With the intention of kick-starting the transition to electromobility, the BMW Group plant in San Luis Potosí is configuring its facilities and building a new Battery Module Production Centre.

IN BRIEF/
< The automotive assembler revolutionizes electromobility in Mexico with the construction of a center in San Luis Potosí.

In addition to this, the carmaker is also expanding its body shop, assembly and logistics area, thereby underlining its focus on sustainability and innovation strategy. >
The future Battery Module Production Centre at the San Luis Potosi plant will cover an area of more than 80,000 square meters and is key to the implementation of NEUE KLASSE in Mexico.

The NEUE KLASSE will also be produced in Mexico from 2027. The Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) model will be launched as the first version of the NEUE KLASSE at the end of 2025 at the new BMW Group Plant Debrecen in Hungary, while the Sedan will be produced in Munich in 2026. Just one year later, in 2027, production of the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) will start in San Luis Potosí.

"The production of high-voltage batteries in San Luis Potosí will be part of our global production network for the new sixth e-drive generation. For this we are building five sites on three continents," commented Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of BMW Group AG responsible for Production, who added that BMW Group is committed to the worldwide 'local for local' principle of locating battery factories close to vehicle manufacturing to strengthen the production process.

BMW Group will use its newly developed round cells for the first time in the NEUE KLASSE. And that technological leap will increase the energy density of the cells by more than 20% and improve the charging speed by up to 30%. The range will increase by 30% and, in some models, even more.

The company invests in a new Production Centre in SLP.
» The company invests in a new Production Centre in SLP.

Further changes


In addition to the integration of battery production, other changes are being made at the San Luis Potosi plant: the body area will be expanded by almost 20,000 square meters, adding up to more than 90,000 square meters that will be used for the production of the vehicle floor.

In addition, the assembly area will be used for the battery incorporation process, which, together with logistics, will be expanded by almost 10,000 square meters.

"With this new development we are preparing in San Luis Potosí for the launch of the next generation of BMW models. We will be an industry pioneer as the first premium carmaker in Mexico to produce fully electric vehicles and high-voltage batteries, while continuing to reduce our environmental footprint," said Harald Gottsche, President and CEO of BMW Group Planta San Luis Potosí.

All of the above-mentioned adaptations are estimated to be part of the €800 million investment, announced in February 2023.


The company in SLP


BMW Group Planta San Luis Potosí started production in 2019. Around 3,700 employees currently produce the BMW 3 Series Sedan, as well as the BMW 2 Series Coupé and BMW M2 models for the global market.