BMW has embarked on the construction of a cutting-edge logistics center dedicated to high-voltage batteries adjacent to its Leipzig manufacturing facility. The sprawling 12-hectare site is set to play a pivotal role in BMW’s future operations, with an initial eight-hectare phase slated for completion by mid-2024.
The upcoming facility is poised to encompass a comprehensive array of features, including a dedicated logistics hall tailored for the current fifth-generation high-voltage battery technology. This phase will also see the establishment of a loading tunnel and an adjoining office complex. Notably, the ongoing fifth-generation battery iteration employs prismatic cells, with the transition to round cells earmarked for the forthcoming 2025 model range.
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BMW’s strategic blueprint for the logistics center incorporates both initial and secondary construction phases, with investments totaling up to 100 million euros. The Supply Centre North initiative is anticipated to create approximately 500 job opportunities across both construction phases.
Underlining its commitment to electrification, the Leipzig plant is gearing up to assemble the electric variant of the Mini Countryman, featuring the fifth-generation battery cells. This milestone is set to be unveiled ahead of the International Motor Show (IAA). Notably, the logistics hub’s purpose extends beyond catering to the Leipzig plant’s own requirements. The Leipzig facility is already a crucial supplier, furnishing a substantial proportion of battery modules for the broader BMW Group’s electric vehicle lineup, including models like the BMW iX1, BMW i5, and BMW iX.
The Leipzig plant has been gradually expanding its battery assembly capabilities, leveraging areas once dedicated to the production of the BMW i3 and i8. Within this expanded infrastructure, prismatic battery cells undergo a protective painting process, followed by consolidation into modules through subsequent production lines.
Anticipating the facility’s further growth, BMW envisions hosting over 1,000 employees engaged in battery component production at the Leipzig site by 2024. A pivotal development on the horizon is the commencement of high-voltage battery assembly operations, set to become operational at the onset of the upcoming year. This phase marks a crucial milestone, as BMW will then be poised to integrate modules crafted in Leipzig into comprehensive battery packs for vehicle plants. Thus, the entirety of the high-voltage battery production process, from cell procurement to the installation of fully assembled battery packs, will be streamlined at this location.
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As the new logistics hall takes shape, the Leipzig plant is cementing its role as a fundamental link in the electric component supply chain for the broader manufacturing network. Structural considerations for handling high-voltage components have been meticulously integrated into the design. Additionally, the facility will be equipped with photovoltaic systems atop its roof, capable of generating approximately 3,000 kW of peak power. Sustainability is also at the forefront, with the hall’s heating set to be powered by a state-of-the-art heat pump system.
