Like most manufacturers today, BMW has launched a massive push into electric vehicles. The range is already well-stocked, notably with the recent launch of the BMW iX1, currently the manufacturer’s cheapest electric model, which should also soon become its best-selling model.

For the production of its new electric cars and those to come, BMW has just announced the location of its future electric battery plant in Bavaria. This one, which will be supplied by its three Bavarian assembly plants.

Batteries and cars are assembled in Europe

A new battery plant is planned to be built in 2024 in the municipalities of Irlbach and Straskirchen in eastern Bavaria. “We have entered into an agreement to purchase 105 hectares of land, as close as possible to our three Bavarian plants,” indicated the press secretary, who, however, clarifies that the process has just begun.

So it’s doubly good news for BMW, as it will limit transport and logistics costs, although it should allow employment of about a thousand people.

The appearance of round cells in BMW

This factory will make sixth-generation batteries with round cells, rather than square cells like most currently in use. The facility will be based on the model of the plant project in Hungary, announced by 2025 with an initial investment of two billion euros. However, the investment amount of the German plant is still unknown.

Therefore, future electric BMWs will receive batteries from Chinese suppliers CATL, the world market leader, and EVE Energy. The new BMW plant will take care of assembling the cells in metal boxes to form the battery, which will then be sent to BMW’s three assembly plants in Bavariain Dingolfing, Munich and Regensburg.