This year marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA), a joint venture between BMW and Brilliance Auto in China. To mark the event, it was announced that the local production of BMW new class will begin operations at BBA’s Shenyang plant from 2026, after these next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) hit the market in 2025.
In addition, BBA will invest 10 billion yuan (approximately RM6.4 billion) in a new high-voltage battery assembly plant, also in Shenyang, to ensure a stable supply for vehicle production. This facility will be responsible for the assembly of the sixth generation of BMW high-voltage batteries, the key to new class.
To recap, Neue Klasse was first announced in March 2021 and points to an electric-only platform for the brand’s next generation of electric vehicles that will launch in 2025. part of the automaker’s plan big plan where it says, “more than half of the vehicles the BMW Group sells worldwide will be fully electric by 2030.”
The upcoming Shenyang battery assembly plant that will be part of a global battery manufacturing network will also see similar facilities set up in Debrecen (Hungary), San Luis Potosí (Mexico), Woodruff near Spartanburg (USA) as well as a new factory. position in Germany for the next few years. This “local for local” approach helps drive the growing electrification of its product range in each region of the world, while allowing CO2 savings from operations, BMW says. logistics action.
The same is true of its supplier network, and in China, BBA already has about 430 local suppliers. The joint venture was first established in May 2003, but BMW has been present in the Chinese market since 1994. Over the past 20 years, BBA’s Shenyang plant has increased its production capacity from 30,000 to 30,000. 830,000 units and currently producing seven models with all-electric, plug-in hybrid and internal combustion powertrains.
Before launching the Neue Klasse, BMW said it had established an entire electric vehicle ecosystem in China, including research and development, supply chain, and battery and electric vehicle manufacturing. With facilities in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Nanjing, the German automaker has built the largest research and innovation network outside of Germany.
In particular, the R&D facility will move to this year and be expanded to increase development and validation capabilities for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in China. Now, with 19 test strips for low and high voltage testing, pedestrian safety testing, advanced electronics analysis and extreme temperature charging, the testing possibilities This extension can help shorten the development cycle.
