BMW opens new high-voltage battery factory in Germany

BMW Group has opened a new high-voltage battery factory in Irlbach-Straßkirchen, Bavaria, marking its largest construction project in Germany in 20 years. The facility focuses on the mass production of sixth-generation (Gen6) batteries, which utilize cylindrical cells and “cell-to-pack” technology to integrate the battery directly into the vehicle structure.

The plant, spanning 60 hectares with 50,000 square meters of production space, was completed in a record timeframe. While BMW continues to source battery cells from China—where production costs are approximately one-third lower than in Europe—the company performs the assembly and specification of the battery packs in Germany. The facility will supply BMW's Munich plant for the new BMW i3 electric model, as well as plants in Regensburg and Dingolfing.

Operationally, the factory is designed to run without fossil fuels, utilizing on-site photovoltaic panels and renewable energy sources. The assembly process is also waterless. At full capacity, the plant is expected to employ approximately 1,600 people and produce several hundred high-voltage batteries per day. The company noted that the new Gen6 technology has reduced CO2e emissions per vehicle-hour by approximately 33 percent compared to the previous generation.