BMW has officially obtained planning permission for its new battery assembly plant in Lower Bavaria, marking a significant step forward for the project’s construction.
The district office had previously approved an early start for soil removal, construction site equipment, and the installation of construction and office containers at the end of March 2024. BMW commenced the removal of topsoil from the first construction phase at the beginning of April 2024, intending to reuse it sensibly. The company plans to work closely with local agricultural associations, the government of Lower Bavaria, and the Deggendorf Water Management Office to distribute the topsoil to agricultural businesses in the region.
Markus Fallböhmer, Head of Battery Production at BMW Group, expressed delight at reaching this important milestone. “With the building permit, we have obtained the legal basis to press ahead with the realization of our new site in Lower Bavaria as planned,” Fallböhmer stated.
The new plant, situated in the municipalities of Straßkirchen and Irlbach, will produce ready-to-install battery packs using supplied battery cells. These packs will then be installed in electric cars at BMW’s Bavarian car plants in Munich, Dingolfing, and Regensburg. Local resistance to the project was significant due to concerns about soil sealing and delivery traffic. However, a referendum in Straßkirchen in September 2023 cleared the way for the project.
BMW anticipates that the first construction phase alone will create approximately 1,600 jobs at the site. The battery supply from Irlbach and Straßkirchen is expected to secure jobs at BMW Group’s Bavarian automotive plants and create new jobs in the field of e-mobility.
