The BMW Group is committing to a €800 million investment in its Mexican production site in San Luis Potosí to integrate fully-electric models and establish a local high-voltage battery assembly. The aim is to reach 50% of worldwide sales of fully-electric vehicles by 2030.
The investment will allocate €500 million to the construction of a new high-voltage battery assembly center. Over 500 new employees will be hired to produce next-generation batteries for fully-electric vehicles. The NEUE KLASSE models will feature new round lithium-ion battery cells, developed specifically for the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology, which will increase energy density by over 20% and improve charging speed and range by up to 30%.
Additionally, the CO2 emissions from cell production will decrease by up to 60% due to reliance on renewable energy sources from cell suppliers. BMW Group also recently announced a $1.7 billion investment in expanding its Spartanburg production site in the US, including $1 billion for electric vehicle production and $700 million for a new high-voltage battery assembly center in Woodruff.
See also: BMW Doubles Proportion of Fully-Electric Cars Sold, Reaches Nearly 10% of Total Sales in 2022
Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, says: “We are systematically gearing our production network towards electromobility. In Mexico, we are investing 800 million euros in our plant and creating around 1,000 new jobs. The first cars of the NEUE KLASSE will come off the production line at our plant in Debrecen, Hungary, starting in 2025, followed by the main plant in Munich. We will achieve additional volumes by integrating the NEUE KLASSE at Plant San Luis Potosí from 2027 onwards.”
Harald Gottsche, President & CEO at BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí, adds: “With this new investment, our plant in San Luis Potosí will play a central role in BMW Group’s transition to electromobility. The company is increasing its commitment to Mexico and its stake in our facility, not only due to its strategic location but, above all, to a solid work team, which, in less than four years after starting operations, already produces three models that supply 74 global markets and stand out for their quality.”
