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BMW U.S. Plant In Spartanburg Doubles Battery Production Capacity

More batteries will be needed for the upcoming BMW X5 xDrive45e and BMW X3 xDrive30e, also produced in Spartanburg

Battery assembly for the BMW X5 xDrive45e, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg

Mark Kane Mark Kane

By: Mark Kane

Jul 26, 2019 at 12:11pm ET

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BMW Group announced that through an investment of around $10 million, it doubled battery production capacity at its Spartanburg plant in South Carolina.

There are no precise numbers of MWh, but over four years (between 2015-2019) Spartanburg produced more than 45,000 packs for BMW X5 PHEV (outgoing xDrive40e).

"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."

Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice President Engines and Electrified Drivetrains, BMW Group explains:

“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,”

See also

BMW iX5/iNext Shows Production SUV Body For The First Time

Now the facility will be ready for the 4th generation of BMW batteries, double the capacity and two models (also assembled locally):

BMW Group has several battery production sites:

Let's take a quick look at the BMW X5 xDrive45e battery assembly and installation of the battery pack:

Gallery: BMW X5 xDrive45e production

BMW X5 xDrive45e production - Battery installation

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BMW X5 xDrive45e production - Battery installation BMW X5 xDrive45e production - Battery installation Battery assembly for the BMW X5 xDrive45e, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg Battery assembly for the BMW X5 xDrive45e, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg Battery assembly for the BMW X5 xDrive45e, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg Battery assembly for the BMW X5 xDrive45e, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg

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And here are specs of the upcoming BMW X5 xDrive45e:

BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance specs:

Gallery: BMW X5 xDrive45e

BMW X5 xDrive45e

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BMW X5 xDrive45e BMW X5 xDrive45e BMW X5 xDrive45e BMW X5 xDrive45e BMW X5 xDrive45e BMW X5 xDrive45e

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BMW Group Plant Spartanburg doubles battery production capacity

 

24.07.2019 Press Release
+++ Investment of around ten million US dollars in production of fourth-generation batteries +++ Production of new BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid to begin in August 2019 +++

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.

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