BMW has pledged to construct at the very least six electrical automobiles in Spartanburg by the tip of the last decade. Whereas their identities stay underneath wraps, all shall be SUVs within the “X” lineup. When the announcement was made in October 2022, the posh model additionally revealed it could supply spherical battery cells from Automotive Power Provide Company (AESC), which on the time deliberate to construct a brand new manufacturing unit in South Carolina.
Earlier this 12 months, nonetheless, AESC paused development of the ability meant to provide cylindrical battery cells for BMW’s Neue Klasse EVs, citing “coverage and market uncertainty.” In keeping with Automotive Information, the upcoming electrical fashions may nonetheless use AESC-supplied batteries, however they’ll be imported from China as a substitute of being produced domestically.
Even with tariffs affecting the automotive business, it might nonetheless be cheaper for AESC to fabricate the batteries in China and ship them to Spartanburg. A BMW spokesperson contacted by Automotive Information declined to remark however confirmed the corporate stays on monitor to start out EV manufacturing in late 2026. Main the cost (pun meant) will seemingly be the iX5, primarily based on the next-generation X5 (G65).
The iX5 is anticipated to finally replace the polarizing iX and shall be adopted by the bigger iX7 (G67) in 2027. A 12 months later, BMW may start manufacturing of the iX6 (G66). All three will use Gen6 spherical battery cells, delivering a 20% increase in vitality density and as much as 30% extra vary in comparison with Gen5 prismatic cells. They’ll additionally characteristic new motors that cut back vitality losses by 40% and lower weight by 10%.
It stays unclear whether or not a plug-in hybrid X5 will undertake Gen6 expertise. As earlier than, there are not any plans for PHEV variants of the X6 or X7.
Supply: Automotive News
