BMW builds electric car in China from 2013

BMW will start from 2013 in China, the mass production of an electric car, developed together with joint venture partner Brillinace. BMW announced this yesterday, CEO Dr. Norbert Reithofer during a visit by Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang, in Munich. The guest was briefed by a delegation including the Mini E, the BMW Active E and the technology of the future electric vehicles. BMW wants to work closely with the e-mobility with the Chinese government.

It was developed in cooperation with Tongji University in Shanghai in the first Sino-German research project for electric vehicles, an electrically-powered BMW 5 Series in the long version. Beginning of the year will be tested in addition, the Mini E also in Beijing and Shenzhen. This also applies to the BMW Active E, a pure electric vehicle based on the BMW 1 Series, which this year is in China for use.

The BMW Group produced since 2003 at its Chinese site in Shenyang Brilliance vehicles for the 3 and 5 series. The company had announced in November 2009 to build a second manufacturing plant in China. There is also the future of the BMW X1 will be manufactured. The total investment for the new plant in Shenyang Tiexi in the region totals 560 million euros, the share Brilliance and BMW each half. The start of production scheduled for 2012. It will be created in the coming years, more than 4,000 new jobs in Shenyang.

Thus, the production capacity of BMW in China to rise significantly each year from 2012 to over 150,000 vehicles. In the long term have both works together - depending on market development - with potential for 300 000 vehicles per year.

China is now the third largest market of the Munich car manufacturer. With 152 000 units by the end of November, the annual sales figure for 2010 of 120 000 units was exceeded. Given the strong market growth, the dealer network to be expanded this year in China. (Ampnet / jri)