Construction of BMW Group’s high-voltage battery assembly plant in Irlbach-Straßkirchen, Lower Bavaria, remains on schedule one year after the project commenced. In April 2024, BMW secured the building permit for the new site, and twelve months later, the central production facility is complete. The technical infrastructure is sufficiently advanced, allowing the installation of production equipment to begin as planned in June.
Sabrina Kugler, the project manager for plant construction, attributed the project’s success to the excellent collaboration within the BMW Group team and with all partner firms. This collaboration has been crucial given the tight project timeline. The rapid progress is achieved through the implementation of Lean Construction Management. This methodology meticulously coordinates the complex interactions of all trades, continuously evaluating dependencies and impacts. The entire construction project, including all subprojects, is visually represented in a “Lean Room” within the client container. Each construction phase is broken down into specific tasks, enabling the identification of potential overlaps weeks in advance through the collective review of these tasks.
Silvia Meyer, project leader for construction, facility management, and safety in new plant construction, highlighted that Lean Construction Management provides a shared communication platform essential for transparency and resolving challenges as they arise.
All construction companies directly commissioned by BMW Group are based in Germany, with two-thirds located in Bavaria and one-third within a 100-kilometer radius of the new plant. This approach supports the local economy and adheres to the “Local for Local” principle during the construction phase.
The Irlbach-Straßkirchen site will be one of five new global assembly plants for sixth-generation (Gen6) high-voltage batteries. Concurrently, BMW is developing advanced assembly facilities in Debrecen (Hungary), Shenyang (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico), and Woodruff near Spartanburg (USA). These plants follow the “Local for Local” principle, producing central technology for the Neue Klasse vehicle series close to their respective manufacturing sites, thereby strengthening existing locations and creating jobs.
The energy center, a key component of the new plant, spans approximately 10,000 square meters and houses the plant’s fire brigade, workshops, and service center. It includes two large transformers connected to new 110-kilovolt power lines from Bayernwerk Netz GmbH’s substation. Cooling machines and heat pumps have already been installed to ensure stable temperature conditions.
Infrastructure developments include a comprehensive network of utilities distributed from the energy center, with significant groundwork underway to support production and environmental systems. Additionally, a new large roundabout is being constructed to manage the increased traffic flow associated with the plant.
Further information about the Irlbach-Straßkirchen site can be found on the project website. An open house event at the construction site is scheduled for May 9 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.
Source: BMW Group Press Release
