Leipzig. As the BMW Group systematically advances the digitalisation of its production processes, Plant Leipzig is introducing a terahertz-based measurement system for plastic exterior components in series production. Capable of determining paint layer thickness non-destructively, the new technology has recently been scaled up to enable automated, precise and reproducible quality inspections directly within the production process.

“Terahertz measurement technology replaces complex manual inspection with a fully automated solution, taking quality assurance to an entirely new level,” says Christoph Theiselmann, Head of Exterior Plastics, Production at Plant Leipzig.

At the heart of the innovation is the terahertz measurement system “Irys”, developed by technology partner das‑Nano specifically for industrial inline inspections. The system enables contactless, non‑destructive measurement of multi‑layer paint systems and delivers real‑time data, representing a significant advance over previous inspection methods.

From manual inspection to inline measurement

Until now, paint layer thickness inspections on plastic exterior components at Plant Leipzig have been carried out manually during production, using scalpels and microscopy, thereby destroying parts in the process. This not only generated unnecessary waste but also meant that deviations from specifications were often only identified at a later stage.

Terahertz technology fundamentally transforms this process: sensors mounted on two robots in the existing end‑of‑line measurement cell are automatically and precisely positioned in relation to the component, where they measure the thickness of the individual paint layers by analysing the time‑of‑flight of reflected terahertz waves. Measurements take only seconds and achieve accuracy down to the micrometre level.

The new technology not only delivers objective and reproducible measurement results, but also enables the early detection of process deviations. By eliminating destructive testing, it reduces waste and material consumption while improving both process efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The resulting digital measurement data enhance transparency within production and provide a robust foundation for data‑driven process control.

“The combination of higher measurement accuracy, direct process integration and full digitalisation delivers tangible benefits across the entire production chain, strengthening quality, economic efficiency and resource conservation in equal measure,” Christoph Theiselmann adds.

Digitalisation of plastic component paint operations

Following the introduction of automated surface inspection in 2024, terahertz measurement technology marks the next step towards a fully digital paint shop for plastic components at Leipzig. The measurement and quality data it generates are available entirely in digital form, creating the basis for advanced data‑supported analysis. In the future, this data will be analysed using AI‑based methods to identify deviations early, evaluate trends and continuously optimise process parameters.

Pioneering role within the BMW Group and the plastics segment

By scaling terahertz measurement technology for industrial use, Exterior Plastics at Leipzig has broken new ground in more than one respect. As well as being the first BMW Group site to integrate the new technology into in-house production, Plant Leipzig sets new standards in the plastics segment more widely, being the first to use terahertz technology to inspect paint layer thickness on plastic components.

Following successful piloting and ramp‑up, the new technology can now be deployed with all component carrier systems, or ‘skids’, and is currently being enabled for all colour variants as well. It also offers significant potential for rollout at other plants, particularly in painted body shops and across the supplier network.

The Exterior Plastics team is part of the Purchasing and Supplier Network division at Leipzig. Its 450 employees specialise in the manufacture of injection-moulded plastic exterior body components – such as bumpers, side sills and spoilers – which it supplies not just to Leipzig, but also to the BMW Group plants in Dingolfing and Regensburg.

Munich. The BMW Group is consistently advancing the digitalisation and use of artificial intelligence in production. A key element in this effort is “Physical AI”, which combines digital artificial intelligence (AI) with real machines and robots. This enables intelligent systems such as humanoid robots to be integrated into real-world production processes.

For the first time, the BMW Group is now bringing Physical AI to Europe and launching a pilot project with humanoid robots at the Leipzig plant. The project aims to integrate humanoid robotics into existing series production of cars and to explore further applications in the production of batteries and components.

“Digitalisation improves the competitiveness of our production – here in Europe and worldwide. The symbiosis of engineering expertise and artificial intelligence opens up entirely new possibilities in production,” said Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Production.

Last year, the BMW Group successfully implemented a pilot project with humanoid robots at its Spartanburg plant in the United States. The insights gained from this project are being leveraged to further develop and scale Physical AI applications.

Unified IT and data model in the production system

Artificial intelligence is already an integral part of the BMW Group’s production system. From the virtual factory with digital twins and AI‑enabled quality controls to intralogistics with autonomous transport solutions, intelligent systems are used in almost all production steps.

A prerequisite for the effective use of artificial intelligence in production is a unified IT and data model across the entire production system. The BMW Group has consistently transformed isolated data silos into a unified data platform in its production system meaning that all data is consistent, standardised, and available at all times. This enables digital AI agents to take on increasingly challenging tasks autonomously and in complex environments while continuously learning and becoming available for additional areas of application. The introduction of intelligent and autonomous decision‑making agents marks a paradigm shift in production. In combination with robots, these digital AI agents are what make up Physical AI.

“Our aim is to be a technology leader and to integrate new technologies into production at an early stage. Pilot projects help us to test and further develop the use of Physical AI – that is, AI‑enabled robots capable of learning – under real-world industrial conditions,” said Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice President Production Network, Supply Chain Management at BMW Group.

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence are core elements of BMW iFACTORY and are the foundation for future‑proof, flexible, and competitive production.

Humanoid robotics complements existing automation

The BMW Group is strategically expanding its automation portfolio to include Physical AI and humanoid robotics. Humanoid robots are viewed as a value‑adding complement to existing automation. Particularly, they demonstrate potential in monotonous, ergonomically demanding, or safety‑critical tasks. The goal is to relieve employees and further improve working conditions.

Center of Competence for Physical AI in Production consolidates expertise

Its consistent data platform in production makes the BMW Group an attractive partner for technology companies seeking to test the possibilities of Physical AI – particularly humanoid robotics – in an industrial environment under real-world conditions. By setting up the new “Center of Competence for Physical AI in Production”, the BMW Group is taking the next step in consolidating its expertise and ensuring that the full range of knowledge can be leveraged across the organisation.

The BMW Group is following a clearly structured approach. Technology partners are evaluated according to defined maturity and industrialisation criteria and tested in pilot projects under real-world production conditions. Following a theoretical assessment, an evaluation is carried out at the manufacturer’s site in the laboratory using real use cases from the BMW production system to test integration capability. If this phase is successful, it is followed by an initial test deployment under real-world production conditions at a BMW Group plant and subsequently the actual pilot phase.

First pilot project with humanoid robots in Europe

In collaboration with Hexagon, a long‑standing, established partner of the BMW Group in the field of sensor technology and software, the first pilot project in Europe is now underway. Hexagon’s organisational unit located in Zürich, Hexagon Robotics, specialises in Physical AI and presented its first humanoid robot, AEON, in June 2025. Following an initial theoretical evaluation phase and successful laboratory tests, there was an initial test deployment at BMW Group Plant Leipzig in December 2025. A further test deployment is planned from April 2026 to ensure full integration for the actual pilot phase starting in summer 2026.

The deployment in Leipzig is focusing on testing a multifunctional application of the robot. It is based on AEON’s design, whose human‑like body allows a wide range of hand and gripper elements or scanning tools to be flexibly attached and enables dynamic use on wheels. During testing and later in the pilot phase, the robot will be used in the assembly of high‑voltage batteries and in component manufacturing.

Successful pilot at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg provides key insights for use of humanoid robots in production

The world’s first deployment of humanoid robots at a BMW Group plant took place at the Spartanburg plant in the United States in 2025, in collaboration with the technology company Figure AI. The results demonstrated that Physical AI can deliver measurable added value under real-world conditions. Within ten months, the robot Figure 02 supported the production of more than 30,000 BMW X3, working ten-hour shifts daily from Monday to Friday. Figure 02 handled the precise removal and positioning of sheet metal parts for the welding process – a task that is particularly demanding in terms of speed and accuracy while also being physically exhausting. In total, it moved more than 90,000 components and covered approximately 1.2 million steps in around 1,250 operating hours.

The pilot confirmed that humanoid robots can safely perform precise, repetitive work steps – such as positioning components with millimetre precision – and provided important insights for the further deployment of Physical AI in production.

During the initial test phases with Figure 02, it was essential to involve all areas of the production IT infrastructure, occupational safety, production process management, and shop floor logistics at an early stage.

One key finding was that the transition from the laboratory to the actual production environment was faster than expected. Motion sequences trained in the laboratory could be quickly transferred into stable shift operation. To ensure smooth coexistence with existing systems, integration into the BMW Smart Robotics ecosystem was implemented via standardised interfaces.

The body shop was deliberately selected for the test phase in Spartanburg, as it already has a high degree of automation. BMW Group employees in this area have extensive experience in integrating new technologies and processes. For example, material supply on the line is already carried out almost exclusively via automated smart transport robots (STR). The project team’s early communication ensured transparency from the outset and promoted acceptance. The deployment of humanoid robots was met with great interest among employees and quickly became a natural part of everyday work during the course of the project.

The BMW Group and Figure are currently evaluating additional use cases for deploying the Figure 03 robot.

Additional quotes for use:

Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice President Production Network, Supply Chain Management at BMW Group:

“Our aim is to be a technology leader and to integrate new technologies into production at an early stage. Pilot projects help us to test and further develop the use of Physical AI – that is, AI‑enabled robots capable of learning – under real-world industrial conditions. The successful first deployment of humanoid robots at our BMW Group plant in Spartanburg in the USA proves that a humanoid robot can function not only under controlled laboratory conditions but also in an existing automotive manufacturing environment.”

Michael Ströbel, Head of Process Management and Digitalisation, Order to Delivery at BMW Group:

“We are delighted to deploy a humanoid robot for the first time in a pilot project at a plant in Germany. Following evaluation by our Center of Competence for Physical AI in Production, tests were carried out in the laboratory and at Plant Leipzig at the end of last year. This year, our focus is on step‑by‑step integration into our production system to explore a wide range of applications. The emphasis is on researching multifunctional use of the robot in various production areas such as battery manufacturing for energy modules and component production for exterior parts. With Hexagon, we have found a proven long‑standing partner with a highly innovative approach to humanoid robotics for this project.”

Felix Haeckel, Team Lead CoC Physical AI for Production:

“At our new Center of Competence for Physical AI in Production, we are pooling our expertise to make knowledge on AI and robotics widely usable within the company. In recent years, we have built up an international team of experts that, in addition to in‑house research and programming, is dedicated to the gradual integration of AI into the existing production system. At the same time, our team in Munich is driving its own robotics research to set up, support, and further develop pilot projects in the field of Physical AI at our plants.”

Arnaud Robert, President of Hexagon Robotics:

“We are very pleased to be working with the BMW Group to advance the use of humanoid robots in real‑world environments.”

Leipzig. As BMW Group Plant Leipzig celebrates its 20^th anniversary, a stream of high-ranking representatives from politics, business and civil society today came to the plant to offer their congratulations on its two-decade success story. Among them were Barbara Meyer, Secretary of State for the Free State of Saxony, and the Lord Mayor of Leipzig Burkhard Jung. Both highlighted the plant’s importance for the economic development of the Leipzig/Halle region, but also for Saxony more generally. Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production, emphasised Leipzig’s pioneering spirit and extreme flexibility as factors in its success.

Since 2005 Plant Leipzig has produced almost 4,000,000 vehicles and received over €5.6 billion so far in investment from the BMW Group, creating 6,680 jobs with BMW. More than 11,600 people in total currently work at the site, which has undergone constant improvement over the years to enhance efficiency, flexibility and innovation, and prepare for the future. Today Leipzig is the only BMW Group plant to produce BMW and MINI vehicles side by side on the same production line – to customer specification and with the full range of drive options, from combustion engine to hybrid or electric drive.

