Posted on 29 Nov 2022
BMW Group will build a new battery assembly plant at its Debrecen vehicle facility, currently under construction in Hungary, Kallanish reports.
The German carmaker says it will invest over €2 billion ($2.09 billion) at the plant by 2025, creating more than 500 jobs. The high-voltage battery assembly facility will be located on the site of the car plant, which together will cover an area of around 140,000 square metres.
Details on production capacity weren’t revealed, but BMW Group says the first sixth generation cylindrical batteries cells assembled on site will match the start of EV production in 2025. It notes the cells are required to have a percentage of secondary cobalt, lithium, and nickel in them, and with 100% renewable power, the cells will be assembled into a battery housing (metal frame) to be later integrated into the underbody of the car.
“In Debrecen, we are building the most advanced plant in the world. With our iFACTORY, we are setting new industry standards for vehicle production. Our investments underline our systematic approach to implementing e-mobility,” comments Milan Nedeljković, member of the board of management of BMW AG, Production.
Markus Fallböhmer, senior vice president of battery production at the BMW Group, adds that the iFACTORY is about ensuring short distances for logistics.
“The close link between battery assembly and vehicle production is part of our strategy,” he says.
The so-called NEUE KLASSE BEVs to be produced in Hungary will have up to 30% improvement in battery range and charging speed, as well as up to 60% reduction in the battery carbon footprint.
Construction at Debrecen started about six months ago, and the carmaker is currently hiring and launching a dual education programme in autumn 2023 at its in-house Training Centre.
Source:Kallanish
