Manufacturing Today Issue - 226 July 2024 | Page 14

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setting new standards in climate protection and competitiveness with flexible , efficient , sustainable and digital manufacturing technologies .
BMW Group is also taking a ‘ local for local ’ approach with its supplier and production network . This means working with regional suppliers to source materials close to production sites . The shorter transportation routes reduce the carbon footprint of materials from the outset .
“ If you don ’ t transport parts ,” Michael continues , “ then you obviously automatically save CO₂ emissions , and that is one reason why ‘ local for local ’ is a very important first step . Every mile you don ’ t drive is a good mile in terms of CO₂ emissions . Equally , if the location where you produce cars is near to where parts are produced , then you ’ re not only more resilient from a supply chain perspective but also reducing the negative impact of shipping costs and associated environmental implications . We always try to make decisions with a focus on total landed
costs . We follow our ‘ local for local ’ approach with our Gen6 assemblies as well as our new plant in Debrecen , Hungary .”
BMW Group recently announced many innovations surrounding its sixth-generation battery technology . Gen6 offers a lot more range and power than the current Gen5 batteries , the result of many different advancements . From adopting a new cell structure to changing how the chassis integrates with the battery , the group continues to ambitiously pursue the next generation of electrification . Likewise , the new Hungary plant is where the all-electric Neue Klasse will roll off the production line from 2025 .
The Neue Klasse is the start of the new BMW model generation . It represents BMW Group ’ s bold departure into a new era of individual mobility . Change and openness to new developments have always been part of BMW Group ’ s DNA . After many decades in which the company has proven its innovative strength time and again , another quantum
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