BMW Group begins series production of the i3 electric car

Leipzig/Munich - The BMW Group started the series production of the i3 on wednesday. The electric vehicle to be purpose-designed for this form of drive system is the result of an all-encompassing development approach targeted at reducing fuel consumption and emissions in urban areas. Deliveries to customers in Germany and other European countries will begin in November, with the car

High standards of sustainability and resource efficiency have also been achieved in the selection of materials and production processes employed, the company said in a press release. This is the first time that carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) has been used in automotive volume production.

The body structure of the BMW i3 consists entirely of this extremely lightweight and durable material, allowing the extra weight of the batteries for the electric drive system to be cancelled out. By industrialising the manufacturing process for CFRP, the BMW Group has become the first company worldwide to make its use in vehicle production economically viable.

At the Leipzig plant alone, some 400 million euro has been invested in new structures and machinery for the production of BMW i models and 800 new jobs have been created.

Source: IWR Online, 19 Sep 2013