Capacity utilisation is currently high at Plant Leipzig, with round-the-clock production in three shifts. This year the plant is expecting to achieve a new production record, its last being in 2024, when output totalled 246,195 vehicles. In 2025 Plant Leipzig will once again be a key contributor to the over 1,000,000 vehicles made at BMW Group plants in Germany. These account for roughly one in every four of all vehicles made in this country by the various manufacturers operating here.

Milan Nedeljkovic, Member of the Board of Management for Production, sees Leipzig truly ready for the future: “Leipzig is synonymous with innovation and digitalisation – and has proved it time and again over the last 20 years. Because of its flexibility and efficiency, it is a key cornerstone in what we do, as we believe in Germany’s strength within our global production network.”

Alongside flexibility and efficiency, Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel emphasised another key factor in Leipzig’s success: its capacity for innovation. “Here in Leipzig, we have paved the way for many innovations. One was the first electric BMW – the BMW i3. Another is the use of hydrogen, which we are already applying in intralogistics and will soon utilise in the paint shop too.” Looking ahead, Peterhänsel commented: “We are currently investing hundreds of millions in extending and modernising our systems and structures to prepare our plant for forthcoming vehicle generations. This will set the course for our future and keep Leipzig competitive.”

Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer emphazises: “BMW in Leipzig has completely reshaped our economic history. BMW has always been focused on technical progress and people’s real needs, on the cars they truly want to drive. If it continues on this path, it will remain at the forefront in the future as well.”

Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung highlighted the plant’s importance for the city of Leipzig: “We are very pleased indeed that the largest industrial employer in our city is looking back on 20 years of success. while also looking forward to a bright future. It will benefit not just employees, but our city as a whole, of course. Congratulations! And here’s to another 20 years of successful collaboration.”

For more detailed information on the Plant Leipzig success story, click HERE to view our press release from 1 March 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact: 

Kai Lichte, Head of Communications for BMW Group Plants Leipzig, Berlin and Eisenach

Telephone: +49-(0)341-445-38000

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

Email: Kai.Lichte@bmwgroup.com

BMW Group Plant Leipzig

BMW Group Plant Leipzig first started series production in March 2025. Today it manufactures up to 1,300 vehicles a day, which currently comprise the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and the MINI Countryman. The BMW Group has invested a total of more than €5,6 billion in its Leipzig site, where the regular workforce currently totals more than 6,600 employees.

Internet: www.bmw-werk-leipzig.de

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

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 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The 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.

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

Leipzig. On 1 March 2005 BMW Group Plant Leipzig went on stream – with series production of the fifth-generation BMW 3 Series Sedan. Its construction had been announced four years earlier, in July 2001, with the location chosen from among more than 250 applicants. Since then, some 3.75 million cars have rolled off the production lines, and the plant has been steadily extended and upgraded. The BMW Group has so far invested more than 5 billion euros in the site – and will continue to capitalise on its flexibility in the future.

BMW Group Plant Leipzig currently manufactures four models with three different types of drive by two different brands – all on the same production line: the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (including the plug-in hybrid version) and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé as well as the MINI Countryman in both its fully electric and conventionally powered variants. When the plant was in planning, output was expected to total 650 units a day. Now, 20 years down the line, capacity stands at up to 1,300 units a day. Since 2005 there have been 20 different product launches of BMWs and MINIs Made in Leipzig.

Extraordinary architecture and flexible structures

In its 20 years of existence, BMW Group Plant Leipzig has set standards time and again and clocked up a succession of milestones. The architecture of the central building alone remains impressive to this day. Designed by the renowned Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, it was awarded the German Architecture Prize in 2005, the year it opened. As the centrepiece and linking element of the plant, it provides the backdrop to the spectacular procession of vehicles that pass overhead through the offices on their way through the production process.

The flexible structures of the plant halls have also proven their worth to this day, throughout the various expansion stages of the facility. Leipzig was the first assembly plant in the world to feature a ‘finger’ arrangement in the production hall, for example, which offers ideal logistics solutions and can be flexibly adapted as needed. Developed specifically for this site, the finger layout allows trucks to deliver parts and preassembliesstraight to the production line. It also means extensions can be added as needed and new assembly stations integrated easily without having to rebuild the line from scratch. At the moment various further extensions are being added on the 240-hectare site.

For the last 20 years, BMW Group Plant Leipzig has demonstrated tremendous flexibility and adaptability, accommodating new products, processes and technologies. It has often played a pioneering role within the BMW Group production network. Its first upgrade consisted of the addition of a new press shop. This went into operation in 2009 and incorporated the first high-speed servo press in the world, able to produce pressed parts with unprecedented speed and efficiency. By 2014 three additional large-scale presses and two coil systems for body panels had also been installed, completing the press shop upgrade.

Pioneer in electromobility 

One particularly defining moment for Plant Leipzig was the decision to produce its first fully electric vehicle there, making it the birthplace of electromobility at the BMW Group. Between 2013 and 2022 more than 250,000 all-electric BMW i3 vehicles rolled off the production lines. Their carbon bodies were a world first in series production. In 2014 the BMW i8 followed: the first plug-in hybrid by the BMW Group, it featured an award-winning, futuristic design and progressive technologies, which together made it an icon among sportscars. With 20,500 units made – including the BMW i8 roadster launched in 2018 – the era drew to a close in 2020.

But the team’s expertise in electromobility continues: in 2021 BMW Group Plant Leipzig launched e-component manufacturing for high-voltage battery production. Having started with the production of battery modules for the BMW Group production network, facilities were expanded within four years to include further stages of manufacturing and additional production lines. Since the start of MINI Countryman Electric production in March 2024, Plant Leipzig has carried out the entire process of high-voltage battery manufacturing for the fifth generation of batteries, with its five cell-coating lines, three module assembly lines and two lines for high-voltage battery assembly. The batteries are used in the MINI Countryman Electric and fully electric BMW models at various BMW Group sites.

From rear-wheel to front-wheel drive 

It’s not just the BMW i8 that made 2014 a landmark year: it was also the year production of the first generation of BMW 2 Series Active Tourer began. This brought fundamental change to BMW Group Plant Leipzig: it was the first ever BMW with a front-wheel drive architecture and paved the way for this drive technology to become integrated into Plant Leipzig’s production lines. Thanks to Leipzig’s flexibility, the sports activity tourer was able to roll off the same line as the BMW 1 Series, 2 Series and first-generation BMW X1, all of which are rear-wheel drives.

Integrating the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer required just a few minor adjustments to the paintshop and assembly, but in the bodyshop, its new front-wheel drive concept and vehicle architecture meant a whole new production area was needed. About a year and a half later, production of a plug-in hybrid model was launched: the BMW 225xe. Like the BMW i8, this featured a combined combustion-engine and electric drive. Its successor, the second-generation BMW Active Tourer, in production since 2021, is also manufactured with either a plug-in hybrid drive or an internal combustion engine. In 2021, Leipzig’s rear-wheel drive era came to an end when the BMW 2 Series Coupé, BMW 2 Series Convertible and BMW M2 were phased out.

Production of the MINI Countryman is another USP of Plant Leipzig within the production network: it is the only full vehicle production facility in the BMW Group to produce BMW- and MINI-badged cars on one and the same production line.

Important employer in the region

With some 6,800 BMW employees and more than 11,000 people based locally, the BMW Group plant is a major contributor to the economy and a key employer in the region. When it first went on stream, it had roughly 2,600 BMW employees, with plans for around 5,500 jobs over the medium term.

In 2001, when Leipzig was chosen as the site for a new plant, the enthusiasm and welcome across the region were huge. Job applications poured in. On the day of the announcement alone, the specially established call centre took more than 4,000 calls. Over the next few days, the post bags were full, and by September 2001 thirty-five apprentices had become the first cohort to receive an employment contract with BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Since then, Leipzig has trained some 1,100 apprentices.

Last year Plant Leipzig opened its Talent Campus. This accommodates training and development spaces in a single new building on the plant premises, offering the perfect conditions for employee training.

In 2024 the MINI Countryman meant production volumes increased, marking another first for Leipzig: the introduction of nightshifts – unprecedented in the history of the plant.Today, BMW and MINI vehicles are manufactured round the clock, in three shifts. The additional shift has created jobs for another 900 employees.

Progressive energy management

Planning the BMW plant in Leipzig, efficient and sustainable processes played a crucial role – not just in vehicle production but in energy supplies as well. Visible from afar, the plant’s four wind turbines are among its landmark features and have been powering production with green energy since 2013. With a total capacity of 10 megawatts, they generate 26 gigawatt hours a year of electricity from wind energy – enough to cover about 15 percent of the plant’s total energy needs.

In addition, BMW Group Plant Leipzig is equipped for interim energy storage, with a battery storage farm that went into operation in 2017. This comprises up to 700 second-life high-voltage batteries from BMW i3 cars, enabling us to optimise local energy management and help stabilise the electricity network.

Looking to the future, BMW Group Plant Leipzig attaches great importance to hydrogen as a fuel. In pursuit of its vision of largely decarbonising production – by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen – it will need sufficient supplies from a grid. A regional hydrogen network is currently under construction, and Plant Leipzig plans to tap into it.

BMW Group Plant Leipzig has extensive experience of working with hydrogen, having already used it for in-house plant logistics for more than a decade. A pioneer in the automotive industry, it opened Germany’s first indoor hydrogen filling station in 2013. It now operates five such facilities for refuelling forklifts and tug trains in intralogistics. Its hydrogen fuel cell-powered fleet currently consists of over 200 vehicles and is one of the largest in Europe.

Plant Leipzig was also the first car plant in the world to introduce a brand-new bivalent burner technology that can run on either natural gas or hydrogen. It can even switch between the two while operations are ongoing. In the paintshop, five such gas- and hydrogen-capable burners are currently used to dry the contrast roofs of the MINI Countryman, BMW 1 Series and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, and another six have replaced the previous systems in the PVC drying section.

BMW Group Plant Leipzig is currently undergoing further extensions and upgrades in preparation for forthcoming models – and for the next 20 years in its history.

BMW Group Plant Leipzig – Key milestones:

• 2001 Leipzig is chosen as the location for the new plant
• 2002 Zaha Hadid’s design is selected for the central building. The ground-breaking is celebrated
• 2003 The foundation stone is laid for the central building, and the topping-out ceremony is celebrated later that year

• 2005 Series production is launched with BMW 3 Series. Plant Leipzig is inaugurated. The central building wins the German Architecture Prize
• 2007 Production of the three-door BMW 1 Series and the BMW 1 Series Coupé begins
• 2009 Leipzig produces its 500,000^th car. Production of the first generation of BMW X1 begins. The press shop opens with the world’s first high-speed servo press
• 2011 Plant Leipzig delivers its 1,000,000^th BMW

• 2013 Four wind turbines go on stream. Production of the BMW i3 begins. Carbon is used in series production – a world first
• 2014 Production of the BMW i8 begins. Plant Leipzig is extended for production of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (the first front-wheel drive BMW). The press shop is upgraded
• 2016 Plant Leipzig delivers its 2,000,000^th BMW
• 2018 The plant is upgraded
• 2021 Plant Leipzig delivers its 3,000,000^th BMW. Battery module production begins
• 2022 The BMW i3 is phased out
• 2023 Production of the MINI Countryman begins
• 2024 Production of three models begins: the MINI Countryman Electric, fourth-generation BMW 1 Series and second-generation BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé. Night shifts are introduced in assembly

Leipzig. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is made exclusively at BMW Group Plant Leipzig, where production of the second generation is now being launched. It joins the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and MINI Countryman in the portfolio of models made at the plant, which puts out up to 1,300 vehicles a day. The four models with three different drive options by two different brands are all made on a single production line – a testament to the extreme flexibility of production at Leipzig. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is due for market launch in March 2025.

