As such, the BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) joint venture has also expanded its battery factory at the Tiexi, China location known as the “High-Voltage Battery Centre”.
The more powerful batteries of the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology are used in the fully-electric iX3.
The High-Voltage Battery Centre was officially opened on Monday at a ceremony attended by high-level representatives of both the Chinese government and BBA. Representatives of the BMW Group attended the event virtually.
Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production, said at the opening ceremony: “China is of high importance to the BMW Group, both as a market and as a location for production and innovation. Our investments underline our strong commitment to China and Shenyang over the long term.
"And the investments are ongoing: The Tiexi and Dadong plant extension projects are well on track. And we are preparing for future growth: With this new Battery Center, we more than double the capacity of our local battery production in China.”
BBA President Dr. Johann Wieland added: “The expansion of our High-Voltage Battery Centre is concrete proof of our commitment to continue investing in Shenyang, Liaoning and north-eastern China. It also shows our determination to take a leading role in sustainable mobility, as we launch our pure electric BMW iX3.”
China is the BMW Group’s largest single market and sets the tempo for e-mobility around the world. With five electrified models currently available, the BMW Group offers Chinese customers the widest range of options in the premium segment. There are already a total of 75,000 electrified BMW cars on China’s roads today.
Production of the iX3 will get under way at BBA Plant Dadong by the end of September.
The high-voltage batteries it requires will be supplied by the nearby new battery centre. The X3 is the first model available with highly efficient petrol and diesel engines incorporating 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, with a plug-in hybrid drive train, or as a pure electric model.
