BMW Group has recently announced the commencement of operations for its Wackersdorf battery testing center, which was unveiled a year ago. This cutting-edge facility spans over 8,000m² and is dedicated to testing battery cells and high-voltage components for future BMW models, ensuring their readiness before entering production.
The completion of the Wackersdorf battery testing center is expected by late 2025 and represents a significant investment of approximately €100 million ($105 million). The majority of this investment has been allocated towards advanced test-bench technology and infrastructure upgrades to enhance the facility’s capabilities.
The renovation of Hall 80 at the Wackersdorf plant involved extensive structural work, including the installation of a new floor slab. The expansion required the use of approximately 2,200 tons of structural steel and 10,000m³ of concrete, highlighting the scale of the project.
With the initial phase now operational, the facility’s “battery testers” will be conducting continuous assessments of battery cells during the early stages of development. This process involves evaluating the electrical performance of cells during charging and discharging under various conditions, allowing for the simulation of real-world scenarios well before vehicle development is complete.
Dr. Felix Schmidt-Stein, the Project Manager, stated that the facility will initially be capable of parallel testing several hundred battery cells, with the potential to increase testing capacity to several thousand cells once the ramp-up is complete. This will enable the center to validate the BMW Group’s battery-electric vehicles before their official series production launch, starting in 2025.
Christoph Peters, the Site Manager, emphasized the significance of the new battery testing center in supporting the transformation towards electromobility. He highlighted that the center adds a fourth pillar to the Wackersdorf site, alongside supplying overseas plants, cockpit production, and door production for Rolls-Royce models, demonstrating a strong commitment to the future of the site.
The BMW Group’s Wackersdorf battery testing center is poised to play a crucial role in advancing the company’s electromobility initiatives and ensuring the successful development and validation of cutting-edge electric vehicles. This state-of-the-art facility underscores the company’s dedication to innovation and sustainability in the automotive industry.