Five years ago, the four-door Coupé for the compact segment was an all-new product presented by BMW as a more luxurious alternative to the classic sedan. Production of the first BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé started in Leipzig on 1 November 2019, with market launch in March 2020. The main markets have been the UK, China and the US.

Sporty, elegant design 

The new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is captivating, with its expressive styling, completely new range of engines, extensively revised suspension technologies and an innovative system for partially automated driving and parking that comes as standard. It has also gained 25 millimetres in height and 20 millimetres in length.

The exterior design is defined by a low front section angled deep to the road, a dynamically elongated silhouette and a powerful-looking rear, lending the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé even more sporty elegance. The tailgate is assembled with the help of a completely new production machine that was installed at the Plant Leipzig bodyshop specially for the purpose and features laser-beam welding technology. Like the new BMW 1 Series, which has been rolling off the production line since July, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé features the striking, broad BMW kidney grille with its innovative combination of vertical and diagonal bars. From March 2025 this will be available with an optional illuminated surround as well.

New engines and colours 

The redesigned interior of the four-door BMW 2 Series Coupé is entirely leather-free and comes complete with Curved Display, just like all the other BMW models made in Leipzig. Reengineered seats offer enhanced comfort, especially on longer journeys.

The top-of-the-range version is the BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupé, powered by a 221kW/300 hp four-cylinder engine (combined fuel consumption according to WLTP: 8.2-7.5 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions according to WLTP: 185-170 g/km; fuel consumption according to Pkw-EnVKV: 8.2 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions according to Pkw-EnVKV: 185 g/km; CO₂ class according to Pkw-EnVKV: G). At market launch in March 2025, the engine portfolio will include another petrol engine plus two diesel options.

The compact BMW 2 Series four-door is currently available in two unicolour, seven metallic and four BMW Individual finishes as well as a wide range of BMW Individual special paints. An optional contrast roof is also available, in high-gloss black.

Plant extension and nightshifts support increased production volume

With the production launch of the second-generation BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé, the model family at BMW Group Plant Leipzig is now complete. “The new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé, BMW 1 Series, BMW Active Tourer, MINI Countryman and our first fully electric model, the MINI Countryman Electric, make for good capacity utilisation at Plant Leipzig. Our products are very popular with customers,” says Plant Director Petra Peterhansel.

BMW Group Plant Leipzig has been undergoing comprehensive extension since 2018 and can now manufacture up to 350,000 cars a year – 100,000 more than previously. Since November 2023 its production volumes have increased thanks to the MINI Countryman, making it the only BMW Group plant to manufacture cars by two brands on the same production line. Plant Leipzig can produce up to 500 MINI and approx. 800 BMW vehicles a day, with increased volumes helping to secure employment and generating as many as 900 new jobs in vehicle production alone

in 2024. Since opening for business in 2005, Plant Leipzig introduced nightshifts in assembly for the first time in September of this year and now manufactures BMW and MINI vehicles round the clock in three shifts.

Leipzig. Every year 65 young people start their vocational training at BMW Group Plant Leipzig. In the future, more than 6,200 employees a year will develop their skills too, in specifically tailored courses and seminars. For the first time, Leipzig’s new Talent Campus brings together vocational training and skills development – under one roof. The new building officially opened on 25 October.

The Talent Campus offers 6,000 m² of space in total across two floors. For those doing their vocational training, it is equipped with automotive, CNC, mechatronics and mechanical workshops as well as spaces for pneumatics, mechatronics and IT/AR/VR. For employees undergoing skills development, it offers e-mobility workshops for SPS control technologies, robotics and automation as well as practical training multifunctional spaces and seminar rooms. The entire building is designed to be accessible and, along with all the equipment, it came in at an investment of 16 million euros.  

Nicole Haft-Zboril, Head of BMW Group Real Estate Management: “This new Talent Campus is an investment in a flexible, needs-focused training infrastructure at our Leipzig site. The construction project has been successfully completed – thanks in large part to our collaboration with our partner, the City of Leipzig – and the building has been handed over in time for the start of the academic year.”

The Talent Campus offers training and development for a wide range of participants, from apprentices to managers. Courses and programmes centre on working with high-voltage electricity for new battery systems and on digitalisation, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence, to develop the skills that will be vital in the car industry of the future. Moritz Kippenberger, Vice President HR Services, Recruiting, Qualification: “To rise to the challenges that lie ahead, we need new skills and abilities. At the BMW Group, we are preparing and supporting all our employees by giving them the training and education they need to make the BMW Group electric, digital and circular. It’s a change process that we are undertaking with them.”

BMW Group Plant Leipzig is steadily growing in terms of employees, buildings and production volume. When it opened in 2005, it employed around 2,600 people. Today there are over 6,000. Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel: “Investments in training and development are key to the transformation of our industry. We are securing the future of our site by fostering young talent and offering attractive skills development options to keep our longer-standing employees with us on our journey to electric and digital mobility.”

Training and education has always been important and integral to the BMW Group’s culture. Over the last three years, the training rate at Plant Leipzig has risen by 44 percent. The site currently offers five apprenticeships: production mechanic, IT system electronics technician, automotive mechatronics technician, mechatronics technician and industrial mechanic. This year BMW Group Plant Leipzig is also home to the state of Saxony’s Best Apprentice.

Jens Köhler, Works Council Chairman at Plant Leipzig: “Training has been an integral part of our history ever since the plant was established. I am proud that by opening this Talent Campus, we are establishing training and education at our plant with a physical entity on our premises. We have enabled a cutting-edge learning environment that offers practical, hands-on training and is a fundamental component of our site.”

To ensure it has the skills it needs for the years ahead, the BMW Group has long been systematically identifying training needs, to be properly prepared for the future of individual mobility.

Leipzig. The electrification of transport logistics for e-component production is gathering pace. Recently, two fully electrically powered trucks took over the transportation of components from the warehouse to the high-voltage battery production halls at BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Together, they will save around nine tonnes of CO₂ a year compared with conventional diesel-powered transport vehicles.

The two electric trucks complete the eight-kilometre round trip from the logistics centre to Leipzig’s high-voltage battery production halls and back up to twelve times a day. That’s almost 100 kilometres per truck per day – covered quietly and with zero local emissions. For short distances like this, electric trucks are the perfect solution.

The two vehicles transport parts for e-drive production, primarily of battery cells and battery modules. They take the parts from the logistics warehouse in BMW Allee to the production halls on the plant premises, operating round the clock in three shifts. The semi-trailer sports a battery symbol on the side and words proclaiming that the fully electric truck is on the road for Leipzig – for local production, emissions-free transportation and high-voltage batteries made in the city.

Electric trucks support high-voltage battery production

BMW Group Plant Leipzig has been manufacturing e-components for the production network since 2021. Since early 2024 it has also been running the entire high-voltage battery production process for the current, fifth generation. This consists of three stages, which are carried out on the plant’s five cell coating, three module production and two high-voltage battery assembly lines – and include the powerpacks for the MINI Countryman Electric, manufactured in-house since March of this year. Battery production currently operates with a team of about 1,000 employees.

As well as high-voltage batteries for the MINI Countryman Electric, Plant Leipzig produces battery packs and modules for the BMW production network, for the fully electric BMW iX1, BMW iX2, BMW i4, BMW i5 and BMW iX.

High-voltage batteries are produced in the halls that used to be home to BMW i3 and BMW i8 assembly. The halls have now been converted and new buildings added, creating some 150,000m² of space for this area of production on the premises of Plant Leipzig. Annual output stands at up to 300,000 high-voltage batteries a year, with the BMW Group’s investments in e-component production at Plant Leipzig totalling more than 900 million euros so far.

Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel sees the introduction of the two electric trucks as a further milestone on the road to the future: “We are delighted to be undertaking this journey with our longstanding logistics partner, the Rudolph Logisitik Gruppe. The transition to electromobility and sustainable production affects not only our BMW and MINI cars but our production methods and supply chains as well.”

Lower emissions, less noise

Powered by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery systems, the two fully electric trucks working for BMW Group Plant Leipzig are made by Designwerk. According to the manufacturer, the four electric drives in a Designwerk electric truck deliver 610 hp and are three times more efficient than their diesel counterparts when out on the road. They produce zero emissions when in operation and do not impact the environment with soot particles, nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO₂) or engine noise. Studies show that when passing or accelerating at low speeds, an electric truck emits around five decibels (dB) less noise than a comparable diesel-powered vehicle.

Trucks are charged during drivers’ breaks. Their 340 kWh batteries take around 1.5 hours to recharge to 80 percent. They can be replenished about 3,000 times, according to Designwerk.

Open to different technologies to reduce CO₂ from logistics

The use of electric trucks in logistics is among the measures in the BMW Group-wide Green Transport Logistics Project. This aims to reduce emissions from transportation in the global production and sales network, and takes an open approach to technologies, prioritising CO₂-efficient energy and transportation options. Besides battery-electric trucks, increasing use is being made of biofuels such as HVO100, made from residues and waste and used at the Munich site, for instance. Production deliveries in Germany have also been trialled using bio-LNG in vehicles on the roads. Moreover, in an attempt to learn more about using hydrogen as a fuel for trucks, the BMW Group is involved in research projects such as H2Haul and HyCET.

By 2030 the BMW Group aims to reduce CO₂ emissions across the vehicle lifecycle by 40 percent, compared with 2019.

Leipzig. Organisationally, Exterior Components (‘Technologie Exterieur Komponenten’, TEK) forms part of the Purchasing and Supplier Network division at Leipzig. Its 450 employees produce over a million injection-moulded plastic exterior parts a year, including bumpers, sills and spoilers. These are supplied not just to Plant Leipzig but also to BMW Group Plants Dingolfing and Regensburg.

Explaining their decision, the jury praised the TEK for its consistent pursuit of the TEK 2028 vision. This is the driving force behind the redesign of the production system and will see the primary focus shift from car sets to large-scale just-in-sequence (JIS) production for the BMW Group. The jury cited the combination of lean principles and progressive digital approaches as being a key factor for success.

Christoph Theiselmann, head of the TEK, was delighted with the award: “I’m extremely proud of this important stage win and would like to thank all our employees for their outstanding team performance. This award is confirmation, from the highest level, of the significant progress the TEK has made on our journey of transformation. Going forward, a number of major steps still lie ahead, and enhancing and optimising innovations and efficiency will remain our key focus.”

The jury were particularly impressed by the variety of digital applications being implemented in the TEK, in areas such as data analytics, the planning and optimisation of assembly workplaces, quality assurance, anticipatory maintenance and virtual factory planning and commissioning – an excellent combination of top-down and bottom-up initiatives.

The eighteenth Lean Production Awards are presented by Agamus Consult and the industry magazine Automobil Produktion. The official award ceremony will take place on 26 and 27 November 2024 in Palmela, Portugal.

