The BMW Group plans to invest around 100 million euros in a battery test center in Wackersdorf by 2026. This center will be integrated into the existing building structures on site. The first areas of the center will begin regular operations as early as mid-2024. Covering an area of over 8,000 square meters, high-voltage batteries, and other electric drive components for future BMW Group models will be tested at an early stage of development.
The main investments are focused on setting up the test bench technology and the necessary conversion work on the existing building infrastructure of Hall 80 on the plant site. Shell construction work is currently underway, including a new floor slab for the building. The first section of the center is scheduled to go into operation in mid-2024. In the first step, it will be possible to test hundreds of battery cells simultaneously. After the ramp-up, the test capacities will be expanded to several thousand battery cells. In the final expansion stage starting in 2025, it will also be possible to carry out vibration and shock tests.
