BMW Gen6 battery production in Germany

BMW Group has commenced series production of its sixth-generation (Gen6) high-voltage batteries at a new facility in Irlbach-Straßkirchen, Bavaria. The plant represents a roughly 1 billion euro investment and is the company’s largest construction project in Germany in 20 years.

The facility utilizes cylindrical cells and ‘cell-to-pack’ technology to integrate batteries directly into vehicle structures. While battery cells are sourced from China, the German plant handles the assembly and specification of the packs to support the ‘Neue Klasse’ technology platform. The site is designed to operate without fossil fuels, using renewable energy and a waterless assembly process.

The plant will supply BMW’s Munich, Regensburg, and Dingolfing locations, specifically supporting the new BMW i3 electric model. At full capacity, the factory is expected to employ approximately 1,600 people and produce several hundred batteries per day. The company reports that the Gen6 technology has reduced CO2e emissions per vehicle-hour by approximately 33 percent compared to the previous generation.