Within the newest announcement from an automaker to broaden electrical automobile manufacturing within the US, BMW launched Wednesday it’s going to make investments $1.7 billion in its US EV operations to spice up output.
After setting a brand new US supply file within the third quarter with 4,337 EVs delivered, BMW plans to speed up the tempo even additional.
The US simply hit 6% EV market share within the third quarter because it progresses in the direction of its aim of fifty% by 2030. With new federal incentives and a shifting shopper desire for EVs, demand is barely anticipated to select up from right here.
In the meantime, after retiring the corporate’s first “i-series” electrical automobile, the BMW i3, earlier this 12 months, the German luxurious automaker is setting its sights on greater market segments with EVs such because the BMW iX sport exercise automobile. Moreover, the BMW i7 arriving at US dealerships later this 12 months, is the corporate’s first full electrical 7-series mannequin – its largest but.
Like a number of different automakers, BMW plans to benefit from the swelling EV market by introducing absolutely electrical fashions in all segments, launching a minimum of six pure EV fashions by 2030.
BMW’s newest announcement to spend money on US EV manufacturing comes after the Inflation Discount Act, handed in August, gives incentives for constructing on US soil.
BMW invests $1.7 billion to spice up EV manufacturing within the US
To extend manufacturing and meet the overwhelming demand for EVs within the US, BMW will make investments $1.7 billion whole in its US enterprise.
As a part of the funding, $1 billion will go towards increasing its South Carolina Plant Spartanburg facility, the place 11 BMW fashions are presently produced. BMW’s CEO, Oliver Zipse, talks about how the power will play a significant position in its EV plans as we advance, stating:
For many years, Plant Spartanburg has been a cornerstone of the worldwide success of the BMW Group. The house of the BMW X fashions which can be so widespread all around the world. Going ahead, it’s going to even be a significant driver for our electrification technique, and we’ll produce a minimum of six absolutely electrical BMW X fashions right here by 2030. Meaning: The ‘Dwelling of the X’ can also be changing into the ‘Dwelling of the Battery Electrical Car
In the meantime, the opposite $700 million is designated for constructing a brand new high-voltage battery meeting facility in Woodruff, NC. The brand new battery plant shall be over 1 million sq. toes, creating round 300 new jobs producing “subsequent technology batteries” for future BMW EV fashions.
BMW says it goals to buy battery cells the place manufacturing takes place, partnering with Envision AESC to construct a brand new battery cell manufacturing unit with an annual capability of 30 GWh.
The automaker claims its new battery cell design will improve power density by over 20% whereas bettering charging velocity and vary by as much as 30%. Moreover, with renewable power and mineral recycling strategies, Carbon emissions shall be diminished by as much as 60%.
In line with BMW, its US operations assist over 120,000 US jobs whereas contributing $43.3 billion to the economic system.
Electrek’s Take
Good transfer by BMW, seeing as a number of luxurious automakers, new and legacy, are focusing on the US luxurious market. Within the third quarter, luxurious automobiles managed 17.8% of the market in comparison with simply over 14% in Q3 2019.
Extra importantly, the brand new EV tax credit score is driving large investments in US manufacturing. BMW is the most recent automaker to announce a major funding to scale its manufacturing footprint in North America. Nonetheless, a number of others, together with Hyundai, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and extra, have already introduced their intentions.
This 12 months alone, corporations have introduced over $13 billion in EV manufacturing within the US. As new incentives roll out and EV manufacturing picks up, this seems to be a brand new pattern.