05.11.2010
BMW Group builds mobility of the future in Leipzig
400 million investment in Megacity Vehicle production
BMW Group to create 800 jobs
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 worlds 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 companys 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 Coup will roll off the production line at the Leipzig plant from as early as 2011. This vehicle represents the BMW Groups 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 Groups worldwide network. To this end, BMW is also increasing the number of apprenticeship places in Leipzig from 40 to 55 per year.
The BMW Group
The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 24 production facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
The BMW Group achieved a global sales volume of approximately 1.29 million automobiles and over 87,000 motorcycles for the 2009 financial year. Revenues totalled euro 50.68 billion. At 31 December 2009, the company employed a global workforce of approximately 96,000 associates.
The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last six years.
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Tobias Hahn
Technology Communications
Mobility, project i and Alternative Drives
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Jochen Mller
BMW Plant Leipzig
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