BMW won’t mass produce EVs until 2020 as scaling up now would not be profitable
Frankfurt — BMW will not mass produce electric vehicles (EVs) until 2020 because its current technology is not profitable enough to scale up for volume production, its CEO Harald Krüger said on Thursday. Munich-based BMW unveiled its first battery EV in 2013, and has been working on different generations of battery, software and electric-motor technology since then. The i8 Roadster model, due to hit showrooms in May, is equipped with what BMW calls its fourth-generation electric-drive technology. Advances in the understanding of battery raw materials and chemistry has increased its range by 40% over the previous version, BMW said. The company is working to make EV technology more modular and scalable to make mass production commercially viable. "We wanted to wait for the fifth generation to be much more cost competitive," Krüger told analysts in Munich. "We do not want to scale up with the fourth generation." The cost advantage between BMW’s fourth and fifth generation EV technology...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.