Schaidnagel@bmw.de

BMW Group

Avec ses marques BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce et BMW Motorrad, le BMW Group est le leader mondial en matière de construction de voitures et de motos et de fourniture de services financiers et de mobilité haut de gamme. Le réseau de production BMW Group compte plus de 30 sites dans le monde entier et dispose d'un réseau de distribution mondial avec des bureaux dans plus de 140 pays.

En 2024, BMW Group a réalisé plus de 2,45 millions de voitures et plus de 210 000 motos dans le monde. Le résultat avant impôt de l’exercice 2023 s’établit à 17,1 milliards d’euros, pour un chiffre d’affaires de 155,5 milliards d’euros. Au 31 décembre 2023, l’entreprise employait 154 950 collaborateurs et collaboratrices dans le monde.

Une réflexion sur le long terme et une conduite responsable sont depuis toujours le fondement du succès économique du BMW Group. La durabilité constitue un élément important de la stratégie d'entreprise du BMW Group, de la chaîne d'approvisionnement à la fin de la phase d'utilisation de tous les produits, en passant par la production.

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Munich. The BMW Startup Garage is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Its achievements so far: 4,700 startups assessed, joint projects with more than 220 fledgling companies from 26 countries, and a total of 30 startups now established as suppliers, service providers and an integral part of the BMW Group network.

The BMW Group’s venture client unit was founded in February 2015. The aim was to provide support for startups that could significantly benefit the company’s products, services and processes. But what’s special about this type of collaboration is that the business founders get to keep their stake in their company, as the BMW Group is involved not as an investor but as their client – a venture client. It assesses and accelerates their development with a view to making them suppliers and long-term partners.

“For the BMW Group, integrating innovative startups for a specific purpose is crucially important,” says Robert Hein, Head of the BMW Startup Garage, summing up his team’s first ten years of work. “We benefit from new ideas and perspectives we get from the collaboration and from the dynamism and agility of the startups. This allows us to make focused contributions to strong innovation development at the BMW Group.” But the startups themselves also reap the rewards: they have the backing of a strong partner who supports them as they develop their technologies and business models, and smooths the way for them to enter the automotive industry.

“In our anniversary year, we are going to continue our successful work and develop our global focus even further,” Hein announced. “We’re on the lookout across the globe for innovative startups working closely on future mobility.” Emerging companies can apply for a place on the venture client programme at any time via bmwstartupgarage.com.

Born in Garching, at home around the world

The BMW Startup Garage was launched in 2015 in Garching, just outside the city of Munich. Today it operates offices in Mountain View, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, Tel Aviv and, since 2024, Greenville (USA). 18 employees currently work in the  global BMW Startup Garage network which, in combination with the venture capital arm BMW i Ventures, forms the startup ecosystem of the BMW Group. BMW i Ventures is based in Silicon Valley and Munich and invests in emerging startups with a formative influence on the future of the automotive industry, production and the supply chain.

From startup to BMW Group logistics partner. The Embotech success story

One example of how close collaboration between the BMW Startup Garage and a fledgling business can lead to a lasting cooperation is Embotech AG. The Swiss-based company developed a solution known as automated vehicle marshalling (AVM), which allows vehicles to move around BMW plant premises automatically. AVM is now an integral part of the BMW Group’s state-of-the-art production logistics, and Embotech – supported by the BMW Group since 2018 – is an established global logistics partner in which BMW i Ventures has held a stake since December 2024.