bmw

BMW to take full control of Chinese JV Brilliance

The BMW Group is set to take control of its Chinese joint venture brand, BMW Brilliance Automotive, whose portfolio includes a lithium-ion battery production plant to power the German car firm’s fully-electric BMW iX3 model.

BMW intends to increase its stake in Brilliance from 50% to 75% under a deal announced by the partners on 11 October— subject to various regulatory and shareholder approvals.

In a related move, BMW and its joint venture partner Brilliance Auto announced an investment of more than €3 billion “in new and existing plant structures in Shenyang over the coming years”.

bmw

BMW Brilliance Automotive

Brilliance Auto. lithium-ion batteries

iX3

Solid Power ‘to scale-up’ with investments boost

The venture capital arm of Belgium-based battery materials firm Solvay has made an equity investment in US-headquartered next-generation solid-state batteries developer Solid Power.

Solvay Ventures’ move came after Solid Power announced it had generated US$20 million in a Series A investment round, which drew funding from companies including Samsung, Hyundai cradle, Sanoh, and A123 Systems.

German firms warn US in new Trump trade tirade

German auto firms have indicated they could pull the plug on new investments in battery manufacturing and related facilities in the US if they are forced to pay increased tariffs under a “national security” review.

The warning came after the Trump administration launched an investigation that could pave they way for new tariffs to be slapped on automotive products from Europe, Japan and South Korea.

Bernhard Mattes

German Association of the Automotive Industry

daimler

bmw

batteries

BMW batteries deal with CAT short-circuits EU

BMW has placed a “billion euro” order for electric vehicle batteries from China— because the firm ‘can’t wait’ for Europe to build a battery cells industry, according to its chairman.

Harald Krüger’s (pictured) announcement of a deal with Chinese lithium battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) is the clearest signal yet that Germany could break ranks with the EU over plans to create a European Batteries Alliance to compete with Asia.

bmw

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL)

EU Batteries Alliance

BMW joint venture expands China batteries plant

The Chinese joint venture brand of German car giant BMW, BMW Brilliance, is expanding the battery factory it opened in China just seven months ago.

The joint venture— the Chinese partner of which is carmaker Brilliance Auto— broke ground for the second phase “comprehensive expansion” project on 28 May.

Solid-state batteries “game-changer” for EVs report

Solid-state batteries are expected to be a “game changer” for the electric vehicle industry, according to a new report.

The batteries are set to open up “significant growth opportunities for future battery chemistries due to manufacturers’ claims of an energy density 2.5 times higher than lithium-ion batteries”, said market analysts Frost & Sullivan.

solid-state batteries

BMW to sign 10-year cobalt and lithium supply contracts

Germany’s BMW Group is set to sign 10-year contracts to secure supplies of cobalt and lithium for production of electric vehicle batteries, the auto giant has told BBB.

A BMW spokesperson confirmed contracts would be signed with more than one supplier “in the near future”— but declined to name the firms involved.

BMW invests in solid-state start-up

German automotive giant BMW has formed a partnership to develop solid-state batteries for its electric vehicles with US-based start-up Solid Power.

Solid Power, which has been developing solid-state rechargeable batteries in Louisville, Colorado, aims to advance its technology to meet the requirements for high performance EVs.

bmw

Solid Power

solid-state batteries

electric vehicles

lithium-ion batteries

BMW issues cobalt supply chain pledge

German automotive maker BMW has pledged to work for a more sustainable and transparent cobalt supply chain for battery manufacturing.

BMW said companies using cobalt as a raw material face tackling issues related to environmental standards and human rights that “cannot be completely eliminated in cobalt mining”.

lithium-ion batteries

BMW joint venture ‘to open China battery packs plant’

The Chinese joint venture brand of German car giant BMW, BMW Brilliance, is reportedly to open a “high-voltage automotive battery pack production centre” in China on 24 October.

According to Chinese media reports, BMW’s long-term Chinese lithium-ion battery supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) will supply cells for the project.

china

bmw

BMW Brilliance

high-voltage automotive battery pack

Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL)

lithium-ion batteries