Leipzig. The first fourth-generation BMW 1 Series to roll off the production line at BMW Group Plant Leipzig is a BMW 120 in Alpine White for a customer in Germany (combined fuel consumption: 6.0 - 5.3 l/100 km (62 miles); CO2 emissions combined: 135 - 121 g/km according to WLTP; CO2 classes: D). The premium compact is manufactured exclusively at Plant Leipzig, in Saxony, where up to 500 of the cars can be made per day. Combined with the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and MINI Countryman, this puts daily output from Plant Leipzig at up to 1,300 vehicles. The new BMW 1 Series is due for market launch in October 2024.

The new BMW 1 Series marks the start of a new chapter in the BMW brand’s almost 20-year success story in the compact segment. Production of the model first began with the three-door at Plant Leipzig in 2007. Since then the plant has manufactured more than 1.3 million in a range of variants. As at the end of June 2024, nearly 443,000 third-generation BMW 1 Series have been delivered to customers. “The new BMW 1 Series will remain a key factor in maintaining high capacity utilisation here at plant Leipzig,” said a confident Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director.

Plant upgraded to increase capacity

Since 2018 BMW Group Plant Leipzig has undergone systematic upgrades. It can now produce up to 350,000 units a year – 100,000 more than previously. It currently manufactures four models with three different types of drive by two different brands – all on the same production line. Since November 2023 output has been boosted by the MINI Countryman. Production of that will rise during the course of this year to 500 units a day, in addition to the 800 or so BMW vehicles.

The increase in production volumes is securing existing jobs as well as creating new ones. An additional 900 people are set to join vehicle production alone, by the end of 2024 Plant Leipzig will employ around 7,000 people. 

Dynamic design, new drive portfolio

With a dynamic design presence, completely revised drive portfolio and extensively improved chassis technology, the BMW 1 Series continues to sharpen its profile as the sportiest vehicle in the competition. The front end is strikingly flat and sits significantly lower to the road than the predecessor’s, signalling that more than ever, this car is geared towards sporty driving pleasure. The wide, forward-leaning radiator grille features an innovative arrangement of vertical and diagonal bars. LED headlights come as standard and give the car a striking “four-eyed face”.

The pronounced rear apron with its vertical reflectors, two-part rear lights and black, diffusor-style insert add to the vehicle’s powerful appearance. Inside, the new BMW 1 Series is now completely leather-free as standard. The redesigned cockpit features the BMW Curved Display. The optional M Sport Package makes for an even more dynamic look, as does the special M Sport Design equipment option, available from market launch in Europe.

Contrast roof – a first in the BMW 1 Series

The body of the new BMW 1 Series is available in a choice of two solid-colour and seven metallic finishes. BMW Individual paintwork will also be on offer, along with a wide range of BMW Individual Special Paints. The new BMW 1 Series is also the first BMW to feature the optional contrast paintwork, with a roof in high-gloss black. As with the MINI Countryman, the roof will be painted at Plant Leipzig using a new, overspray-free painting process that is easier on resources. Known as overspray-free painting, the method is currently being piloted and works without producing the mist of excess paint that usually occurs.

The new BMW 1 Series is due for market launch on 5 October. The strongest markets for the 1 Series so far have been Germany and Europe, and the UK and Italy especially.

Leipzig. Electrification continues at BMW Group Plant Leipzig: Four months after launching production of the combustion-engined MINI Countryman, the all-electric version is now rolling off the lines at Leipzig as well. After phasing out production of the BMW i3, the birthplace of electric mobility at the BMW Group has welcomed another fully electric car to its range. It now manufactures four models with three drive types by two brands, all on a single production line: the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (including the plug-in hybrid version), the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and the MINI Countryman in both its fully electric and combustion-powered versions.

The MINI Countryman Electric represents a major step in the MINI brand’s transition to full electrification by 2030 and combines an electrified go-kart feel with zero local emissions mobility. It comes in two fully electric variants: the Countryman E (150 kW, 204 hp | electricity consumption 17.4 – 15.7 kWh/100 km | CO2 emissions 0 g/km) and the more powerful all-wheel Countryman SE ALL4 (230 kW, 313 hp | electricity consumption 18.5 – 16.8 kWh/100 km | CO2 emissions 0 g/km).  

Consistent plant upgrades and flexible production system

To enable production of up to 350,000 units a year – 100,000 more than previously – Plant Leipzig has been continuously upgraded since 2018, with extensive additions and upgrades to the bodyshop, paintshop, assembly and logistics. “Our cars and components are very much in demand. In recent years the BMW Group has invested around 1.6 billion euros in the Leipzig site to produce additional vehicles and electric components, and now we’re increasing vehicle volumes too – which is great news for our plant,” said Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director.

The main driver behind the volume increase is the MINI Countryman. During the course of 2024, output will rise to almost 500 units a day – on top of the 800 or so BMW vehicles the plant is producing. What’s more, thanks to its flexible production system, Plant Leipzig is in a position to respond quickly to customer demand, for example by increasing the share of fully electric vehicles.

Flexible assembly structures also meant the MINI Countryman Electric could be integrated seamlessly into production. The situation is similar with the different drive units, which are all produced on one and the same line in aggregate assembly and prepared for what’s known as “marriage” with the body. The e-drives, transmissions and control electronics (collectively known as the highly integrated electric drive topology, or HEAT) for the two all-electric models are connected directly in the plant. A new production line was required only for the control electronics.

More staff and nightshifts for increased production volume

Higher production volume means secure employment and up to 900 additional employees in vehicle production alone. By the end of 2024, Plant Leipzig will employ around 7,000 BMW staff. Working hours will need to be adjusted in all technologies, with nightshifts in assembly starting for the first time in September of this year and cars being produced round the clock in three shifts.

“Plant Leipzig first went on stream in 2005 with about 2,600 employees in production. 19 years later there are over 7,000. Over the years, the plant has grown steadily and considerably. The start of nightshifts in assembly represents another important milestone in the success story of our plant and is a clear show of confidence by our company in our site here in Leipzig,” emphasised Works Council Chairman Jens Köhler.

Made at Plant Leipzig: high-voltage batteries for the MINI Countryman Electric

With the production launch of the MINI Countryman Electric, all three stages of the Gen 5 high-voltage battery production process are now represented at BMW Group Plant Leipzig: cell coating, module production and battery assembly. Operations in all three are currently ramping up, with five cell-coating, three module-production and two high-voltage battery-production lines now in place.

“We are in the middle of the transformation to e-mobility,” said Markus Fallböhmer, Head of Battery Production at the BMW Group. “Starting this year, Plant Leipzig will carry out every stage of our in-house high-voltage battery production process. It’s our next great step forwards.”

Plant Leipzig’s e-component production capacity has been increasing since 2021. It will now manufacture not just the high-voltage batteries for the MINI Countryman Electric but also e-components for the BMW iX1, BMW iX2, BMW i4, BMW i5 and BMW iX made at other sites. The e-component production unit at Leipzig currently employs some 1,000 people.

To enable production of high-voltage batteries, spaces previously used for the BMW i3 and BMW i8 have been converted and new buildings added. One of them is a new hall with a footprint of about 61,000 m². This houses two lines capable of producing up to 300,000 high-voltage batteries a year. The BMW Group has invested over 900 million euros in e-component production at Plant Leipzig to date.

Resource-saving painting processes

At launch, the fully electric MINI Countryman comes in three additional body colours: British Racing Green, Chili Red and Blazing Blue – and with MINI’s trademark contrast roof, if desired. This is painted using a new overspray-free method that saves resources and is currently being readied for series operation. The term “overspray” refers to the mist of excess paint particles that forms when bodies are painted the conventional way. With the new technique, this mist no longer occurs. This makes it easier to paint in multiple colours as the laborious process of masking is no longer required. Overspray-free painting also helps save CO₂ emissions, as exhaust from the cabin requires less cleansing. In addition, it requires considerably less conditioned air, i.e. air that is brought to the exact temperature and humidity required for painting. As a result, less energy is needed to temper air and treat exhaust.

The burner technology used to dry the paint on contrast roofs was also converted for the start of MINI Countryman production and now consists of a bivalent system. The fuel-flexible burners can run on hydrogen (H2) as well as gas (methane, CH4) and even switch between the two while in operation. Five such bivalent hydrogen-capable burners are used to produce the contrast roofs for the MINI Countryman.

Further burners in the paintshop will also gradually switch to bivalent operations, with the next six hydrogen-capable burners just installed. This makes Leipzig a pioneer in the automotive industry and takes it ever closer to lower CO₂ emissions. “Our vision at Plant Leipzig is to decarbonise production as far as possible by replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen,” said Petra Peterhänsel, explaining the long-term focus of the facility. This will require sufficient green hydrogen from a grid. A regional hydrogen grid is currently in planning, with Plant Leipzig set to benefit.

Leipzig. The production launch of the MINI Countryman marks a number of debuts and milestones: as the first MINI model to be made in Germany, the new MINI Countryman will roll off one and the same manufacturing line as the BMW 1 Series and 2 Series. Thanks to its flexible assembly structures, Plant Leipzig is in a position to produce two brands with three different drives – combustion, plug-in-hybrid and fully electric – all on the same production line.

Big Love is the motto of not just the MINI brand but also of the plant: Leipzig loves MINI and MINI loves Leipzig. Celebrating the production launch of the MINI Countryman today at a special event in the assembly hall were the BMW AG Board Member for Production, Milan Nedeljković; the Minister President of the state of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer; the head of the MINI brand, Stefanie Wurst; Mayor and Alderman for Business, Work and Digital Affairs, Clemens Schülke; various guests from politics and the media, and plant employees. To make sure everyone in the plant could experience the live broadcast of the celebration, the production lines stood still for almost 45 minutes.

Production of the largest MINI model to date marks an important step into the future of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Since 2018 the company has invested some €700 million in the Saxony site to increase capacity and enable production of the MINI Countryman. In addition, this third generation of the vehicle will also be available with a fully electric drive. “Leipzig remains electrified,” said Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel.

“When it comes to the transformation,” Nedeljković emphasised, “skill and flexibility are crucial.” He added that the BMW Group had been quick to introduce and advance change: “Plant Leipzig plays a fundamental role in this regard. It was here that we launched production of the BMW i3 exactly ten years ago. We have since built on that, rolling the latest generation of electric cars out across our network.”

Nedeljković explained that all BMW Group plants are set up to produce different models with different drives – from combustion-powered to plug-in hybrid and fully electric – all on a single production line. But what’s special about Plant Leipzig, he added, is that its flexible production system is now being used for multiple brands for the very first time.

Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony, emphasised the importance of the BMW Group plant in Leipzig for the region and the federal state: “The BMW site in Leipzig is a success story of modern industrial production. Continued investments in the site and the launch of the MINI Countryman reaffirm the company’s commitment to ‘Autoland’ Saxony – and provide a boost for the entire regional economy, benefiting service providers and suppliers across the area.”

Clemens Schülke, Mayor and Alderman for Business, Work and Digital Affairs of the city of Leipzig was visibly pleased about the ‘new Leipziger’: “In my view, BMW Leipzig is an absolute success story. That’s why I am really looking forward to the next chapter: the first German MINI will be a genuine ‘Leipziger’. This model demonstrates the power and flexibility of our strong automotive cluster.”

Stefanie Wurst, head of MINI, detailed the characteristics of the new MINI Countryman: “The first MINI made in Germany stands for superior environmental credentials, not just as a product but equally in terms of its production. Its versatility and powerful, efficient drives make it the perfect companion for the city – but also for adventures beyond.”

Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel emphasised the importance of the MINI Countryman for the future of Plant Leipzig: “Today is a historical day for our site. As the plant develops and production of the MINI Countryman gets underway, our headcount will increase by over 1,000 by the end of 2024.”

“Today, we can see once again just how important our plant here in Leipzig is for the production network as a whole,” pointed out Works Council Chairman Jens Köhler as he thanked the BMW Group for their trust.

Hosting the event was the radio and television presenter Roman Knoblauch. But in addition to the MINI Countryman in Smokey Green with a contrast roof in Energy Silver, there was a secret star of the show: Spike, MINI’s digital friend. As the Intelligent Personal Assistant, Spike will support drivers of the new MINI model family and make the cars even more fun to use.

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

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

Seamless integration through flexible structures 

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

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

Investments and recruitment to increase production volume

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

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

Electromobility and MINI production drive development

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

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

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

Sustainable materials and production 

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

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

Innovative painting method for contrast roof 

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

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

Plant Leipzig – Built for sustainability

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

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

Leipzig. The BMW Group continues to invest in e-component production at Plant Leipzig and in the future of the site. A leasehold contract has now been signed for an area of land outside the plant premises, on the northern industrial estate – which is also home to the existing facility. The new plot for use by BMW consists of 12 hectares in total, eight of which will be built on in the first stage of construction. This will produce a logistics hall for the current fifth-generation high-voltage batteries and an office building, both of which are due to reach completion in mid-2024.

To mark the start of construction of the Supply Centre North, Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director, Jens Köhler, Works Council Chairman, Frank Hager, Head of Production for High-Voltage Batteries, Clemens Schülke, Mayor and Alderman for Business, Labour and Digital in the City of Leipzig and Anja Hähle-Posselt, Director of the Office for Economic Development of the City of Leipzig, were joined by Karsten Dickerboom, representing the construction company Max Bögl Stiftung & Co KG, to perform the symbolic turning of the first sod.

Building the future

“These days car production is just as much a part of Leipzig’s economic DNA as the trade fair. We’re delighted that an already strong cluster is now growing further. What’s more, the focus will be on an eco-friendly footprint throughout. With this extension, BMW is sending out a clear signal around Leipzig as a base and electromobility. We are happy to partner the company and support the positive development of these areas,” said Mayor Clemens Schülke.

Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel also sees the transition to electromobility as an important building block in the plant’s development: “Leipzig continues to power ahead. Making the BMW i3, we were the BMW Group’s pioneer in electromobility. Now, with the development of e-component production and the upcoming launch of the MINI Countryman, the future is already taking shape.”

Investment in the transition to electromobility

In the first stage of construction, a warehouse, a two-storey office building and a loading tunnel with a combined gross area of 38,000 m² will be erected. There are also plans for a second construction stage, which will take the total investment to as much as 100 million euros. When all the construction work is complete, the new buildings at the Supply Centre North will provide workplaces for approx. 500 employees.

By 2026 the BMW Group aims for at least one in three new cars sold to be fully electric, so the need for high-voltage batteries will increase. Plant Leipzig is already a cornerstone in supplying e-components for the production network and provides one in three battery modules for the BMW Group’s fully electric vehicles. These include the BMW iX1, the BMW i5 and the BMW iX. With the new hall as a logistics centre for high-voltage batteries, Plant Leipzig is embracing this role even further, with a building that meets all the structural requirements for handling high-voltage components.

Beyond compliance: Stringent environmental standards

Planning the logistics hall, the team applied stringent environmental standards that go above and beyond legal requirements. The buildings will be powered not by fossil fuels, for example. Photovoltaic systems on the roof of the hall will generate approx. 3,000 kW in peak operations. In addition the hall will be heated by a heat pump. The office building will have a green roof, and trees at strategic points along the façade will keep indoor temperatures cool when the weather outside is hot.

The outside space will be landscaped with over 5,700 new shrubs and trees. This will continue the City of Leipzig and the BMW Group’s efforts to add to the green ring around the plant on the Northern Industrial Estate. Outdoor areas will be illuminated by insect-friendly lights, and parking spaces will be equipped with electric charging points for cars and trucks so that electric heavy goods vehicles can operate between the plant and warehouse.

E-component production as the powerhouse for the future of Leipzig

One of the drivers behind the extensive additions that are currently being made to Plant Leipzig – both on the premises and off – is e-component production. Measures will safeguard existing jobs and increase the number of new ones. At the moment more than 800 employees work in e-component production in Leipzig, rising to over 1,000 by 2024. Further jobs will be created with service providers.

From next year BMW Plant Leipzig will run all three stages of the high-voltage battery production process: cell coating, module production and high-voltage battery assembly. E-component production capacity has been steadily increasing since 2021, and at present battery cells are coated and assembled into modules there. One in three battery modules for fully electric vehicles by the BMW Group already comes from Leipzig today, and a battery assembly system is currently under construction, expected to go on stream early next year. The BMW Group is investing up to 1 billion euros in extending e-component production at Leipzig.

With BMW i3 production now phased out, 2024 will see Plant Leipzig launch its next fully electric model: the new MINI Countryman. The crossover will come with a choice of combustion engines or a fully electric drive, the high-voltage batteries for the latter being made directly in Plant Leipzig’s workshops.

Leipzig. BMW Group Plant Leipzig’s first cell coating line has gone into series operation as e-component production at the site continues to gain momentum. By 2024 the two existing module assembly lines will be complemented by a third, as well as four more cell coating lines and two more high-voltage battery assembly lines. The four coating lines will enter series operation during the course of this year at roughly two-month intervals.

“From 2024 our plant here in Leipzig will be able to run the entire process chain for high-voltage battery production,” said Markus Fallböhmer, head of Battery Production at the BMW Group. “So we will be making an important contribution to the transformation to electromobility.” To meet its goal of fully electric vehicles accounting for at least half of all sales by 2030, the BMW Group is investing more than €800 million to establish and develop e-component production at BMW Plant Leipzig.

More than 2,000 coated cells an hour

Covering 2,300 m², the new cell coating system at the BMW plant in Leipzig is located in the former production hall of the BMW i3, where production was phased out in the summer of last year. Straight afterwards the space was converted for e-component manufacturing in less than six months, and associates underwent the relevant training.

The new coating line can handle more than 10 million cells a year, or over 2,300 an hour. The coated cells are then used on the battery module production line in Leipzig, to make modules for the fully electric BMW i4* and BMW iX1*. A further line at the facility is producing battery modules for the BMW iX*.

From cell coating to high-voltage battery

High-voltage battery production happens in three stages: cell coating, module production and assembly of the battery itself. The processes are highly automated.

The BMW Group sources its cells from partners who manufacture them exactly to specification. The type that is used depends on the vehicle concerned and is chosen to ensure the best possible characteristics.

Coating lithium-ion cells consists first of pre-treating and patterning their surfaces with a laser. This involves the laser beam “chiseling” a texture into the outside of the uncoated cell to increase both its surface area and the surface tension of the aluminium casing. Next, the cells are plasma-cleansed to remove any dirt particles and oxides. Together, these two processes improve the adhesiveness of the surface, ready for the coating to be applied. It is administered by a specially developed machine that coats the cells in two layers, which are then hardened by UV and offer the best possible insulation for the cells. Finally, a fully automated three-stage quality control process is carried out in which the thickness and surface quality of the coating are inspected. A high-voltage test is conducted to ensure the coating is completely free from defects.

The cell coating used at the BMW Group is blue, which was deliberately chosen for its important role in the positioning of electric BMW i vehicles and as the signal colour of the range. Within the BMW Group production network, Plant Leipzig is a pioneer in electromobility, having produced the company’s first fully electric model, the BMW i3, from 2013 to 2022.

Once coated, the battery cells are assembled into larger units known as modules. When completed, these are fitted into a aluminium housing along with the control and cooling units and the connectors that will connect them to the vehicle. The size and shape of the housing and the number of modules inside depends on the vehicle variant. That way, each car receives the most suitable high-voltage battery.

A secure future for BMW Group Plant Leipzig

The continued expansion of Plant Leipzig is very much driven by e-component production, which will take up some 150,000 m² of manufacturing space in the future. “This is a long-term investment in the future of the Leipzig plant,” emphasised Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel, adding that the expansion of the plant would not only safeguard current jobs but also create new ones. “At present, more than 800 employees work in e-component production at our Leipzig site. By 2024 there will be more than 1,000.”

The next great milestone for Plant Leipzig will be production of the MINI Countryman successor, which will roll off the production lines from the end of this year. The crossover will be available with a choice of combustion engines or a fully electric drive – powered by high-voltage batteries made in Leipzig.

+++ Complete process chain for high-voltage battery production in Leipzig +++ Five cell coating lines, an additional module line and two high-voltage battery lines by 2024 +++ Production of e-components for forthcoming fully electric MINI Countryman made in Leipzig +++

Leipzig. The BMW Group is to increase e-component production capacity at its manufacturing base in Leipzig with another eight production lines by 2024. The announcement was made on 20 October at the Green Day in BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Over the next year, the plant’s two existing battery module lines will be complemented by a further line plus five cell coating lines. These will be followed by two new high-voltage battery assembly lines due to go on stream in 2024. The batteries they make will power models such as the fully electric version of the MINI Countryman, which will also be built in Leipzig.

“The BMW Group has always been a pioneer in the transformation to electric mobility,” said Milan Nedeljković, BMW AG Board Member for Production, “and we intend to remain the leader in the future. Plant Leipzig will be of special importance in this regard, as it’s the birthplace of the BMW i3.” From 2013 to the summer of 2022, Leipzig manufactured more than 250,000 fully electric BMW i3 vehicles and over 20,000 plug-in hybrid BMW i8 sports cars. The freed-up spaces and the skills of its employees will now be used to produce e-components. More than 700 production staff are already working in battery component production at Plant Leipzig, rising to more than 1,000 by 2024.

“We are working consistently to advance the transformation to electromobility,” said Markus Fallböhmer, Head of Engine and E-Drive Production at BMW AG, “and we continue to develop our e-drive production network to make it happen. From 2024, the entire process chain for high-voltage battery production will run not just at Dingolfing but at Leipzig as well.”

Over 800 million euros invested in e-components at Leipzig

Between 2020 and the end of 2024, the BMW Group will have invested more than 800 million euros in establishing e-component production in Leipzig. In the future, this area of production will take up around 150,000 m² on the site.

Investments in e-drive production in Dingolfing and Regensburg

By the end of 2022, the BMW Group will have invested more than 1 billion euros in the Dingolfing Competence Centre for E-Drive Production – which also produces electric motors. In Regensburg, investments in e-drive component production have totalled more than 250 million euros between 2020 and late 2022.

Five new cell coating lines from 2023

In the first quarter of 2023, the first of five new battery cell coating systems will go on stream at the Leipzig site, followed by another four systems which will launch in stages until the end of the same year.

The battery cells they will process will be manufactured by external suppliers working to BMW Group specifications. First of all, the lithium-ion cells will be plasma-cleansed before being coated by the specially developed systems to ensure optimum insulation.

Third battery module line to launch in summer 2023

After being coated, the cells are assembled to form larger units known as battery modules. In Leipzig this is currently being done on two existing module lines. A third is set to go on stream in the summer of 2023.

