BMW gears up for Neue Klasse with new battery assembly line
08 May 2024|95 views
Following rounds of teasers and confirmation of a planned market launch in late 2025, BMW is now gearing up for its impending Neue Klasse generation of bespoke electric vehicles (EVs) on one critical front: Its new batteries.
Specifically, the firm has announced that the construction of a high-voltage battery assembly has begun at Plant San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in preparation for new sixth-generation batteries. These will utilise newly developed round cells for the first time - providing a 20% boost in energy density and a 30% increase in charging speed, while extending potential range by 30% too.
The construction start comes as part of an approximately $1.165 billion (€800 million) investment into the expansion of the Mexican site specifically for the Neue Klasse - set to cover an area of more than 80,000 square metres. This will also bring in new body shop, assembly and logistics areas.
The Mexican plant is set to rely more heavily on solar power via photovoltaic systems within the plant - with BMW aiming to generate more than 20% of the energy required directly on-site. Furthermore, the plant's wastewater treatment is also being developed to facilitate the reuse of treated wastewater.
It's not just Plant San Luis Potosí that BMW is focusing its efforts on, though. Assembly sites for its sixth-generation batteries are currently also being built in Debrecen (Hungary), Shenyang (China), Woodruff, near Spartanburg (USA) and Irlbach-Strasskirchen (Lower Bavaria).
BMW states that this scattered global approach is part of its "local for local" principle - targeted at safeguarding production "in the event of unforeseen political and economic developments". Another benefit of these shortened distances is a reduced carbon footprint for vehicle production.
Although the initial plan is for the first Neue Klasse SUV (or SAV - Sports Activity Vehicle - in BMW speak) to be launched at Plant Debrecen, and for the Neue Klasse sedan to be launched in Munich, the Mexican plant should also be able to support production for the former from 2027.
Following rounds of teasers and confirmation of a planned market launch in late 2025, BMW is now gearing up for its impending Neue Klasse generation of bespoke electric vehicles (EVs) on one critical front: Its new batteries.
Specifically, the firm has announced that the construction of a high-voltage battery assembly has begun at Plant San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in preparation for new sixth-generation batteries. These will utilise newly developed round cells for the first time - providing a 20% boost in energy density and a 30% increase in charging speed, while extending potential range by 30% too.
The construction start comes as part of an approximately $1.165 billion (€800 million) investment into the expansion of the Mexican site specifically for the Neue Klasse - set to cover an area of more than 80,000 square metres. This will also bring in new body shop, assembly and logistics areas.
The Mexican plant is set to rely more heavily on solar power via photovoltaic systems within the plant - with BMW aiming to generate more than 20% of the energy required directly on-site. Furthermore, the plant's wastewater treatment is also being developed to facilitate the reuse of treated wastewater.
It's not just Plant San Luis Potosí that BMW is focusing its efforts on, though. Assembly sites for its sixth-generation batteries are currently also being built in Debrecen (Hungary), Shenyang (China), Woodruff, near Spartanburg (USA) and Irlbach-Strasskirchen (Lower Bavaria).
BMW states that this scattered global approach is part of its "local for local" principle - targeted at safeguarding production "in the event of unforeseen political and economic developments". Another benefit of these shortened distances is a reduced carbon footprint for vehicle production.
Although the initial plan is for the first Neue Klasse SUV (or SAV - Sports Activity Vehicle - in BMW speak) to be launched at Plant Debrecen, and for the Neue Klasse sedan to be launched in Munich, the Mexican plant should also be able to support production for the former from 2027.
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