BMW Steyr Plant Leads the Charge in Electric Mobility Transition
Electric motor manufacturing for the BMW New Class is currently in progress
The BMW Steyr plant in Austria has taken a significant step forward in the automotive industry's transition to electric mobility. The plant, historically known for producing combustion engines, has now begun series production of the sixth-generation (Gen6) electric motors, a move that marks a concrete commitment to Europe, technology, and the future[1][2][3].
A Competence Center for Advanced Drivetrain Systems
The Steyr plant is BMW's competence center for advanced drivetrain systems, featuring an 800-volt electrical architecture and silicon-carbide inverter technology. These improvements in efficiency and scalability are crucial for the production of the Gen6 electric motors, which will power the Neue Klasse vehicles[1][2].
The plant produces core components such as rotor, stator, two-stage transmission, and inverter in a highly integrated modular design that supports flexibility across multiple Neue Klasse variants[1][2]. This modularity ensures that the plant can adapt to the evolving needs of the market and the diverse requirements of the Neue Klasse vehicles.
Strategic Investment and Workforce Transformation
BMW Group is investing over €1 billion from 2022 to 2030 to expand Steyr’s capabilities in e-drive development and production[1][2][3]. Around 1,000 employees are already assembling electric motors, and by 2030, half of the plant’s workforce could be dedicated to e-mobility projects, reflecting a major shift from combustion to electrification[1][2].
This investment aims to enhance the Steyr plant's development and production capabilities for electric powertrain systems. The shift towards electrification is not only a response to the growing global demand but also a strategic decision that aligns with BMW's focus on ever more sustainable mobility[4].
Technology Openness and Parallel Production
Steyr maintains a flexible production approach by continuing to manufacture diesel and petrol engines alongside the new electric motors. This approach ensures technology openness and secures long-term jobs, positioning Steyr as a versatile heart of BMW’s drivetrain expertise for both traditional and electric powertrains[2][3].
Pioneering Clean-Room Inverter Production
For the first time, Steyr manufactures inverters within a controlled cleanroom environment using silicon-carbide semiconductors, a significant advancement enhancing the efficiency and reliability of electric drivetrains[1][2].
Modular and Scalable Production Concept
The Gen6 electric drive system's modular design allows for scalable production volumes and cost savings, contributing to flexible assembly lines and efficient supply chains aligned with BMW’s future vehicle portfolio[1][2].
A Historic Moment
The production launch of Gen6 electric motors is celebrated as a historic moment, consolidating the BMW Group’s technological leadership and Steyr's readiness to lead the transformation towards electromobility[5]. Klaus von Moltke, Senior Vice President of Engine Production at BMW AG and Director of the Steyr plant, reaffirms Steyr's role as the heart of BMW's competence for powertrain systems, for both combustion engines and electromobility[6].
With over 40 years of experience in producing combustion engines for BMW and MINI brands, the Steyr plant is well-equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the electric mobility revolution[7]. Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production, emphasizes that Steyr plays a central role in the Neue Klasse and in the development of the global production network[8].
In conclusion, the Steyr plant embodies BMW Group’s commitment to electric mobility, technological innovation, and sustainable production, serving as a strategic nucleus in the company’s shift toward electrification and the future of powertrain systems[1][2][3][4].
- The BMW Steyr plant's production of Gen6 electric motors reveals a significant shift in the automotive industry, illustrating a commitment to electric mobility, technology, and the future.
- As BMW's competence center for advanced drivetrain systems, the Steyr plant features an 800-volt electrical architecture and silicon-carbide inverter technology, crucial for the production of Gen6 electric motors.
- In a bid to adapt to the evolving needs of the market and the diverse requirements of the Neue Klasse vehicles, the Steyr plant employs a modular design for Gen6 electric drive systems that ensures flexibility across multiple variants.
- BMW Group's strategic investment of over €1 billion from 2022 to 2030 at the Steyr plant aims to enhance its development and production capabilities for electric powertrain systems, signaling a major shift from combustion to electrification.
- Steyr manufactures inverters within a controlled cleanroom environment, using silicon-carbide semiconductors, marking a significant advancement that enhances the efficiency and reliability of electric drivetrains.
