Highest standards of flexibility: All drive train variants on one
line +++ Successful transformation of BMW Group plants towards
e-mobility and digitalisation +++ Half of Dingolfing's production
volume will be electrified by mid-decade +++ Nedeljković: “setting
ourselves ambitious goals for the most sustainable production”
Dingolfing. Standard production of the fully-electric
BMW iX* began today in Dingolfing. The plant in Lower Bavaria now
produces vehicles with all drive train variants, i.e.
combustion-engine vehicles, plug-in hybrids and fully-electric models,
on a single line. Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management
of BMW AG, responsible for Production: “The launch of the BMW iX*
marks another milestone in our expansion of electrification and
demonstrates our production network's successful transformation
towards electromobility and digitalisation.”
The BMW iX* is being manufactured at the BMW Group’s largest European
production plant on an assembly line with the flexibility to build a
mix of BMW 5 Series, 7 Series and 8 Series models. To handle this
flexibility and variety of drive trains, vehicle assembly in
Dingolfing has been expanded and refurbished. The BMW Group has
invested a total of more than 400 million euros in producing the BMW
iX* at the Dingolfing vehicle plant. Many of the remodelling and
structural measures required for the BMW iX* are already benefiting
future generations of the BMW 7 Series and 5 Series that will come off
the production line in Dingolfing in the coming years. Fully-electric
variants have also been announced for both model ranges.
Half of production volume already electrified by mid-decade
With the BMW iX* and other PHEV models at Plant Dingolfing alone, the
BMW Group plans to double the percentage of electrified vehicles
produced this year compared to 2020. By the middle of the decade, half
the vehicles produced in Dingolfing will be electrified. The new model
will play an important part in this. “The BMW iX* will already be one
of the highest-volume model at the location by next year,” according
to Nedeljković. The BMW iX* will be followed in the autumn by the BMW
i4*, which will be built in Munich. At the end of next year, all
German plants will be producing at least one fully-electric vehicle.
Broad know-how: Vehicle and e-drive production on site
Production of the BMW iX* in Dingolfing benefits from broad know-how
and expertise in the technologies located at the site. Close
interaction between these different areas enables a high level of
in-house activity and short lines of communication, as well as
ensuring optimum production technology overall. The fully-electric
heart of the BMW iX* – the highly integrated e-drive and
fifth-generation battery, as well as the complete electric axle are
produced on site, together with the Dingolfing component plants.
Production capacity will be systematically expanded and, from 2022,
Dingolfing will be able to produce e-drives for more than half a
million electrified vehicles.
BMW iX* as trailblazer
The BMW iX* introduces a multitude of innovations to the product and
production processes at the plant – especially in the vehicle’s
electrical system architecture, software, digital services,
connectivity and automated driving functions. As a result, the vehicle
plays an important role as a trailblazer and is making Dingolfing
“e-car” and “smart-car ready” as the BMW Group’s primary plant for the
luxury class.
The BMW iX* is also an important trailblazer in production, bringing
future technologies into the production system – such as digital
methods for employee training, automation of logistics processes,
virtual commissioning and validation of driver assistance systems.
Christoph Schröder, head of BMW Group Plant Dingolfing: “As the
primary plant for the luxury class, our location produces the BMW
Group’s technology flagship. It is once again proving itself as a
pioneer for the mobility of tomorrow and as the industry leader in key
future areas of automotive activity, such as electrification,
digitalisation and sustainability. In this way, the BMW iX* is
continuing the successful transformation of the BMW Group location in
Dingolfing that began long ago.”
Special focus on sustainability
The topic of sustainability is firmly anchored throughout the
company. A particular focus is on improving our carbon footprint –
especially in production of electric vehicles. Independent auditors
have confirmed that the greenhouse gas potential of the BMW iX
xDrive40* is around 45 percent lower than that of a comparable Sports
Activity Vehicle with an internal combustion engine. “We are already
the sustainability benchmark for our industry. But we will continue to
invest in resource-saving technologies and set ourselves ambitious
goals for the most sustainable production,” underlined head of
Production Milan Nedeljković. The BMW Group takes a holistic approach
to reducing CO2 emissions and minimising resource
consumption that covers the entire value chain, including production
as well as the supply chain and use phase.
The BMW Group has already succeeded in lowering resource consumption
per vehicle produced by more than half between 2006 and 2020.
CO2 emissions have been reduced even more significantly –
by as much as 78 percent. The aim is to reduce CO2
emissions per vehicle produced by another 80 percent by 2030. “To
achieve this, we have made some changes at Plant Dingolfing and
implemented a series of new measures,” says plant director Christoph
Schröder. For example, the BMW iX* is produced exclusively using
regional and directly sourced green power from two hydroelectric power
plants located on the Isar and Lech rivers. The entire plant, like all
BMW Group locations, will also be net carbon neutral from this year,
through the use of corresponding offsets and certificates.
Other aspects of sustainability range from energy-efficient
installations to packaging planning, through transport logistics and
recycling, up to and including topics such as biodiversity and water
management. Plant Dingolfing is therefore able to achieve a recycling
rate of more than 90 percent and an even higher recoverability rate of
over 99 percent. The plant’s own wells meet over 40 percent of its
water needs, thereby helping conserve the region’s drinking water
reserves. The BMW Group has already reduced its water consumption by
more than 30 percent overall since 2006.
BMW iX* as catalyst for change: Active shift in competence.
The BMW iX* creates a need for additional training beyond the
extensive experience and expertise that is already available. It is
accelerating the shift in competence already taking place within the
production network and helping prepare the workforce for the demands
of a new era. In this way, employee development across the entire
company is being geared towards digitalisation and e-mobility. As part
of the biggest training offensive in the company’s history, 75,000
staff are being trained in future areas of activity.
In Dingolfing alone, more than 4,000 employees have moved to jobs
with strong future prospects since 2012. A current example of this is
the creation and expansion of the Competence Centre for E-Drive
Production at the location, which doubled its staff numbers last year
from 600 to 1,200. This number is likely to increase to over 1,900 by
the end of the year.
BMW iX xDrive40: Power consumption in kWh/100 km:
22.5-19.4 (WLTP); CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km
BMW iX xDrive50: Power consumption in kWh/100 km:
23.0-19.8 (WLTP); CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km
BMW i4 eDrive40: Power consumption in kWh/100 km:
20-16 (WLTP); CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km