This aligns with the 20th anniversary of the automaker's joint venture in the country.
BMW's most expensive project, the Neue Klasse platform, will also have firm roots in China.
This is the fifth site where the next-generation vehicles will be built. Moreover, the announcement aligns with the 20th anniversary of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA) - the automaker's joint venture in China founded in May 2003.
BMW said that the Neue Klasse platform, which should support both ICE and EVs, will be produced at BBA's Shenyang plant from 2026 onward. The batteries for the Neue Klasse EVs will also be locally produced, spearheaded by a virtual groundbreaking ceremony that came with the anniversary celebration.
"From a small assembly facility with a limited number of units, our plants in Shenyang have developed into our largest production location worldwide. Today, 20 years after our joint venture's initial start of production, I am delighted to announce local production of the Neue Klasse in China," said Milan Nedeljkovic, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production.
The investment for the new Shenyang facility is RMB 10 billion or $1.42 billion, which should create around 2,000 new jobs. The investment also includes the production of BMW's next, sixth-generation high-voltage batteries. According to BMW, the "Sixth-Generation Battery Project" will be the key to the Neue Klasse's production.
BMW previously announced that solid-state batteries would be ready by the end of the year, developed through an expanded partnership with Solid Power.
As mentioned, this will be the fifth site where the Neue Klasse-based vehicles will be produced. Starting in 2025, the Neue Klasse cars will be manufactured initially in Debrecen, Hungary, and later at BMW's main facility in Munich. In 2027, production will commence in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
BMW's Spartanburg production site in the US also received a total investment of $1.7 billion. One billion dollars will be allocated for electric vehicle production, while 700 million dollars will be dedicated to establishing a new battery assembly center. Six fully-electric BMWs are expected to be made in the US by 2030.
The first Neue Klasse-based vehicle will reportedly be a sedan, which will likely morph into the next-generation BMW 3 Series.
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