Two high-voltage battery assembly lines from 2024

Once complete, the battery modules, connectors, control units and cooling aggregates are fitted into an aluminium casing. The number of modules and the size and shape of the casing depend on which vehicle variant they will be used in, so that each vehicle is fitted with the most suitable high-voltage battery.

In the future, Plant Leipzig will also assemble high-voltage batteries when two designated assembly lines go on stream in 2024.

Global production network for e-drives focused in Germany

The BMW Group is drawing on its global production network to meet the increasing need for e-drive component production capacity. High-voltage batteries and battery components for electric vehicles by the BMW and MINI brands will not only be made in Leipzig but also in Spartanburg, USA, and Shenyang, China. At Plant Rayong, Thailand, high-voltage battery production has been localised with the support of a BMW Group partner.

Meanwhile, Munich is home to the E-Drive Pilot Plant and the Battery Cell Competence Centre, which performs detailed analyses of the value creation processes in battery cell production and advances the relevant technologies. In the not-too-distant future the BMW Group will also be launching its Competence Centre for Battery Cell Production in Parsdorf, just outside Munich. Here, a pilot production system for the near-series manufacture of lithium-ion battery cells will ensure they can be mass-produced to quality, time and cost specifications.

The BMW Group manufactures its electric motors in the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing and at BMW Group Plant Landshut. Casings for the highly integrated fifth-generation electric drive are produced in BMW Group Plant Steyr.

+++ Nedeljković, Board Member for Production: “Technological breakthrough underscores our innovativeness” +++ Hydrogen power also in plant and transport logistics +++

Leipzig. BMW Group Plant Leipzig is the first car plant in the world to pilot a newly developed burner technology that allows to run on green hydrogen as well as natural gas. The new technology meets the feasibility requirements to reduce CO₂ emissions from the intensive use of natural gas, a fossil fuel. BMW AG Board Member Milan Nedeljković: “This is a technological breakthrough. It underscores our innovativeness and our determination to make production ever more sustainable.”

Today BMW Group Plant Leipzig launched the first fuel-flexible hydrogen-capable burner for paint dryers. The special feature of the system is that it can run on hydrogen (H₂), methane (CH₄) or a mixture of the two. It can also switch between fuels while in operation. Initially, it will run in trial operations. The innovative fuel-flexible burner system was developed in collaboration with the Bremen-based company Saacke, and with the Fraunhofer Institute IFF in Magdeburg supporting the integration of the safety concept.

Sustainability as a key element in the BMW iFACTORY

Reducing CO₂ emissions is one of the central aims of the BMW iFACTORY with its LEAN. GREEN. DIGITAL approach. While sustainability, optimum use of resources and circularity are the focus of GREEN, the LEAN strand of the strategy works for efficient, precise and highly flexible production. DIGITAL makes effective use of digitalisation in data science, artificial intelligence and virtualisation.

To become even more sustainable, the BMW Group is devising site-specific solutions to reduce CO₂ emissions – including geothermal, photovoltaics, and hydrogen. The various solutions will be deployed in whatever way best suits the site in question.

To run hydrogen throughout, a pipeline will be needed to ensure sufficient quantities of green hydrogen are available at all times. The Leipzig plant has the opportunity to use a hydrogen network created in the region for this purpose.

Hydrogen power in plant and transport logistics

Hydrogen has long been a staple fuel in plant logistics. The first indoor hydrogen filling station in Germany was installed on the plant premises in 2013, to fuel forklifts and tug trains in intralogistics. Today, almost ten years later, Plant Leipzig has the largest fleet in Germany with over 130 fuel-cell powered forklifts. There are also five intralogistics hydrogen stations on the premises. The latest offers fully automated refuelling.

The BMW Group is also working with its partners to trial hydrogen-powered solutions to support the decarbonisation of transport logistics beyond the factory gates as well and is currently involved in the H2HAUL and HyCET research projects. Hydrogen is a promising fuel for transport logistics because it allows fast refuelling, high payloads and flexible usability. It also offers extensive range. And green hydrogen – produced with energy from renewable sources – will pave the way for lower-carbon, long-distance logistics in the future.

The H2HAUL project in Belgium, Germany, France and Switzerland is working to develop and pilot 16 hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks and install new, high-capacity filling stations for reliable fuel supplies. Launched in 2019, H2HAUL will run for five years, with Germany contributing by trialling two fuel-cell trucks for transportation between Plant Leipzig and Nuremberg.

On the HyCET project, the BMW Group is leading a consortium to advance the development and testing of trucks with hydrogen combustion engines in transport logistics. With project funding of 11.3 million euros approved by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport in September of this year, HyCET aims to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen combustion-engine trucks in transport logistics and establish two hydrogen filling stations for public use.

Plant Leipzig – Geared for sustainability from the outset

“Sustainability is in Plant Leipzig’s DNA, as it were,” said Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel. “Efficient and sustainable processes were already very important to us when we were planning the facility, and one highly visible result of that is the four wind turbines that supply electricity to the plant.” Erected in 2013, they deliver 10 MW of power (generating approx. 26 GWh/year). In 2017 a further milestone followed when the Battery Farm comprising up to 700 second-life high-voltage batteries from BMW i3 vehicles was opened. The batteries are used to store energy, such as that generated by the wind turbines. By storing the energy on the premises, local energy management can be optimised and the electrical grid kept stable.

Leipzig. Today sees the launch of BMW Group Plant Leipzig’s second battery module production line. Further expanding e-component production in the German state of Saxony, the new system manufactures modules for the fully electric BMW i4*, made in Munich. Plant Leipzig’s first such production line went on stream in May 2021 and supplies the battery modules for the BMW iX*.

“Today’s launch of Leipzig’s second battery module production line makes an important contribution to delivering the battery components needed to make a growing number of electrified vehicles,” said Markus Fallböhmer, Head of Engine and E-Drive Production at the BMW Group. The gradual expansion of e-component production is taking the BMW Group ever closer to its goal for 2030, when fully electric models are expected to account for at least half of the BMW Group’s sales.

Ensuring the future viability of Plant Leipzig

The new battery module production line alone comes at an investment of around €70 million. As the expansion of e-component production continues, new jobs are being created as well, with some 250 people working on the new line by the end of 2022, in addition to the current 700-plus already in e-component production in Leipzig.

Plant Leipzig’s second battery module production system occupies an area of approx. 4,250 m² and uses BMW i production areas that are now vacant after the BMW i3 was phased out on 30 June. Each battery module passes through 196 production stations in total before it is complete and ready for further processing.

 “Plant Leipzig remains electrified,” said a delighted Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director. “Now that BMW i3 production has wound down, we can use the skills and experience of our employees elsewhere and offer them secure jobs for the long term,” she commented, adding that this would continue to ensure the future viability of the plant.

To prepare for the steady increase in electrified vehicles,, e-drive production in Leipzig will become even more extensive and flexible as early as next year, with upcoming stages of the expansion programme creating further new jobs. Another major milestone will be production of the successor to the MINI Countryman, due to roll off the production lines from 2023. The crossover model will be available with combustion engines as well as an all-electric drive.

From battery cell to high-voltage battery

Production of high-voltage batteries can be broken down into two stages: module production and high-voltage battery assembly.

Module production is a highly automated process in which the lithium-ion cells first undergo plasma cleaning, before being coated by a specially developed system to ensure optimal insulation. They are then combined to form larger units known as modules. The BMW Group sources its battery cells from partners who produce them to the company’s exact specifications.

The completed battery modules are then installed in an aluminium housing, together with the connectors and the control and cooling units. The size and shape of the housing and the number of battery modules used differ depending on the vehicle variant. So, each high-voltage battery can be optimally adjusted to suit the car it will power.

Global production network for e-drives focused in Germany

To meet rising demand for e-drive component production capacity, the BMW Group draws on a worldwide production network. The high-voltage batteries and battery components for the full range of electrified BMW and MINI vehicles are made at the company’s own battery facilities, in Dingolfing, Leipzig and Regensburg in Germany, as well as Spartanburg (USA) and Shenyang (China). There is also localised production of high-voltage batteries in Thailand, for the plant in Rayong. In Munich, the BMW Group operates an e-drive pilot plant and a Battery Cell Competence Centre, where battery cell value creation processes are analysed in full and technologies for production processes are refined. Just outside Munich, the BMW Group is soon to open a Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre.

Located in Parsdorf, just to the east of the city, the new facility will be a pilot plant for battery cell production. It will model series production of lithium-ion battery cells and validate the feasibility of their large-scale manufacture, especially with regard to quality, time and costs.

In Dingolfing and at BMW Group Plant Landshut, the BMW Group manufactures electric motors in the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production. The casing for the highly integrated fifth-generation e-drive is made at BMW Group Plant Steyr.

Leipzig. An era is coming to an end at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig. The serial production of the BMW i3 is now to come to an end, some eight and a half years after it was launched. A source of inspiration, a driver of innovation, a pioneer of locally emission-free driving pleasure: The list of attributes that have accompanied the BMW Group's first large-series production automobile with fully electric drive since its debut in 2013 is long. The BMW i3 (combined power consumption: 16.3 - 15.3 kWh/100 km according to WLTP, 13.1 - 14.0 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO₂ emissions: 0 g/ km) started out as an exotic specimen on the still barely tapped market for electric vehicles, developed into a classic with unmistakable charisma already in the course of its production period and goes down in the company's history as a pioneer of sustainable mobility.

For the BMW Group Plant Leipzig, the farewell to the BMW i3 is linked to the start of a new chapter in electric mobility. In a seamless transition, further e-drive components will be manufactured there with immediate effect in addition to producing high-voltage battery modules, which is already being done since May 2021. And already next year, the next generation of the MINI Countryman will be manufactured at the same location - with a fully electric drive, among other things. In this way, the electric mobility expertise of the workforce, which has been built up over the past years, will be used and advanced further. At the same time, the BMW Group Plant Leipzig becomes the first location in the company's global production network where BMW and MINI models are manufactured together.

The final anniversary: 250 , 000 units of electric driving pleasure made in Leipzig.

The BMW i3 ends its production run with an impressive homerun. Just a few days ago, the 250,000 unit of the compact e-vehicle was produced in Leipzig. This makes the BMW i3 the world's most successful electric vehicle in the premium compact segment. And contrary to what might be expected for a model that is being phased out, its popularity did not wane as it matured.

The BMW i3 has been sold in more than 74 countries around the world. In many markets, it achieved a significantly higher market share in the electric vehicle segment than the BMW brand in the area of conventionally powered cars. It also succeeded in inspiring additional target groups in the premium mobility offers from BMW. In the early years, more than 80 per cent of all BMW i3 buyers were new customers for the BMW Group.

The enduring appeal of the BMW i3, which is manufactured exclusively at the Leipzig site for the entire global market, is also due to its especially individualistic character. Its independent vehicle architecture consists of a drive module as an aluminium chassis, which carries the e-drive, the suspension and the high-voltage battery as well as a passenger cell made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) called the life module. This design, developed from the outset for pure e-mobility, made possible a particularly generous amount of space in the interior and a cockpit and centre console design which is both high-quality and very advanced. The same applies to the exterior design, which is still groundbreaking in its ninth year of production, and which is dedicated less to fashion or status than to technological avant-gardism.

Visionary technology standard-bearer with great symbolic power.

