Innovation in Bavaria: BMW Group relies on local partners at the Plant Irlbach-Strasskirchen – AutoMart Canada

Irlbach-Strasskirchen. The production facilities are
moving into the largely completed new BMW Group assembly plant for
high-voltage batteries. A major milestone just over a year after
construction began in April 2024. The BMW Group is relying on
expertise from Germany: All construction companies and more than three
quarters of plant manufacturers come from Germany and in particular
from Bavaria. During a visit, Bavarian Prime Minister Dr. Markus
Söder, together with the board members of BMW AG Ilka Horstmeier and
Milan Nedeljković, saw for himself the progress of the innovation
project in the Straubing-Bogen district. Markus Söder:
“Bavaria is a car country! BMW is building a giga-factory
for high-tech batteries in Irlbach and Straßkirchen in Lower Bavaria.
This is where the electromobility of the future is being created. The
entire rural region will benefit from this. High technology and the
future fit perfectly with Bavaria: the automobile is our most
important industry, and BMW is a global brand ambassador for the Free
State. When BMW thrives, Bavaria thrives. We believe in the automobile
and our companies.” 

In future, high-voltage batteries for the Neue Klasse will be
manufactured at the BMW Group Plant Irlbach-Strasskirchen. Dr. Milan
Nedeljković, Member of the Board Management of BMW AG, Production,
explained: “The Neue Klasse is full of innovations, and this is also
reflected in manufacturing technologies. In future, German vehicle
plants will be supplied with sixth-generation high-voltage batteries
from this location.” The BMW Group has made a conscious decision to
invest in Bavaria. Nedeljković continues: “This work proves that
high-tech has a future in Germany.” A prerequisite for technological
progress is close cooperation between research, industry and politics.

Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board Management of BMW AG responsible
for People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director: “Our new Plant
Irlbach-Strasskirchen is an example of how successful industrial
settlements are possible in Germany. A prove-point is our successful
collaboration with our partners. This was possible in close
cooperation with the Bavarian state government, committed local
politicians, local authorities and local people. And this in “Bavarian
Speed” — faster than any other construction project in Germany in
recent years. With this new plant, we are securing thousands of jobs
in Bavaria in times of rapidly growing electric mobility and are
shaping the future of individual mobility.”

State-of-the-art technology from Germany

In the coming months, BMW Group employees will assemble and set up
the production facilities together with partner companies. More than
three quarters of production system installers come from Germany, and
every third company out of over 30 partners comes from Bavaria. The
BMW Group is thus relying on German state-of-the-art technology when
selecting its installers and is also following the local for local
approach in the area of production technology.

The first high-voltage batteries are to be produced for testing
purposes by the end of this year. Series production at the new
location is planned to start at the end of 2026.

Local expertise in construction and commissioning

Construction of the high-voltage battery assembly plant is going
according to plan. The BMW Group relies on local expertise: All
directly contracted construction companies come from Germany, two
thirds from Bavaria and every third contracted company comes from
within 100 kilometers of the new plant. At the same time, the BMW
Group is thus providing an important impetus to the domestic economy.

At the end of June 2024, the first of 1,066 pillars was installed in
the central production building. Twelve months later, technical
building equipment has progressed so far that the installation of
production systems is now being started.

Qualification campaign secures jobs in transformation

1,600 jobs will be created at the new plant. Through internal
selection and application processes, the BMW Group is currently
recruiting interested parties to operate the Plant
Irlbach-Straßkirchen. Many future employees have experience in battery
manufacturing. At the competence center for e-mobility in Dingolfing,
just 40 kilometers away, they now produce the fifth generation of
high-voltage batteries. But employees from other production areas are
also applying internally for the new location.

Numerous programs have been launched to retrain and further qualify
employees. The teams are characterized by a willingness to learn and
change. In addition, in September 2025, for the second year in a row,
50 young people will start their apprenticeship in Dingolfing and
Regensburg, who will work at the Irlbach-Strasskirchen location in the future.

The demanding, promising jobs at the new — for many nearby — location
add value to the rural region and provide a powerful economic impetus.

Further information about the new location in Irlbach and
Strasskirchen can be found on the project website — at www.bmwgroup-werke.com/irlbach-strasskirchen.
The next opening date for the information container on the
construction site is on June 28 from 3 pm to 5 pm.