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BMW unveils first battery cell coating line at Leipzig factory

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BMW Group Plant Leipzig’s first cell coating line has gone into series operation as e-component production at the site continues to gain momentum.

By 2024 the two existing module assembly lines will be complemented by a third, as well as four more cell coating lines and two more high-voltage battery assembly lines. The four coating lines will enter series operation during the course of this year at roughly two-month intervals.

Markus Fallböhmer, head of battery production at the BMW Group, says: “From 2024 our plant here in Leipzig will be able to run the entire process chain for high-voltage battery production. [Read more…] about BMW unveils first battery cell coating line at Leipzig factory

BMW’s idealworks partners with Linde Material Handling

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Cutting-edge improvements in technology, such as autonomous mobile robots, have been and continue to be the driving force behind automation.

Not least due to their flexible range of applications, AMRs have increasingly been taking over transport tasks in intralogistics. By collaborating with Linde Material Handling, idealworks – a business unit of auto giant BMW – is gaining an important international sales and service partner.

Linde Material Handling, a Kion Group company, is a globally active manufacturer of forklift trucks and warehouse technology equipment as well as a provider of services and solutions for intralogistics. [Read more…] about BMW’s idealworks partners with Linde Material Handling

BMW expands battery production in its Leipzig factory

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BMW has expanded its electric vehicle battery manufacturing operations.

The German automotive giant has added a second battery module production line at BMW Group Plant Leipzig.

Further expanding e-component production in the German state of Saxony, the new system manufactures modules for the fully electric BMW i4, made in Munich. Plant Leipzig’s first such production line went on stream in May 2021 and supplies the battery modules for the BMW iX. [Read more…] about BMW expands battery production in its Leipzig factory

BMW Innovation and Development: What’s New With BMW?

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BMW is a reputable brand of luxury cars that is known around the world for manufacturing plug-in hybrid vehicles, SUVs, coupes, convertibles, and much more.

However, if you’re wondering what’s new with BMW in 2022 then you’re in luck. Because that’s precisely what we’re going to discuss in this article. [Read more…] about BMW Innovation and Development: What’s New With BMW?

Software-defined vehicles: Apple developing self-driving car chips with South Korean company

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Tech giant Apple is developing chips for self-driving cars in partnership with a South Korean company, according to various media reports.

A website called The Elec, which seems to be a South Korean electronics industry association website, is believed to have broken the story.

In the article, Apple is reported to be “developing the chip modules and packages to be used in its so-called Apple Car with a South Korean outsourced semiconductor assembly and test company”. [Read more…] about Software-defined vehicles: Apple developing self-driving car chips with South Korean company

BMW invests in HeyCharge to increase electric vehicle charging points at residential locations

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BMW i Ventures took a lead investment in HeyCharge, the German start-up providing electric vehicle charging stations in apartment complexes, office buildings and other infrastructure locations.

HeyCharge was in Y Combinator’s Summer 2021 batch of start-ups.

Kasper Sage, managing partner, BMW i Ventures, says: “The rapid growth of the electric vehicle market in coming years will necessitate greater infrastructure build-out of charging solutions around the globe. [Read more…] about BMW invests in HeyCharge to increase electric vehicle charging points at residential locations

BMW partners with Seoul Robotics to launch ‘Level 5’ control tower

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Seoul Robotics, a robotics perception company, has introduced what it describes as a “Level 5 Control Tower” (LV5 CTRL TWR), a mesh network of sensors and computers on infrastructure that guides vehicles autonomously rather than having to place any sensors on an individual vehicle.

This “revolutionary technology” – which is said to enable non-autonomous vehicles to be controlled autonomously – is in the final stages of testing with automaker BMW and preparing for implementation to automate last-mile fleet logistics at their manufacturing facility in Munich.

Beyond original equipment manufacturers, the system has the potential to transform operations for a wide range of business applications ranging from vehicle distribution centers to car rental companies and trucking logistics. [Read more…] about BMW partners with Seoul Robotics to launch ‘Level 5’ control tower

BMW and Nvidia develop ‘next level’ virtual factory planning

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The BMW Group and Nvidia are generating a completely new approach to planning highly complex manufacturing systems – with the Omniverse platform.

The virtual factory planning tool integrates a range of planning data and applications and allows real-time collaboration with unrestricted compatibility.

As industry leaders, the BMW Group and Nvidia say they are “setting new standards in virtual factory planning”. [Read more…] about BMW and Nvidia develop ‘next level’ virtual factory planning

BMW enters warehouse robotics market with launch of IdealWorks

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The BMW Group is breaking new ground in the field of logistics as it founds warehouse robotics company IDEALworks – a fully-owned subsidiary headquartered in Munich. 

This marks the first time a major automotive brand is building and supplying what are often called autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) or automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

The aim is to become a leading supplier of autonomous robotics solutions in the logistics sector. The name “IDEAL” stands for Industry Driven Engineering for Autonomous Logistics. [Read more…] about BMW enters warehouse robotics market with launch of IdealWorks

BMW shows off autonomous version of classic Mini

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BMW is showing off an autonomous version of the classic Mini. The new concept car is part of the German automotive giant’s “Vision Next” project, which encapsulates a company-wide philosophy that aims to integrate the latest technologies into a new generation of vehicles.

These technologies include internet connectivity, autonomous or highly automated driving functions, shared availability, and electric propulsion. 

Called the Mini Vision Urbanaut, BMW says the car represents an “all-new interpretation of a vision of space”. In other words, the interior is radically different from conventional modern cars. [Read more…] about BMW shows off autonomous version of classic Mini