Like many automakers, BMW Group is working to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. Expanding its EV range will be a key part of this strategy. Within the next ten years, BMW wants to put around ten million all-electric vehicles on the road. By 2030, at least half of BMW Group's sales will be all-electric vehicles, while Mini will become an electric-only brand in 2030. Underpinning BMW's EVs is the Neue Klasse platform, which also supports combustion engines. BMW's Neue Klasse platform will also allow BMW to implement a circular economy, increase the use of recycled materials in vehicle manufacturing, and reduce CO2 emissions.

With more electric cars on the road, BMW aims to reduce emissions by half per car and kilometer driven by 2030. Through a car's lifecycle including production and upstream supply chain, BMW also plans to reduce emissions by at least 40 percent per car.

"How companies are dealing with CO2 emissions has become a major factor when it comes to judging corporate action. The decisive factor in the fight against global warming is how strongly we can improve the carbon footprint of vehicles over their entire life span. This is why we are setting ourselves transparent and ambitious goals for the substantial reduction of CO2 emissions; these are validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative and will deliver an effective and measurable contribution," said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. "With the Neue Klasse we are significantly sharpening our commitment and also committing ourselves to a clear course for achieving the 1.5 degree target."

With EV production increasing, there will be a higher demand for materials such as cobalt, nickel, and aluminum to manufacture batteries, but BMW will increase its use of recycled materials to keep up with the demand.

Currently, the amount of recycled nickel used for the high-voltage battery in the BMW iX is already as high as 50 percent and the battery housing contains up to 30 percent secondary aluminium, but BMW thinks there's still room for improvement.

Currently, BMW cars are manufactured using almost 30 percent of recycled and reusable materials, but BMW wants to increase this by 50 percent as part of its new "Secondary First" strategy. Using a new recycling system that will reduce the use of plastics, BMW says a new door trim can be manufactured from a used instrument panel. To showcase BMW's vision of what a 100-percent recyclable car could look like in 2040, BMW will present a new concept car called the i Vision Circular at the Munich Motor Show in September. Previewed in a teaser image, the concept appears to be a hatchback and will be made from 100 percent secondary materials or renewable raw materials.