Munich. The mobility of the future is under
construction in Leipzig. The BMW Group is expanding its plant in
Leipzig to make it the first location in Germany equipped to handle
the large-scale production of zero-emission electric cars. In the
period up to 2013, around €400 million will be invested at the
plant in new buildings and machinery for the production of the
Megacity Vehicle (MCV). Some 800 jobs will be created in the process.
The plant expansion was launched on Friday by German Chancellor Dr
Angela Merkel and Dr Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of
Management of BMW AG, together with the Prime Minister of the German
state of Saxony, Stanislaw Tillich, and the Governor of Washington
state in the US, Chris Gregoire.
“By producing the Megacity Vehicle in Germany the BMW Group is
demonstrating a clear commitment to Germany as a high-tech location.
With this vehicle we are revolutionising automotive design and
production, and offering our customers the first purpose-built
electric vehicle for urban areas. This will be the world’s first
volume-produced car with a passenger compartment made from lightweight
CFRP, as less weight enables a longer range,” explained
Reithofer. “We made a conscious decision to produce the
car in Germany, at our plant in Leipzig – our newest and most
cutting-edge facility with the most flexible structures,” he added.
Including production of components, the BMW Group and the joint
venture set up with the SGL Group for the manufacture of carbon fibres
are investing a total of €530 million in the project. The
beneficiaries of this investment are the BMW plants in Leipzig and
Landshut and the joint venture facilities in Wackersdorf and Moses
Lake (Washington state, USA). A total of over 1,000 jobs will be
created as a result of the investment. The BMW plant in Dingolfing
will produce important components for the drive system and chassis of
the MCV.
A new dimension in sustainability
The BMW Group is placing great value on sustainability throughout the
value chain for the Megacity Vehicle. This approach extends far beyond
the emission-free operation of the vehicle itself. Indeed, the BMW
Group has also set itself ambitious aims with regard to environmental
protection and the preservation of natural resources when it comes to
production. For example, the company’s target is to bring its
energy requirement down by 50 per cent and reduce water usage by 70
per cent per vehicle. The company is aiming to ensure that 100 per
cent of the energy it uses comes from renewable sources. These figures
are based on a comparison with the current values of the BMW Group
production network, which has set the sustainability benchmark in the
automotive sector for several years now.
Ongoing build-up of expertise in the area of electromobility
The BMW ActiveE – based on the BMW 1 Series Coupé
– will roll off the production line at the Leipzig plant from as
early as 2011. This vehicle represents the BMW Group’s second
step, after the MINI E, towards putting an emission-free electric
vehicle into series production. The knowledge gained with the MINI E
and BMW ActiveE is channelled directly into the series development of
the MCV. All of which means that from 2011, Leipzig will be a centre
of expertise for the production of electric cars within the BMW
Group’s worldwide network. To this end, BMW is also increasing
the number of apprenticeship places in Leipzig from 40 to 55 per year.
