BMW Group said it has partnered with Rimac Technology to develop a new high-voltage battery system for the all-electric BMW i7, as the automaker prepares to unveil the updated flagship model at Auto China 2026 on April 22.
The new i7 will feature BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive battery technology, centered on 4695-format cylindrical lithium-ion cells. The company said the new cells deliver around 20% higher volumetric energy density compared with the prismatic cells used in its previous-generation architecture, allowing more energy to be stored within the same space.
BMW and Rimac integrated the new cylindrical cells into the existing Gen5 module layout rather than developing an entirely new structure. The approach is expected to improve both driving range and charging performance, although BMW has not disclosed specific figures ahead of the vehicle’s global debut in Beijing.
Production of the battery packs will be handled at Rimac’s manufacturing facility in Croatia before being shipped to BMW’s Dingolfing plant in Germany, the company’s sole global production site for the 7 Series.
“We are quickly rolling out the technologies of the Neue Klasse across our entire model portfolio – including, of course, in our all-electric luxury sedan. The teams of both companies have developed a tailor-made solution for the new BMW i7,” said Thomas Engelhardt, Senior Vice President Development High-Voltage Storage and Charging at BMW Group. “The excellent collaboration with Rimac Technology is a good example of European innovative strength.”
The partnership also highlights Rimac Technology’s broader shift toward becoming a high-volume Tier 1 supplier, expanding beyond its origins in low-volume hypercar programs.
“BMW has always been known for pushing engineering to the highest level, which made this collaboration especially exciting for us. Together, we developed a high-voltage battery system that unlocks the full potential of the new cylindrical cells in record time, delivering significant improvements in energy, range, and charging performance. We are proud to now see this system being produced at scale at our new Rimac Campus,” said Mate Rimac, Founder and President of Rimac Group.
Rimac Technology, part of Rimac Group, supplies high-voltage battery systems, e-axles, and integrated electronics to automakers. The BMW collaboration signals its continued expansion into large-scale automotive supply programs across Europe.
