Regensburg is now a pivotal location in the BMW Group’s accelerating shift towards electromobility, marking the start of production for the all-electric Bmw Ix1*. This launch, almost two years after the initial announcement, signifies that all BMW plants in Germany are now capable of producing electric vehicles. The BMW iX1, the smallest of BMW’s Sports Activity Vehicles (SAVs), is poised to significantly increase the volume of electric vehicles rolling off production lines. Milan Nedeljković, BMW AG Board Member for Production, underscored this ambition at the production launch, stating, “We are delivering on our promises. By 2024, at least a third of all BMWs from our Bavarian plants will be electric.” This statement reinforces the BMW Group’s commitment to its electrification strategy, emphasizing speed and efficiency in its implementation. Adding to the localized production benefits, the high-voltage battery for the BMW iX1 is also manufactured in Regensburg.
Christian Bernreiter, Bavaria’s Minister of Transport, highlighted the region’s significance in the automotive industry: “Bavaria is the leading automotive state in Germany, boasting a rich history of vehicle manufacturing. However, our continued success relies not just on past achievements, but on ongoing research, development, and innovation. The BMW iX1 and its locally produced high-voltage battery demonstrate BMW’s mastery of future automotive technologies. The production of this fully-electric vehicle in Regensburg is a strong endorsement for Bavaria as a premier car manufacturing location.”
The start of BMW iX1* production showcases the advanced flexibility of BMW Group Plant Regensburg. The facility now operates a single production line capable of manufacturing vehicles with all drive types: combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and fully-electric models. Carsten Regent, Head of BMW Group Plant Regensburg, expressed his optimism about the plant’s future: “The electrification and transformation of our plant fill me with confidence for what’s ahead. Our goal, especially with the new BMW iX1, is to continue exceeding customer expectations worldwide with vehicles manufactured in Regensburg.”
BMW iFACTORY: Regensburg’s Digital Twin Enhances Efficiency
BMW Group’s BMW iFACTORY strategy, focused on being lean, green, and digital, is setting new benchmarks for automotive production, and Plant Regensburg exemplifies this future-oriented approach, leading the way in digitalization. A pilot project at the plant has created a comprehensive digital map, a ‘digital twin’, enabling highly efficient planning for future plant expansions and production layouts.
The paint shop at Regensburg utilizes artificial intelligence to ensure superior quality. AI-driven systems scan painted surfaces for imperfections and initiate a fully-automated, vehicle-specific finishing process, guaranteeing an exceptional customer experience. Artificial intelligence also supports quality inspections in vehicle assembly. The AIQX (Artificial Intelligence Quality Next) system uses image recognition to assist employees, learning from sample images to identify components and potential issues, thus enhancing traditional camera-based quality checks.
Predictive maintenance further optimizes operations by proactively identifying potential technical faults in systems like conveyor belts. Automated analysis of process data allows for early detection of issues, preventing costly system downtime.
Short Supply Chains: Local Battery Production for BMW iX1
A core principle of the BMW iFACTORY is minimizing consumption and conserving resources, which includes optimizing logistics through short supply chains. Markus Fallböhmer, Head of Battery Production at the BMW Group, emphasizes the strategic advantage of co-locating component and vehicle production: “The tight integration of component and vehicle manufacturing is central to our strategy.” BMW’s rapid progress in this area is evident, especially considering the Regensburg component plant’s first battery cell coating line began operations in April 2021. “We commissioned our new high-voltage battery assembly line in October and are now supplying high-voltage batteries to the adjacent vehicle plant for the BMW iX1,” Fallböhmer added. By the end of this year, over 400 employees will be working in electric component production at the 45,000 square-meter Regensburg facility.
Significant Investment in German Electromobility
By the close of 2022, the BMW Group will have invested over 1.6 billion euros in electric component production across its German sites in Dingolfing, Leipzig, and Regensburg. Currently, more than 3,300 employees are dedicated to BMW Group’s electric component production at these locations, demonstrating the company’s substantial commitment to and investment in the future of electromobility within Germany.
CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.
BMW iX1 xDrive30: electric power consumption, combined in the WLTP cycle: 18.1 – 16.8 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions: 0 g/km; figures in NEDC cycle: –
