BMW Starts Building Gen6 Batteries in China for Neue Klasse EVs

BMW has started building its sixth-generation battery packs in China, tying local manufacturing directly to the Neue Klasse electric platform. The packs are intended for the long-wheelbase version of the new architecture, the larger configuration in the lineup and the one most likely to serve buyers who want extra cabin space alongside range.

The timing is hard to ignore. In the same week, another BMW story out of China reported an i3 covering 754 miles (1,213 kilometers) on a single charge. That figure grabs attention, but it is a test result under specific conditions, not a number every owner should expect on a daily commute. The battery announcement is the more useful piece of news, because range claims depend on the supply chain behind them. Building packs locally shortens the distance between a prototype that performs well on a test track and a car that can be delivered to customers in volume.

Gen6 is BMW's name for its next generation of eDrive battery technology. The company has said the generation brings gains in energy density, charging speed and range over the packs it replaces. Those improvements matter most in China, where BMW sells a large share of its electric models and where competition from domestic brands is intense. Producing the batteries in the same market also gives BMW some insulation from import tariffs and shipping delays.

Several details were not in the initial report, including production volumes, the exact start date and the specific facility involved. Those will determine how quickly the Neue Klasse ramps up in China, so they are worth watching in the coming months.