Spartanburg/ Munich. BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in
the US state of South Carolina has doubled its capacity for production
of high-voltage batteries. The plant’s own battery facility now
produces the new fourth-generation batteries. These are intended for
the plug-in hybrid models of the new BMW X5 and the future BMW X3,
also produced in Spartanburg.
“We have invested around ten million US dollars in a new battery
assembly line and expanded the area to more than 8,000 square metres.
This means we could double the number of batteries produced if needed
to meet market demand,” explains Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice
President Engines and Electrified Drivetrains, BMW Group.
The new assembly line will be able to produce different types of
fourth-generation batteries to serve the growing range of electrified
vehicles locally. These batteries are based on a new technology
concept that further enhances their performance.
More than 120 people will be employed in battery production at Plant
Spartanburg by the end of the year, having completed a comprehensive
training programme to acquire the technological know-how needed for
battery production.
“We have produced batteries on site at Plant Spartanburg since 2015 –
making the BMW Group a pioneer for electromobility in the US,” says
Knudt Flor, President and CEO, BMW Manufacturing, Co., LLC. In the
past four years, the plant’s battery assembly team has produced a
total of more than 45,000 batteries.
Further investment in production of BMW X5 and BMW X3 plug-in hybrids
Between 2015 and 2018, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg built the first
series produced plug-in hybrid vehicle, the BMW X5 xDrive40e (combined
fuel consumption: 3,3 l/100km; combined power consumption: 15,3
kWh/100km ; combined CO2-emission: 77 g/km), for the core BMW brand.
The start of production for the new BMW X5 xDrive45e (combined fuel
consumption: 2,0-1,7 l/100km*; combined power consumption: 23,5-20,3
kWh/100km*; combined CO2-emission: 47-39 g/km*) will be in August
2019; production of the BMW X3 xDrive30e (combined fuel consumption:
from 2,4 l/100 km*; combined power consumption: from 22,7 kWh/100 km*;
combined CO2-emission: from 56 g/km*; provisional figures) will get
underway in December.
“The BMW X5 and BMW X3 are currently among the top-selling BMW models
in the US. We expect their plug-in hybrid variants to be just as
popular with customers,” adds Flor.
Since the start of the year, the BMW Group has invested a further ten
million US dollars in production of plug-in hybrid models. An
additional 225 vehicle assembly workers received training in the
production of electrified vehicles, adding to the Plant’s already
skilled staff.
International production network for batteries
The BMW Group currently has three battery facilities: at the
Competence Centre for E-drive Production at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing
in Germany, at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in the US and at Plant
Powertrain of its joint venture, BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA). The
BMW Group also produces batteries for local car production in
cooperation with a partner in Thailand. The BMW Group’s battery
research and pilot plant are located in Munich.