BMW has just ordered several billion euros worth of batteries for its planned electric cars from the Chinese manufacturer CATL. Chief Executive Harald Krüger announced in an interview with Handelsblatt. Rumors are that CATL will build a special factory in nearby Erfurt. Even though some call for an European producer, the BMW CEO says the company needs a supplier “who is already there.” The other requirement is a physical location close to Munich.
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Handelsblatt says that 90 percent of the lithium-ion batteries needed to power electric vehicles comes from Asia. At the same time, the EU Energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic has been asking for an European producer, complaining that Europe cannot be dependent on manufacturers in China and South Korea.
Mr. Krüger said that the battery for BMW’s iNext sedan was a fifth-generation product developed in conjunction with the automaker. The rest of the electric powertrain will be produced in BMW’s own factories, he said.
Parallel to the purchase from CATL, BMW is investing €200 million in its own battery research in Munich.
Kate from Parts Avatar Car Parts Online
It is great to hear that BMW has just ordered several billion euros worth of batteries for its planned electric cars from the Chinese manufacturer CATL. I idea behind the electric cars is nice because it would start reducing the air pollution. The car parts of these cars are so perfectly designed that would make people shift towards them.
Hope, that BMW has the plan to ship those bateries back to China when they´re no longer any good………
BMW not building a gigafactory to save money will cost them in the long run.
BMW are already expanding existing & building new factories, they have contracted production out to Magna & the Chinese because they can’t keep up with demand. Outside suppliers are a given in this industry, thus problems with fuel pumps & airbags, to name two.
I wonder if these future CATL batteries will prove as robust and long-lived as the BMW-made packs with Samsung SDI cells today. It would be a shame to see BMW departure from that. I think it’s a opportunity to nurture a brand of quality when it comes to EVs. How EVs hold up will shape how people buy in the future. Reputation has really carried various manufacturers for tens of years.