Regensburg. Today’s production of the fully electric BMW iX1* in Regensburg shows how fast the BMW Group is focusing on electric mobility. As announced almost two years ago, all German factories can now produce electric cars. The smallest model of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles will increase the amount of electric vehicles. Milan Nedeljković, BMW AG board member responsible for production, has already announced the next phase at the start of production: “We are delivering the goods. In 2024, at least one out of every three BMWs leaving our factories in Bavaria will be an electric car”. Further proof of why the BMW Group is systematically implementing its electrification strategy, focusing on speed and short distances. The high-voltage battery in the BMW iX1* also comes from Regensburg.
Christian Bernreiter, Minister of Transport of Bavaria: “Bavaria is Germany’s leading car country and has a long tradition of building cars. This success lies not only in past achievements but also in research, development and innovation. The BMW iX1* and its high-voltage battery. underline that BMW is capable The fact that this all-electric car rolls off the production line in Regensburg also represents a strong commitment to Bavaria as a production location.
The start of production of the new BMW iX1* means that the BMW Group plant Regensburg now produces all drive technologies on a single line as part of its flexible production process – for models with internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and fully electric drives. According to Carsten Regent, head of the BMW Group plant Regensburg: “The electrification and transformation of the plant gives me optimism for the future. Our goal now – also with the new BMW iX1* – is to continue to surprise customers around the world with cars. made in Regensburg .”
BMW iFACTORY: Digital twin of the Regensburg factory
Light, green, digital: With the BMW iFACTORY, the BMW Group is setting new standards and defining the future of car manufacturing. This is also evident at the Regensburg location, where the plant is a pioneer in digitization. As part of a recent pilot project, the factory was digitally mapped. The resulting digital twin enables highly efficient planning of future production facilities and factories. The factory’s paint shop, for example, relies on artificial intelligence: painted surfaces are scanned to ensure impeccable quality and then finished with a fully automated program customized for each vehicle, to offer the perfect customer experience. Artificial intelligence is also used in vehicle assembly at the Regensburg plant, particularly with AI methods that assist workers with quality inspections. The AIQX (Artificial Intelligence Quality Next) computer system used for this purpose learns to recognize human-like objects from samples, making it a useful complement to traditional camera-based quality inspections.
Predictive maintenance ensures that technical failures, for example in transmission systems, are detected early, before plant shutdowns occur. Factories and machines are monitored with automatic evaluation of process data.
Short distances: high voltage battery from a nearby production plant
Avoid consumption and save resources: BMW iFACTORY also ensures a shorter distance for transport. “The close connection between component and vehicle production is part of our strategy,” says Markus Fallböhmer, head of battery production at the BMW Group. The company is moving at a fast pace, especially given that the first of five battery cell coating lines only came into operation at the Regensburg electronics manufacturing plant in April 2021. “We have put our new high-voltage battery assembly line into operation in October. We are already supplying the surrounding automotive factory high-voltage batteries for the BMW iX1*,” explained Fallböhmer. By the end of the year, more than 400 employees will be working on the production of electrical components in the 45,000 square meter factory in Regensburg.
1.6 billion euros invested so far in electrical components at German stations
By the end of 2022, the BMW Group will have invested a total of more than 1.6 billion euros in the production of electronic components at its German sites in Dingolfing, Leipzig and Regensburg. Currently, more than 3,300 employees work in the production of BMW Group electrical components at these locations.
For more information:
Marco DiGregorio
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Phone: +39 0251610088
Email: marco.di-gregorio@bmw.it
Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com And http://bmw.lulop.com
BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of premium cars and motorcycles and also offers premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly plants in 15 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2021, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million cars and over 194,000 motorcycles worldwide. Profit before tax in the financial year 2021 was 16.1 billion euros on revenue of 111.2 billion euros. On December 31, 2021, 118,909 employees worked at the BMW Group.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on a long-term vision and responsible actions. The company has set its sights on the future early on and consistently places sustainability and resource conservation at the center of its strategy, from the supply chain through production to the end use of all products.
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BMW iX1 xDrive30: electricity consumption, combined in the WLTP cycle: 18.1 – 16.8 kWh/100 km; Co2 emissions: 0 g/km; numbers in NEDC cycle:-