BMW has officially launched mass production of its sixth-generation Gen6 batteries at a new facility in Irlbach-Strasskirchen, Lower Bavaria. The plant, which required an investment of approximately €1 billion, is currently supplying batteries for the new electric BMW i3 manufactured in Munich.
The 60-hectare facility features 50,000 square meters of production space and currently operates on a two-shift schedule. Once fully operational, the plant will employ 1,600 people and utilize two production lines capable of manufacturing several hundred high-voltage battery packs daily.
The factory employs 500 robots and integrates artificial intelligence systems to monitor over 3,500 parameters in real time. BMW utilizes a cell-to-pack architecture with 800-volt systems and 46 mm cylindrical cells, which offer a 20% increase in energy density compared to previous prismatic designs.
The site is part of BMW's global local-for-local strategy, with similar production facilities established in Debrecen, Shenyang, Woodruff, and San Luis Potosi. The company also maintains research and recycling centers in Parsdorf, Hallbergmoos, Munich, and Salching.
