BMW shifts EV production to Mexico and China for new ‘Neue Klasse’ platform

BMW Group announced a $2 billion investment to expand its San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico. From 2027 the facility will add 110,000 m² and begin manufacturing two Neue Klasse electric models – the iX3 and i3 – making it the first premium‑brand plant in the country to produce fully electric vehicles and high‑voltage batteries. Klaus von Moltke said the expansion will turn the plant into “the first premium automotive sector in Mexico to produce fully electric vehicles and high‑voltage batteries.” The plant currently employs about 3,700 staff and supports around 32,000 indirect jobs.

At the same time, BMW Brilliance Automotive in Shenyang, China, will halt local production of three Gen‑5 BEV models – the iX1, the market‑specific i3 G28, and the long‑wheel‑base i5 – in July. The discontinued models free capacity for the Neue Klasse platform, with the new iX3 L and i3 L slated for local assembly. The sixth‑generation platform brings upgraded battery cells, a new electrical system and enhanced software, and incorporates locally developed voice‑interaction technology.

These coordinated moves highlight BMW’s strategy to re‑tool its global factories for the next‑generation electric vehicle architecture while adapting production footprints to regional market demands.