The company has outstanding expertise and experience , both in the field of battery cell technology and in production of model-specific high-voltage batteries . The BMW Group conducts basic research in the fields of cell chemistry and cell design at its own Battery Cell Competence Centre . The BMW Group also produces bat-tery cell prototypes itself . These battery cell prototypes are used in tests to validate the development maturity of battery cells and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the production processes . In addition , the prototype production of the battery cells serves the identification of process potentials as well as the optimization of the pro-duction processes . In this way , the BMW Group gains a thorough understanding of the entire battery cell value chain and the decisive competitive advantages its chemical and technical properties offer . This enables battery cells to be manufac-tured to precise specifications that are geared towards each vehicle ’ s individual re-quirements .
COMPETENCE CENTRE FOR E-DRIVE PRODUCTION
Following extensive expansion , the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production now provides a usable area of 125,000 sq . m . This is where the company manufactures electric motors and the components needed for them , as well as high-voltage batteries and battery modules . A paint coating is also applied to the battery cells at this location . The coating increases mechanical robustness and thermal conductiv-ity , thereby improving insulation and cooling of the even more powerful fifth-gener-ation battery cells .
Plant Dingolfing has been manufacturing standard high-voltage batteries and bat-tery modules since 2013 , when the BMW Group ’ s first all-electric vehicle , the BMW i3 *, went into production . The first production lines for electric motors and high-voltage batteries for plug-in hybrids went on-stream there in 2014 . The Competence Centre for E-Drive Production has been steadily growing ever since . The plant has also been producing highvoltage batteries for the fully electric MINI Cooper SE * since 2019 and , since 2020 , also the highly integrated fifth-generation e-drive used for the first time in the BMW iX3 *. Production of the even more powerful high-voltage batteries for the BMW iX * and BMW i4 is now getting underway . E-drives for future models can also be produced on the flexible production lines .
QUALIFICATION FOR LONG-TERM , SUSTAINABLE JOBS
With the BMW Group systematically pursuing progress in electromobility , the de-mands on employees and their areas of responsibility are also constantly evolving . “ We are growing our staff for e-drive production almost exclusively through person-nel restructuring . We are actively shaping the transformation process and leverag-ing our employees ’ skills so we can develop long-term sustainable jobs ,” explains Nikolaides .
The Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing currently has almost 1,400 employees . By the end of 2021 , around 1,900 employees are expected to work in e-drive production in Dingolfing .
Production employees receive further training at the in-house learning centre , which uses innovative vocational training and further education methods to provide employees with intensive preparation for their new tasks .
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