The BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture, which was established in 2003, is celebrating the achievement of a significant manufacturing milestone. The sixth millionth vehicle to be built in China is this 5-Series Sedan with a large wheelbase.
This all-electric i5 is done in the Individual catalog’s matte hue, Frozen Pure Grey. The EV was put together in Dadong, one of the three Chinese factories where BBA also assembles cars at its Tiexi and Lydia facilities.
Based on sales data, China is the largest market for BMW, with 824,832 vehicles sold there in the previous year. Following the February 2023 achievement of the five million car milestone, the company needed just over a year to produce one million automobiles. BMW exclusively produces the iX3 crossover, i3 sedan, and many long-wheelbase vehicles in China. The X1 and X5 SUVs, as well as the 3 Series and 5 Series sedans, all have longer wheelbases.
Early in 2022, BMW raised its 50% ownership stake in the joint venture with Brilliance to 75%. In order to get the Chinese locations ready for the Neue Klasse platform assembly of next-generation EVs, work has already begun. The three BBA plants will begin producing NK-based models in 2026 and already have the necessary equipment to make zero-emission vehicles.
Shenyang will host one of the five battery plants that BMW plans to construct worldwide. This is where the round-cell sixth-generation batteries will be put together. It is planned for pre-production to start by the end of 2024. Because of their 800-volt architecture, the new cells will offer a 30% improvement in charging speed and have a 20% higher energy density. Furthermore, NK-based EVs will have a 30% greater range.
Already, the recently established BMW Designworks Shanghai Studio is developing EVs especially for Chinese consumers’ preferences. The models that will be designed and manufactured in the region are not yet being disclosed by the corporation. BMW has several R&D facilities in China, with locations in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Nanjing.
