On May 5, BMW's first pure electric medium-sized sports sedan, the new BMW i3, was officially rolled off the production line at the Shenyang Lida plant, indicating that the pace of electrification of the BMW Group in China has further accelerated. With the launch of the new i3 and the unveiling of the innovative BMW i7, BMW has presented five pure electric models to Chinese users. During the year, the BMW Group is expected to produce and trial-produce 15 pure electric models, covering about 90% of the luxury car segment. By the end of 2025, the BMW Group plans to deliver 2 million pure electric vehicles worldwide, a figure that will reach 10 million by 2030.
The world's leading production process has created outstanding luxury quality
The new BMW i3 body side several slender waistlines vividly interpret the modern sports aesthetic, so precise poetry thanks to the high stamping accuracy guaranteed. The stamping workshop is equipped with the world's most advanced servo 10,000 tons six-sequence stamping machine, which not only has high operation efficiency, but also has a maximum stamping accuracy of 0.2 mm, which is comparable to the accuracy of hair diameter to fully ensure the accuracy and sharpness of the line.
In addition, excellent electric driving needs strong body rigidity as a support. The body innovation uses a variety of metal materials, including high-strength steel, thermoformed steel, multiphase steel, aluminum-magnesium alloy, etc., through the perfect material ratio, showing a super rigid lightweight effect. In addition, the complex and diverse body materials place higher demands on connecting devices and technologies. The new welding robot and BMW's fourth-generation electric servo welding gun, which were introduced for the first time in the body shop, enable more accurate and efficient welding and preventive maintenance, and seamlessly and firmly connect the various parts of the body through more than ten advanced connection technologies to escort the safety of every passenger in the cockpit.
The new BMW i3 offers six beautiful individual car paints for customers to choose from, and an intelligent spray shop with 63 robots ensures the brilliance and durability of these colors. The body coating of the new BMW i3 undergoes a number of processes such as pretreatment electrophoresis, sealant process, integrated spraying process, and foaming and wax injection process. Among them, the topcoat adopts a fully automatic integrated spraying process and uses a new generation of spraying robot equipment to further improve the degree of spraying fineness. A series of advanced spraying processes enhance the anti-corrosion and noise reduction performance, anti-gravel impact resistance and waterproofness of the body, making the body more dazzling and bringing customers a quiet, safe and luxurious driving experience.
The fifth-generation power battery pack on the new BMW i3, produced by BMW Brilliance Power Battery Center Phase II, uses 811 nickel-cobalt-manganese ternary lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of about 70 kWh and a cruising range of up to 526 km under CLTC standards. Thanks to BMW's comprehensive technical accumulation in the field of power batteries, such as battery raw materials, chemical formulas, internal structure design of battery packs, and lean production processes, the battery pack achieves a perfect balance in multiple dimensions such as performance performance, energy density, mileage, safety, and quality and reliability throughout the life cycle.
Blending digital luxury experience with excellent electric driving fun, it sets a benchmark for market segmentation
As the first luxury all-electric mid-size sports sedan in the market segment, the new BMW i3 offers up to twenty high-value standard configurations, setting a well-deserved benchmark with comprehensive and powerful product strength. For example, the class-leading 2,966mm extra-long wheelbase, China's unique comfort seats with thickened seat cushions and backrests, and the comfort headrests in the rear make the rear space spacious and comfortable. The digital sensory experience has also been further upgraded, with BMW's all-in-one floating curved screen and the new BMW iDrive and BMW operating system 8.0, bringing BMW's latest human-vehicle interaction experience. Combined with the panoramic glass skylight and 9 combinations of ambient mood lights, the entire cockpit is further combined with a sense of sci-fi and luxury.
The new BMW i3 also brings customers extraordinary pure electric driving with excellent electric performance and handling performance. It adopts the fifth generation of BMW eDrive electronic drive technology and excitation synchronous motor, so that the eDrive35L model has a maximum output of 210 kW, a maximum torque of 400 Nm, and a single motor drive can make the vehicle achieve a 6.2 seconds of 100 km acceleration, and the dynamic performance is remarkable. At the same time, the further optimised aerodynamic design, lower center of gravity, wider front and rear wheelbase, and stronger body rigidity (equipped with front shock top tie rods and front and rear anti-roll bars) give the new BMW i3 a more extreme and more driving pleasure. The application of innovative HRS hydraulic rebound damping technology, as well as the standard rear axle air suspension, add just the right amount of comfort and comfort beyond the dynamics.
Green factories create green vehicles, and BMW leads the way for a sustainable future
The BMW Group integrates the concept of sustainable development throughout all aspects, hoping to create the "greenest electric vehicle" for consumers. Take the new BMW i3, for example, which reduces carbon emissions throughout its entire life cycle, from design and development, supply chain, production, use to recycling. From the very beginning of the production design, the new BMW i3 has been guided by a sustainable concept. Its drive unit adopts an excitation synchronous motor and does not use rare earth materials, reducing dependence on rare metal resources. In the production process, not only are all components safe and non-polluting raw materials used, but also all are powered by 100% renewable energy, and the efficiency and recycling capacity of water resources are continuously optimized. The power battery workshop equipped with the new BMW i3 adopts advanced and environmentally friendly insulating paint spraying equipment, which can realize the efficient recovery of sprayed materials. At the same time, the Rida plant is equipped with an industry-leading "intelligent integrated energy management system" for monitoring, analyzing and optimizing energy consumption in a targeted manner. The new BMW i3 rolls off the production line at the Rida plant, fully interpreting the perfect paradigm of "green factory for green vehicles".
At the same time, thanks to a strict material management system, BMW Brilliance has been looking for the use of more recyclable and reusable materials. At present, BMW has established a sound dealer high-voltage power battery recycling management process in China, BMW Brilliance has also built a battery code traceability management system, all domestic and imported electric vehicle battery information are transmitted to this special traceability platform, the battery from production to scrap recycling of the whole life cycle to track, and to achieve docking with the national platform.
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