BMW starts series production in the new battery plant in Lower Bavaria

BMW has started series production at its new battery factory in Lower Bavaria. From there, the group's German plants will be supplied with the latest, sixth generation batteries. First of all, it's about the i3, which is built in Munich. Because demand for the car is high, the ramp-up at the Irlbach-Straßkirchen battery plant - named after the two communities in which it is located - should also be ramped up faster than originally.

The plant, into which BMW invested around one billion euros, was built in less than two years - from the start of construction to the start of pre-series production in March. This was preceded by a referendum initiated by critics, but it was clearly in favor of the plant, which secures many jobs in the region.

Around 1,000 people and 500 robots

Around 1,000 people currently work at the plant, and this number is expected to increase to 1,600. However, many new jobs were not created at the factory. Most of the employees come from other factories nearby - many were already working there in the production of the fifth generation of batteries. When fully operational, the factory is expected to produce several hundred batteries per day. Around 500 robots are also in use.

According to BMW, the sixth generation batteries are a technological leap compared to their predecessors. The capacity jumps from 75 to 108 kilowatt hours. They also have significantly shorter loading times.

Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) also came to the start, who symbolically started production together with BMW production director Raymond Wittmann.

The Bavarian Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) praised the rapid construction of the plant. “With quick approvals and a quick start to construction, Bavaria has proven that we can deliver high-tech quality at turbo speed,” he says. The battery factory is also a “symbol of the courage that we need in Bavaria to actively shape the transformation of the automotive industry.”