BMW Group is stepping up its efforts to transition to e-mobility and is set to continue its growth with the introduction of its next generation of vehicles, the Neue Klasse. The company aims to reach 50% of its global sales of fully electric vehicles before its 2030 target.
To achieve this, BMW is investing in the expansion of its international production network, including the construction of a new high-voltage battery assembly center in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. This investment of 800 million euros (about 866 million dollars at current exchange rates) should create about 1,000 new jobs.
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BMW Neue Klasse vehicles will be produced in Debrecen, Hungary from 2025 and later at the main plant in Munich. Production in San Luis Potosí will begin in 2027. BMW recently announced a $1.7 billion investment in the expansion of its Spartanburg production site in the United States, with $1 billion earmarked for vehicle production electricity and 700 million for a new battery assembly center in Aspérule. The company aims to build at least six all-electric models in the United States by 2030.
The new battery assembly center in San Luis Potosi will span an area of 85,000 square meters (914,932 square feet) and employ more than 500 workers, producing next-generation batteries for all-electric vehicles. The plant, which became operational in 2019, already produces three models for 74 global markets, including the BMW 3 Series, 2 Series and M2.
The San Luis Potosi plant is highly flexible, allowing minor adjustments to accommodate new vehicle architecture and is equipped with a second shift starting in April, adding 500 new jobs to the workforce factory. BMW’s production master plan, the BMW iFactory, emphasizes process flexibility and efficiency.
Neue Klasse vehicles will be powered by new round lithium-ion battery cells specially developed for the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology. These batteries will offer more than 20% increased energy density and up to 30% improved charging speed and range. CO2 emissions from cell production will be reduced by up to 60% through the use of renewable energy sources and secondary materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel.
