BMW Expands Electric Motor Production to Austria

The German automotive manufacturer BMW has officially launched the production of its new electric drives in Austria, marking a significant step in its transition towards electric mobility. By the year 2028, the company aims to produce up to 600,000 electric motors annually at its facility in Steyr.

This move is part of BMW's strategy to advance the shift towards electric vehicles, as the company begins to operate outside of Germany for the production of the sixth generation of electric motors. The first electric drives have already left the Steyr plant, heading to Hungary for integration into test vehicles.

Since the groundbreaking of the production facilities in Austria just ten months ago, the initial electric motors have begun to be dispatched. The first units were delivered to the new BMW automotive plant in Debrecen, Hungary, for testing purposes, demonstrating the swift progress made in the establishment of this facility.

The Steyr plant has already delivered electric motors for intensive testing since September, with the recent shipments now also going directly to Debrecen. This development was confirmed by Klaus von Moltke, the Managing Director of the BMW Group plant in Steyr and head of global powertrain production.

Currently, the production activities are focused on testing and refining the intricate manufacturing processes necessary for the new electric motors. Helmut Hochsteiner, the head of electric motor production at Steyr, indicated that the next few months will involve further validation and optimization of these complex production processes as they prepare for mass production.

Until now, the majority of BMW's electric motors have been produced at its facility in Dingolfing, Bavaria, which is the largest production site for BMW in Europe. Approximately 80% of the electric motors sold worldwide by BMW are manufactured there. However, the shift to production outside of Germany raises questions about the future distribution of manufacturing responsibilities among BMW's facilities.

Despite facing challenges, including issues related to braking systems and decreasing sales in China, BMW sees electric mobility as a key growth driver. The company currently offers a total of 15 fully electric models, with recent sales figures indicating a competitive edge in the market. In October, BMW's electric vehicle registrations in Germany surpassed those of Tesla for the first time, with 33,167 units registered compared to Tesla's 31,461.

This strategic move by BMW to enhance its electric motor production capabilities in Austria is expected to support the company's long-term goals in the electric vehicle sector and further solidify its position in the global automotive market.