These characteristics have not only made the BMW i3 into a trailblazer for the transformation to CO₂-free mobility, but are also proof of how innovative the BMW Group is in a wide range of areas. "The BMW i3 has great symbolic power," says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. He describes the development of the BMW i3 as a prime example of the "BMW way". This is characterised in particular by the courage to "pioneer topics, to do something different and not just follow the mainstream". This mindset continues to endure, according to Zipse, because "even the BMW iX, which is quite surprising in its capabilities, has its origins in this corporate culture".

The employees involved in manufacturing the BMW i3 at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig know all too well what this culture means in practice. After all, the BMW i3 was a visionary technology standard-bearer from day one, and not just because of its electric drive. With its Life-Drive architecture, it also set new standards in the field of intelligent lightweight construction. In Leipzig, innovative processes unique in the automotive industry have been established for moulding large-format car body parts from the particularly lightweight high-tech material CFRP. Today, the BMW Group has unique expertise in the industrial use of carbon fibre in body construction and aluminium in designing chassis components.

"The BMW i3 is a true pioneer and the epitome of pioneering spirit," says Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management for Production at BMW AG. "Thanks to the BMW i3, the Leipzig plant became the birthplace of e-mobility at BMW." With the expansion of the production of e-drive components, the Leipzig plant will remain "electric" in the future, says Nedeljković. "It will become the hub for electric mobility and supply our production network worldwide with components."

Innovation driver for e-mobility and multiple award winner.

Thanks to its model-specific technology developments, the BMW i3 has also become an innovation driver for the BMW and MINI brands in numerous other areas. The 135 kW/184 hp electric motor of the BMW i3s (power consumption combined: 16.6 - 16.3 kWh/100 km according to WLTP, 14.6 - 14.0 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) has been delivering urban driving fun and locally emission-free go-kart feeling in MINI style since 2020. The purely electric MINI Cooper SE (power consumption combined: 17.6 - 15.2 kWh/100 km according to WLTP, 16.9 - 14.9 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) has since become the most popular model variant of the British brand.

Originally developed for the BMW i3, the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology is now being produced. It is used in numerous purely electric and plug-in hybrid models from BMW and MINI. The ramp-up of electric mobility will continue in the coming years. By 2030, every second BMW Group vehicle sold worldwide is to be fully electric.

The BMW i3 has received numerous awards during its production period. In Germany, it was awarded the "Green Steering Wheel” already in 2013, followed three years later by the "Golden Steering Wheel", also awarded by "Auto Bild" and "Bild am Sonntag". The design, vehicle concept, interior, sustainability, value retention and connectivity technology of the BMW i3 received further national and international awards and public survey successes. These include class victories in the competitions of the magazines "Auto Zeitung" and "auto, motor und sport", awards as "UK Car of the Year", "Green Car of the Year", "Classic of the Future" and "Swiss Car of the Year" as well as the "World Car Design Award", the "iF gold product design award" and the French "Trophée de l'argus".

Rethinking mobility: The holistic approach of the BMW i brand.

In addition to the all-electric drive, the BMW i3's outstanding eco-balance also stems from the choice of materials, which is fully geared towards sustainability and resource-conserving production. It was the first BMW Group model to receive an ISO certificate issued by independent auditors at the time of its market launch, confirming its optimised environmental performance throughout its entire life cycle.

Partly recycled raw materials are used for its outer skin made of thermoplastics. The plastic used in the interior is made op of 25 percent recycled material. The textiles used for the seat surfaces are made entirely from recycled fibres. The door panels of the BMW i3 are made of kenaf fibres. Eucalyptus wood from certified cultivation in Europe serves as the raw material for parts of the instrument panel.

The holistic concept for sustainability also includes the extensive use of renewable energy in the production of the BMW i3. Four wind turbines on the site of the BMW Group plant in Leipzig supply the electricity needed for its production. At an early stage, they made the Saxon location a pioneer for CO₂-neutral vehicle production, which has been standard in all BMW Group plants around the world since last year.

In addition, the BMW i brand has provided impetus for sustainable driving pleasure and a comprehensive transformation to CO2-neutral mobility in many ways and far beyond the development of electrically powered vehicles. These activities include the urban car-sharing service DriveNow (called SHARE NOW today) which for many users is the ideal opportunity to come into contact with electric mobility for the first time, as well as the services now known as BMW Charging and MINI Charging for convenient charging at home and for easily accessing public charging stations, and the BMW Group's participation in the European fast-charging network Ionity.

The perfect introduction to the world of e-mobility - and a reliable endurance runner.

For many customers, the BMW i3 became a constant companion early on in urban settings, for the daily commute and often far beyond. The frequent drivers among the "early adopters" above all praise the low energy and maintenance costs, but also how reliable the vehicle is and the cycle stability of its high-voltage battery. They report on brake pads that have not had to be replaced even after more than 250,000 kilometres, because a large part of the deceleration power is provided by recuperation when driving the BMW i3, and of the impressive long-term quality of the high-voltage battery, which leads to only a negligible reduction in range even after similarly long running times. The BMW Group took this positive experience as an opportunity to increase the maximum mileage associated with the eight-year warranty period for the battery from 100,000 to 160,000 kilometres at the beginning of 2020.

The BMW i3's high-voltage battery has undergone continuous development since its market launch, doubling its storage capacity while retaining the same installation space. With a cell capacity of 120 ampere hours (Ah) and a gross energy content of 42.2 kilowatt hours (kWh), it now enables ranges of up to 307 kilometres (BMW i3) according to WLTP.

The high-voltage batteries developed and produced by the BMW Group are used in other areas as well. Examples of this are the Streetscooter vans used by the German postal service and the city buses of the Turkish manufacturer Karsan, as well as motorboats with electric drives of the Torqeedo brand, for which they also serve as a source of energy. In addition, BMW i high-voltage batteries are used as stationary energy storage systems for electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind or solar power. The BMW Group plant in Leipzig also has such an energy storage farm. It consists of 700 interconnected BMW i3 high-voltage batteries in which the electricity generated by the four wind turbines on the plant site can be stored.

Locally emission-free, elegant and exclusive: The HomeRun Edition of the BMW i3s.

On its home stretch, the BMW i3 once again showcases the elegant and extravagant side of its character that has already been the subject of several limited special models. The BMW i3s HomeRun Edition, was treated to a Frozen paint finish from BMW Individual for the first time. This premiere is associated with a maximum of exclusivity: Only ten units of the BMW i3s HomeRun Edition have been produced.

An an exclusive for the BMW i3s HomeRun Edition, two new BMW Individual paint finishes have been added to the range: Frozen Dark Grey and Frozen Dark Red II. In addition the HomeRun Edition includes 20-inch light-alloy wheels in a double-spoke design, an electrically operated glass roof, solar control glazing and Adaptive LED headlights. The special models also come with the particularly high-quality Suite interior design, which includes Vernasca Dark Truffle leather upholstery, a leather instrument panel, a leather steering wheel with galvanised trim, a Carum Grey roof lining, Ambient lighting and the welcome light. Other options include heated seats, comfort access, alarm system, Real Time Traffic Information, Concierge Service, Park Distance Control and rear view camera. Also included are the Comfort package and Driving Assistant Plus, the Professional navigation system, telephony with wireless charging, the Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and online entertainment with music flat rate.

The production of the ten special models was a final highlight not only for the employees involved in its production at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Customers of the special models were able to witness the completion of the vehicles in the assembly hall for themselves.

Leipzig. BMW Group Plant Leipzig is launching series production of the second generation of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. Having first reached dealerships almost seven years ago, in the autumn of 2014, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer was quick to establish itself in the market. More than 400,000 customers have since opted to buy the premium compact, which combines functional spaciousness with a dynamic drive concept. More than 368,000 of the vehicles concerned were manufactured in Leipzig. The successor of the sporty all-rounder will be made in Leipzig only.

“After the successful debut of the first-generation BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, BMW Group Plant Leipzig is proud to produce its completely redesigned successor,” emphasised Plant Director Hans-Peter Kemser. “This vehicle is another opportunity for us to prove our wealth of experience and expertise in the manufacture of front-wheel drives in the BMW production network. The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer will also keep our plant running at capacity over the longer term.”

The key characteristics of the latest model generation are its extremely dynamic styling, clear design language and redesigned interior. In addition, the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer takes mild hybrid technology into the compact class for the very first time, along with the latest connectivity features and extended equipment packages.

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer sets new standards

Making its debut back in 2014, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer caused a revolution in the BMW product portfolio. Not only did it establish the Sports Activity Tourer segment, it was also the first front-wheel drive BMW. With its functional space concept, three-cylinder engines – a first for BMW at the time – and cutting-edge front-wheel drive, the newcomer offered all the dynamism of a BMW and heralded a new era for the brand.

The second-generation BMW 2 Series Active Tourer sets standards once again. A pioneer, it paves the way for the forthcoming BMW and MINI models joining the compact segment over the coming years. Aspects such as the enhancements to the drivetrain and cockpit, and the new onboard network – now found in petrol and diesel-powered BMW 2 Series Active Tourer – all set new standards.

Seamless integration into production processes

Renowned for its extreme flexibility, Plant Leipzig had previously been entrusted with the manufacture of the BMW Group’s first electrified models – the BMW i3 and BMW i8. It is now the plant of choice once again, for the launch of this new vehicle concept. Despite the new requirements, only minor adjustments had to be made to the paintshop and assembly systems, and the only new production area was introduced into the bodyshop.

The second generation of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer has now been integrated into production just as seamlessly and will roll off Leipzig’s production lines along with the BMW 1 Series and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

Dynamic design and updated interior

In terms of exterior design, the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer now exudes even more sportiness and self-assurance, thanks to its dynamically elongated proportions and the clear, reduced treatment of its surfaces.

Inside, it offers a completely new sense of space. The interior has been fully redesigned, taking its cues from the fully electric technology flagship, the BMW iX. Particularly striking are the BMW Curved Display, the ‘floating’ armrest with its integrated control panel, and the slim instrument panel. Thanks to these features, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is the first non-electric BMW to have the cockpit layout of an electric one.

Another first in the latest BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is the new BMW iDrive, which makes its debut appearance in the premium compact segment. The latest generation of the iDrive control system is based on BMW Operating System 8.

The second-generation BMW 2 Series Active Tourer designed to accommodate combustion engines as well as electrified drive systems, and just a few months after market launch in summer 2022, two plug-in hybrids will be added to the range.

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is due for market launch in Germany on 26 February 2022.

Leipzig. Of the 250-plus applications that came in, only five made it onto the shortlist – but ultimately it was Leipzig that won. Twenty years ago, on 18 July 2001, the BMW Group announced at a press conference in Munich that it would build a new plant in Leipzig. “Here you can see the location that best meets our needs overall,” said Prof. Joachim Milberg, Chairman of the BMW AG Board of Management at the time.

Leipzig as a base and the over 200-hectare site near the city’s exhibition centre won on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Ideal conditions and location for a future plant

2. Availability of qualified personnel

3. Use of existing supplies and logistics structures

4. Very good infrastructure for traffic, supplies and waste

5. Links to the BMW production network

6. Fast implementation process

7. Economic efficiency and flexibility

At the time, the BMW Group expected… 5,500halfat in the new plant Daily output from 2005 was projected to be 650 units, at an investment of around €1 billion. When production was finally launched, the plant employed about 2,500 people. Today, twenty years later, daily output stands at more than 1,100 units, made by a plant workforce of over 8,000 employees. Investments have so far totalled more than €3 billion and are still ongoing. Since March 2005 Leipzig has produced more than three million vehicles in total. Speaking about the positive development of Leipzig, Works Council Chairman Jens Köhler expressed his delight: “Ever since the decision was made, the management and Works Council have cooperated to increase the workforce considerably and make us an integral part of the region.”

