BMW to open 5 battery Gigafactories for strengthening its EV portfolio

BMW AG is reportedly planning to make a foray into battery manufacturing to expand on its electric vehicle portfolio. The luxury automaker brand will now mirror the footsteps of Volkswagen Group, General Motors Company, and Mercedes-Benz by making headways into the battery manufacturing segment.

Interestingly, the Development CTO and Member of the Board of Management at BMW, Frank Weber had earlier stated that it is quite unfeasible to invest in battery manufacturing units as battery technology keeps evolving and frequent changes in the cell chemistry make it impossible to build certain types of battery packs.

Joachim Post another Member of the Board of Management at BMW mentioned that the German carmaker aims to join hands with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), Northvolt AB, and Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., and to build five gigafactories around the world, specifically near BMW's established electric vehicles segment, to cut down on its logistics cost.

Sources confirmed that BMW has been intending to launch solid-state batteries for its EV battery-making ambition. For those unaware, solid-state batteries are known to be more energy-efficient and offer a wide range, better performance, and improved thermal efficiency.

BMW intends to have a strong battery supply chain to boost its EV portfolio.

Even Oliver Zipse, CEO at BMW, had earlier announced the group’s target for electric cars to account for half of the company’s total sales by 2030. Likewise, this is when its subsidiaries Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited and Mini (automotive marque) will go fully electric.

Meanwhile, BMW is preparing to debut some performance models in its global line-up to commemorate its M Motorsport unit’s 50th anniversary. These will include some of the company’s most powerful combustion-engine products as well as its first fully electric sports vehicles.

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