€2bn BMW battery plant for Hungary
BMW is building a high-voltage battery assembly in Hungary for its next generation of electric vehicles.
Highlighting the need for battery assembly across Europe, the 140,000 m² plant is being built alongside the Debrecen vehicle plant, which started construction about six months ago. The company will create more than 500 additional jobs and invest over two billion euros in the construction and launch of the entire plant, powered by renewable energy, by the end of 2025.
BMW says this sixth generation battery will improve range by up to 30 percent, and the charging speed will be up to 30 percent faster.
- European battery firms push for sustainability laws
- The changing landscape of battery gigafactories
- BritishVolt sits on the brink
In Debrecen, the next-generation round battery cells will be assembled into a battery housing – a metal frame, which is later integrated into the underbody of the car. The official start of production for the sixth generation high-voltage batteries will be in 2025 in parallel with the start of vehicle production. All batteries for the vehicles from Plant Debrecen will be assembled on site.
“In Debrecen, we are building the most advanced plant in the world. With our iFACTORY, we are setting new industry standards for vehicle production. Our investments underline our systematic approach to implementing e-mobility,” said Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW for production.
The aim is to reduce the supply chain and boost skills. The plant includes an in-house Training Centre that will open i autumn 2023
“We are currently recruiting new colleagues locally and from all over Hungary, so we can build the future of BMW Group Plant Debrecen together,” explains Hans-Peter Kemser, President and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Hungary Kft.
- Swedish startup plans local battery gigafactory
- Northvolt to build German battery gigafactory with Volkswagen
- Britishvolt buys German battery maker
Cell manufacturers will use cobalt, lithium and nickel that include a percentage of recycled materials in the production of battery cells. Combined with the commitment to use only green power from renewable energies for production of battery cells, BMW says it will reduce the carbon footprint of battery cell production by up to 60 percent.
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
