Building the Neue Klasse Future
A new powerhouse rises in Lower Bavaria
BMW's Straßkirchen is a record-speed factory that redefines regional strength and industrial ambition
“Let’s go!” It was a moment full of symbolism. With a mischievous grin and a raised thumb, Bavaria’s Minister-President Markus Söder released this motivating exclamation during a tour of the BMW Group’s new battery assembly hall in Straßkirchen-Irlbach (Lower Bavaria). Between the support pillars of the 150,000 square metre building, where engineers and technicians are installing the first production systems, the state leader’s praise was more than a cheerful remark. It was his expression of confidence in Bavaria’s industrial future.
A factory rises in record time for BMW’s electric future
What has emerged here in just 15 months since the building permit was granted is what the company calls the new Bavaria speed. “This is how it can be done. Faster than any other construction project in Germany in recent years,” says Ilka Horstmeier, BMW Board Member for Human Resources and Real Estate. The BMW Group describes it as the fastest industrial project of its kind worldwide. The plant is now at the stage where system installation has begun. By late 2025, the first high-voltage battery for testing is scheduled to roll off the line. Series production will begin at the end of 2026, with up to 1,000 high-voltage batteries per day at peak.
The iFactory that stays true to Bavaria’s colours
Assembly of the sixth-generation high-voltage storage systems follows the principle of “Lean, Green, Digital”. The plant is part of the expanded iFactory concept, enriched with digital twins, a zero-defect strategy (“propagation stop”), and the systematic use of AI-driven databases. And while others rely on global sourcing, BMW is committed to regionality. Twenty-eight out of 32 system engineering partners come from Germany, eleven of them from Bavaria. All construction companies involved are German, with one third located within a 100-kilometre radius of the plant.
“Keep it as white and blue as possible. That is the best combination,” Söder said approvingly, striking a chord with BMW’s strategy.
Sustainability built in, opportunity built around it
The ecological footprint is part of the design. More than 500 trees, 20,000 shrubs, 7,300 square metres of green façade and drone-guided roof greening set new standards. The rooftop PV system supplies up to 6.5 megawatts of electricity. Process heat is reused in a closed loop for heating and cooling. Drinking water is used exclusively in the canteen. The new building carries the DGNB Gold sustainability certification.
A total of 1,600 new, high-skilled jobs are being created in what has been a structurally weak region. Many employees come from the BMW competence centre in Dingolfing, bringing expertise from battery production. Retraining, further education and internal recruitment processes are underway. In 2025, another 50 apprentices will begin their training in Dingolfing and Regensburg, with the aim of later working in Straßkirchen. Transformation, stresses Production Board Member Milan Nedeljković, cannot succeed without qualification and trust. Söder praises these efforts. “Transformation must be a source of motivation. BMW does not abandon its people, and its people do not abandon BMW.”
We will do everything we can to improve conditions for our domestic industry – in terms of taxation, infrastructure and technology. The combustion engine will continue to play a role, but the future belongs to technology openness
A flexible battery strategy that rewires the supply chain
With the plant in Lower Bavaria, BMW is taking its own distinctive industrial-policy path. Instead of cell production, the focus is on module assembly. This approach keeps the company flexible, allows strategic control through interfaces and strengthens supply chain resilience. For suppliers, from precast concrete specialists to AI integrators, the plant serves as a springboard into the BMW Group’s global production network.
Söder makes it clear. “We will do everything we can to improve conditions for our domestic industry – in terms of taxation, infrastructure and technology. The combustion engine will continue to play a role, but the future belongs to technology openness.”
Straßkirchen becomes Bavaria’s model for the future
In the end, Straßkirchen is not just a place but a model. It represents transformation at pace, sustainability without empty gestures and innovative strength in rural regions. And perhaps it also points to a new industrial narrative emerging from Germany.
In Lower Bavaria, BMW is igniting its engine for the future with a spirited “Let’s go!” and a clear goal to shape the future of the automobile from its home base.
