Full power on electrification, BMW opens a new chapter in electric mobility

German carmaker BMW is propelling itself towards the future of electric mobility in China with its production line in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province. There, the carmaker saw the roll-out of the 5 millionth vehicle last week: an all-new fully electric BMW i3 eDrive40L.

This milestone coincided with the 20th anniversary of BMW Brilliance Automobile and the launch of the all-new fully electric BMW i3 eDrive40L, both highlighting the company's continued commitment to innovation and sustainability in the world's largest auto market.

Milan Nedeljkovic, BMW AG board member for production, said: "This impressive milestone once again underlines the important contribution of our Chinese manufacturing sites to the success of the BMW Group. As leading examples of the BMW iFACTORY strategy, our advanced Shenyang plants are all set for electrification and will play a crucial role in our future."

Franz Decker, president and CEO of BMW Brilliance Automotive, said:"5 million vehicles reflect the strong customer demand for BMW cars and the capability of our team to deliver high-quality products time after time."

EV offensive

BMW's Shenyang Production Base integrates research and development, procurement as well as production, with an annual production capacity of 830,000 units. It is the largest BMW production base worldwide and one of the most important centers for new energy vehicles.

As a pioneer of the BMW iFACTORY production strategy, the BMW Shenyang Production Base fits into the "Lean, Green and Digital" production approach of the future, with all plants flexibly producing battery electric, plug-in hybrid and internal combustion engine vehicles, responding swiftly to the rapid growth in demand for battery electric vehicles in China.

The BMW iX3, the first locally-produced BEV launched at the end of 2020, is available in the Chinese market and the European market. The BMW i3 was launched in 2022, helping BMW's all-electric vehicle sales jump by 91.6 percent year-on-year.

As the 5 millionth vehicle rolling off the production line, the all-new fully electric BMW i3 eDrive40L was officially launched at prices starting from 383,900 yuan ($55,530), setting the tone for BMW's 2023 electric product offensive, the carmaker said.

The model, as the high-end variant of the BMW i3, can generate a maximum output of 250 kilowatts and a maximum torque of 430 Newton meters. It boasts a 5.6-second acceleration from 0-100 kilometers per hour and can run up to 592 km on one charge.

The model is equipped with BMW Driving Assistance Pro, a curved display, BMW's iconic electric sounds, a rear axle with adaptive air suspension and other features to make the model sportier and more emotionally appealing.

This year, BMW will expand its BEV product lineup from five to 11 models, including the BMW iX1, which will be the third locally-produced BEV.

The BMW Group aims to deliver its 2 millionth all-electric vehicle worldwide in 2025, and launch the DIE NEUE KLASSE model with a new architecture in the same year.

By 2030, half of the BMW Group's new vehicle sales are expected to be all-electric models, and the cumulative sales of BEVs are targeted to reach 10 million units. BMW's Rolls-Royce, MINI and Motorrad Urban Mobility are expected to be fully electric by that time.

iFACTORY strategy

To achieve the electrification transformation of the entire brand and product ranges, the BMW Group is establishing a production system that focuses on lean, green and digital, with the BMW iFACTORY as a production strategy that embraces electrification.

The Shenyang Production Base serves as an excellent implementation example of this strategy, enabled by cutting-edge digital technologies such as 5G communication, virtual simulation and artificial intelligence. BMW's Shenyang production base has already implemented around 100 AI applications.

In June, BMW launched the Plant Tiexi Lydia site, which marks the first planned and simulated "BMW Industrial Metaverse" plant designed from scratch in the virtual world. It is well underway for NEV production. The plant utilizes industrial internet of things platforms to connect every product, process and person for high-quality and high-efficiency digital production.

The all-new fully electric BMW i3 is the first model produced in this plant and the all-new fully electric BMW i3 eDrive40L as the 5 millionth car roll-off symbolizes the BMW iFACTORY's new journey.

The BMW Group's intelligent manufacturing system for electrification in China consists of four R&D centers, among which Shenyang's R&D Center focuses on NEV technology and production. The High Voltage Battery Center was also the first of its kind established among premium car brands in China. By continuously upgrading its facilities, the center is set to expand in 2023 with a total investment of 10 billion yuan.

BMW's commitment to producing the "greenest vehicles" throughout the entire value chain is exemplified by the Shenyang Production Base. The base relies on 100 percent renewable electricity and has implemented multiple measures to create a green logistics system, including low-carbon combined transport, green warehouses, and the use of electric trucks for short shuttle trips, rail transport and maritime transport.

The carmaker has also established a project team for supply chain sustainable development in China, which is responsible for formulating and implementing a scientifically sound supply chain emission reduction plan that reflects China's national conditions.