The choice of Leipzig received an enthusiastic welcome, and support in the region was huge. There was also a vast number of job applicants: the day after the announcement, the dedicated call centre received more than 4,000 calls, and boxes and boxes of mail came in in a matter of days. In September 2001, a first cohort of 35 trainees began work at BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Since then Plant Leipzig has welcomed 900 apprentices, almost all of whom continue to work there.

The BMW Group laid the foundation in Leipzig for one of the most sustainable, state-of-the-art vehicle plants in the world. Its particularly well thought-out, flexible structures are an outstanding feature and include the ‘finger’ layout of the assembly hall – a world first that enables ideal logistics solutions and offers plenty of scope for flexibility. Specially developed for Plant Leipzig, the ‘finger’ layout allows trucks to deliver purchased parts and pre-assemblies straight to the lineside. In addition, new production stages can be integrated into the process and lines can be extended without requiring new buildings.

Since 2005 Plant Leipzig has consistently demonstrated its adaptability, integrating new products, processes and technologies and often playing a pioneering role within the BMW Group production network. As the birthplace of electromobility at the BMW Group, for example, Leipzig has manufactured over 200,000 fully electric BMW i3 cars and was the first car plant in the world to use CFRP (carbon fibre-reinforced plastic) in series production. The BMW Group continues to benefit from the plant’s collective skills in the field of electromobility, and Leipzig has been part of the international production network for high-voltage batteries since May of this year.

In 2023 Leipzig will demonstrate its flexibility once again, when it becomes the first German facility to produce both BMW and MINI vehicles, all on the same production line. Contracted to manufacture the all-new successor to the current MINI Countryman, the plant will make both the combustion-powered and the fully electric versions. “Over the last few years, we have worked constantly to lead our plant into a successful future. The contract to manufacture the MINI Countryman successor is taking us towards a further milestone,” said Hans-Peter Kemser, Plant Director at BMW Group Plant Leipzig. And that’s not the only goal Leipzig has set itself: “As a green plant, we want not only to be carbon-neutral but also to manufacture with zero CO2 emissions,” said Hans-Peter Kemser, announcing plans for the near future of the plant.

Burkhard Jung, Lord Mayor of Leipzig, also sees the BMW Group’s choice of Leipzig as a major milestone for the city and region: “Leipzig is an industrial base again. This development – which has been so important for us in economic terms – would have been almost unimaginable without the decision that was made in Munich 20 years ago. Over the last two decades, the north of Leipzig has evolved to become an industry heartland for the entire region. It’s a technological and industrial development that is benefitting people from Leipzig and far beyond. BMW in Leipzig not only produces cars but also works on the vehicles and production methods of the future. That fills me with confidence: Leipzig will remain particularly important, both for the transformation of transport and in the development of new technologies.”

Key events, past and future, at BMW Group Plant Leipzig:

•   2002 Zaha Hadid’s proposal for the design of the central building is chosen. The ground-breaking ceremony his held.
• 2003 The foundation stone is laid for the central building. The topping-out is celebrated.
• 2005 Plant Leipzig goes on stream, launching series production of the BMW 3 Series. The central building wins the German Architecture Award.
• 2009 Plant Leipzig produces its 500,000^th vehicle. The new press shop opens, with the first high-speed servo press in the world.
• 2011 Plant Leipzig manufactures its millionth BMW.

• 2013 Four wind turbines go into operation. Production of the BMW i3 begins, and Leipzig becomes the first car plant in the world to integrate CFRP into series production.
• 2014 Production of the BMW i8 begins. The plant is extended to accommodate the manufacture of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (the first front-wheel drive BMW), and the press plant is upgraded.
• 2016 Plant Leipzig manufactures its 2 millionth BMW.
• 2017 The Battery Farm goes into operation.
• 2019 The paintshop is upgraded.
• 2021 Plant Leipzig produces its 3 millionth BMW. Production of battery modules is launched.
• 2023 Production of the MINI Countryman successor to begin.

• BMW Group now producing high-voltage batteries and
  battery components at three locations in Germany alone:
  Dingolfing, Leipzig and Regensburg
• Less than a year from decision to start of production in
  Leipzig and Regensburg
• Production of battery components for BMW Group’s fifth generation of fully-electric vehicles

Munich/Leipzig/Regensburg. The BMW Group is launching production of battery components at its plants in Leipzig and Regensburg and expanding its e-drive production network. It has been less than a year since the decision was made to expand production capacity for e-drives in Germany. BMW Group Plant Leipzig will launch series production of battery modules on Monday, 3 May 2021, while BMW Group Plant Regensburg began coating battery cells for high-voltage batteries in April 2021. High-voltage batteries will also be produced in Regensburg from 2022. “We expect at least 50 percent of the vehicles we deliver to our customers worldwide to be fully electric by 2030,” said Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice President Production Engines and E-Drives. “And we are systematically expanding our production network for electric drive trains in response to this.”

The company is investing more than 250 million euros in its Regensburg and Leipzig locations alone to supply the BMW Group’s growing number of electrified vehicles with high-voltage batteries. High-voltage battery components will be used in production of the BMW iX* and BMW i4, both of which will be released onto the market shortly. The production systems are highly flexible and will also supply battery components for other BMW Group electrified vehicles in the future.

“We are increasing capacity at existing locations and developing capabilities at others. In this way, we can make the most of our associates’ expertise and experience and offer them long-term, secure jobs,” Nikolaides added. The BMW Group is investing a total of around 790 million euros in expanding production capacity for drivetrain components for electrified vehicles at its Dingolfing, Leipzig, Regensburg and Steyr locations between 2020 and 2022.

Production of battery modules at BMW Group Plant Leipzig

Leipzig is the BMW Group’s pioneer plant for electromobility and has been building the BMW Group’s first fully-electric vehicle, the BMW i3*, since 2013. Now, the location will also produce electric drivetrain components.

“We are continuing on this track with the launch of battery module production and further enhancing the plant’s future viability for electromobility,” confirmed Hans-Peter Kemser, Plant Director of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. “Plant Leipzig will play an important role in supplying the growing number of BMW Group electrified vehicles with battery components.” The successor to the MINI Countryman, scheduled to come off the production line in Leipzig from 2023, will be released onto the market with an electric drive train. “The expertise and experience gained by staff at our location over the years can be put to good use. Construction of the battery module lines will make a major contribution to long-term job security,” emphasised Kemser.

From May 2021, the 10,000 sq. m. production area previously reserved for the BMW i8 will be used for manufacturing battery modules. Production will get underway with 80 employees working in battery module production; by the end of the year, there will be a staff of around 150. The company will invest more than 100 million euros in the initial phase of battery module production at the Leipzig location between 2020 and 2022.

However, the production line for battery modules that just ramped up is only the beginning: The company has already decided to further increase capacity for battery module production at its Leipzig location. A second production line will come on stream in 2022. This will ensure the company has sufficient volumes to meet growing demand for drivetrains.

Production of battery components and high-voltage batteries at BMW Group Plant Regensburg

BMW Group Plant Regensburg already produces two electrified models – plug-in hybrid variants of the BMW X1* and BMW X2* – and will start building the fully-electric BMW X1 in 2022. The site's e-mobility expertise and experience will now also be used in production of battery components and high-voltage batteries.

The first of four coating lines for fifth-generation battery cells went on stream in April 2021, occupying a production and logistics area of more than 40,000 sq. m. “Regensburg has made a successful start to production of electric drivetrain components – this is an important milestone in our transformation,” according to Frank Bachmann, Plant Director of BMW Group Plant Regensburg. The three other systems will ramp up in stages between now and the end of 2021 to supply the growing volumes needed for the BMW Group’s fully electric vehicles. Up until now, battery cells have been coated at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing and the BMW Brilliance Automotive Plant Powertrain in Shenyang, China.

Coating increases the battery cell’s mechanical robustness and thermal conductivity. This helps improve insulation and cooling of the fifth-generation e-drive’s even more powerful battery cells. From 2022, the plant in Regensburg will produce high-voltage batteries from battery modules. A total of 100 employees already work in battery component production at the Regensburg site; by the end of 2022, there will be more than 300. The company will invest more than 150 million euros in ramping up production of battery components and high-voltage batteries between 2020 and 2022.

Holistic approach to sustainability

The BMW Group has a clear mission to ensure the “greenest electric vehicle comes from the BMW Group”, starting in production. The BMW Group already sources only green power for its manufacturing locations worldwide.

The BMW Group’s energy goals are geared towards the long term. The company reduced its emissions per vehicle produced by more than 70 percent between 2019 and 2006.The aim is to lower these CO2 emissions by another 80 percent by 2030. This means the BMW Group will have reduced its CO2 emissions from production to less than ten percent of what they were in 2006.

A further corporate objective is to reduce CO2 emissions in the supplier network by 20 percent by 2030. At the same time, the BMW Group has reached an agreement with its suppliers that they will only use renewable green power for producing fifth-generation battery cells.

From battery cell to high-voltage battery

Production of high-voltage batteries can be broken down into two stages: Battery modules are produced in a highly automated process. The lithium-ion cells first undergo a plasma cleaning, before a specially developed system coats the cells to ensure optimal insulation. Next, the battery cells are assembled into a larger unit, the so-called battery module. The BMW Group obtains its battery cells from partners who produce them to the company’s exact specifications. The BMW Group uses different battery cells, depending on which provides the best properties for each vehicle concept.

The battery modules are then installed in an aluminium housing, together with the connections to the vehicle, and the control and cooling units. The size and shape of the aluminium housing and the number of battery modules used differ according to the vehicle variant. This ensures the high-voltage battery is optimally adjusted to the vehicle.

Global e-drive production network focused in Germany

The high-voltage batteries and battery components needed for all BMW and MINI electrified vehicles come from the company’s own battery factories in Dingolfing, Leipzig and Regensburg in Germany, as well as from Spartanburg (USA) and Shenyang (China). The BMW Group has also localised production of high-voltage batteries in Thailand, at its Rayong plant, and is working with the Dräxlmaier Group for this. Munich is home to the e-drive pilot plant and the Battery Cell Competence Centre, where the BMW Group is conducting a full analysis of battery cell value creation processes and refining technology for its production processes.

The company produces electric motors at the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing and at BMW Group Plant Landshut. BMW Group Plant Steyr builds the housing for the highly integrated fifth-generation e-drive.

With the BMW Group’s electro-offensive now in full swing, increased production capacity is needed for electric drivetrain components. Thanks to intelligent vehicle architectures and a highly flexible production network, the BMW Group will have about a dozen fully-electric models on the roads from 2023. The BMW i3*, MINI Cooper SE* and BMW iX3* already on the market will be joined later this year by the BMW iX* and BMW i4. Between now and 2025, the BMW Group will increase its sales of fully-electric models by an average of well over 50 percent per year – more than ten times the number of units sold in 2020. By the end of 2025, the company will have delivered a total of around two million fully-electric vehicles to customers. Based on current market forecasts, the BMW Group expects at least 50 percent of its global sales to come from fully-electric vehicles in 2030. In total, over the next ten years or so, the company will release about ten million fully-electric vehicles onto the roads.

This means the BMW Group is strategically on track to reach the European Union’s ambitious CO2 reduction targets for 2025 and 2030 as well.