Together with Dr Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Purchasing and Supplier Network, and Minister of State Dr Florian Herrmann, Head of the Bavarian State Chancellery, BMW Group Plant Landshut launched pre-series production of the central housing for the new electric drive system on 25 October 2024. With the commissioning of the new production area in the light metal foundry, the plant is finalizing an investment of around 200 million euros. Over the last five years, the BMW Group has invested around one billion euros in the Lower Bavaria site, around 500 million euros of which has been invested in the expansion of electromobility alone. This is another major step in the transformation to electromobility.
Progress compared to the last generation
Compared to the previous generation, vehicles in the new class equipped with the electric drive system should have up to 30 per cent more range and a 30 per cent shorter charging time, as well as an overall 30 per cent increase in efficiency. The central scontains the core components of the electric motor rotor, stator, gearbox and inverter, which are manufactured at BMW Group Steyr and assembled in the Landshut housing.
Technological openness and production flexibility at the Landshut plant
Landshut is a center of innovation and makes the company's openness to technology tangible. The plant is characterized by state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and a high degree of production flexibility. In addition to the transformation and production of components for e-vehicles, Landshut also manufactures components for combustion vehicles, among other things.
The 6th generation housing will be produced using the specially developed Injector Casting process. This process guarantees optimum mechanical properties of the cast part, but also reduces energy consumption, CO2 emissions and resource requirements. This makes a significant contribution to sustainability.
Voices from the management
Dr Florian Herrmann emphasized: ‘In order to achieve the climate targets, we need change, progress and openness to technology. This is the core of Bavarian innovation policy and part of the BMW Group's corporate DNA. This secures jobs and technological competitiveness.’
Dr Joachim Post added: ‘The Landshut plant is once again demonstrating its innovative strength and playing an important role in the New Class. By investing in this completely new production hall for the electric motor housing, we are emphasizing our clear commitment to Germany as an industrial location.’
Outlook for the new class
The new all-electric class will initially be launched at the end of 2025 with an X model at the Hungarian plant in Debrecen. This will be followed by Munich with the sporty saloon. In future, the Irlbach-Straßkirchen plant in Lower Bavaria will manufacture the high-voltage batteries that will be installed in the New Class vehicles at the Bavarian BMW plants.
