The results of the Straßkirchen referendum are in and the majority of residents have voted in favor of building the new BMW Group facility. With over 75 percent of the vote, the council’s motion for a BMW assembly plant for high-voltage batteries was successful. Milan Nedeljković, a member of the BMW AG Board of Management, expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized that the planned location will secure the future of Bavarian vehicle plants by providing them with the necessary high-voltage batteries for e-mobility. The referendum’s outcome demonstrates the residents’ support for future-oriented technologies and jobs, as well as their commitment to making reliable decisions for a joint future. The next step in the construction process will involve a public consultation and presentation of expert opinions on the impact of the site development.
Jobs and apprenticeships for the future
The BMW Group plans to employ around 1,600 people at the production site once the initial construction phase is completed. The majority of these employees will come from existing BMW Group locations, allowing for the sharing of knowledge during the construction process. Additionally, about 50 apprenticeships will be offered in collaboration with Plant Dingolfing.
Business tax benefits
The BMW Group has already registered permanent establishments in Straßkirchen and Irlbach, resulting in business tax payments since August. These payments are expected to increase with the construction of the new plant, potentially reaching a high, single-digit million euro amount per year by the end of the 2020s.
Thorough site selection process
The BMW Group evaluated a total of 20 potential sites in Bavaria, considering various criteria in partnership with “Invest in Bavaria”. Straßkirchen and Irlbach were chosen due to their proximity to BMW Group’s Bavarian car plants, exclusion of nature reserves and protected areas, suitable plot size and shape, flat topography, and the presence of thousands of employees in the vicinity. Battery assembly within existing plant sites was ruled out due to space constraints. The BMW Group acquired a 105-hectare plot in Straßkirchen and Irlbach in February 2023, with the option to purchase an additional 29 hectares of adjacent land.
Securing Bavaria’s car-building future
With over 36,000 people employed in Bavaria’s vehicle plants, the new location will ensure the future of these plants by providing high-voltage batteries for electromobility. This commitment not only safeguards existing jobs at BMW Group’s car plants but also creates new jobs in the field of e-mobility. The choice of location will also protect and generate employment opportunities outside of the company, benefiting suppliers and service providers in Lower Bavaria.
Close integration of battery factory and vehicle production
Pursuing its “local for local” principle, the BMW Group strategically locates its high-voltage battery assembly facilities near its vehicle plants worldwide. This approach ensures continuous production, even in the face of unforeseen political and economic developments. It also strengthens existing locations, reduces the carbon footprint of vehicle production, and supports job retention and creation.
For more information
Additional details and the latest updates on the planned Irlbach-Straßkirchen location can be found on the project website at www.bmwgroup-werke.com/irlbach-strasskirchen.