BMW is now also manufacturing 6th-generation batteries in Shenyang.
BMW Group has begun mass production of its Gen6 high-voltage batteries for the New Class in Shenyang. Following Debrecen and Irlbach-Straßkirchen, this site in northeastern China is the third facility in the company’s new battery network. It will supply energy storage units for the New Class models that BMW will produce in China for the local market going forward.
Image: BMW
Nowhere is the price competition in electric vehicles as fierce as in China. And the battery is famously the most expensive component of an electric vehicle. By manufacturing it near the vehicle plant, companies can save on transportation costs and inventory. That’s exactly what BMW is doing in Shenyang: “The high-voltage battery is a crucial component of our fully electric vehicles,” says Production Director Dr. Raymond Wittmann. “We produce locally, close to the market, efficiently, according to globally uniform standards, and with the highest quality.”
Large round cells instead of modules
The sixth generation uses large round cells with a diameter of 4.6 centimeters, which BMW employs in two heights: 9.5 and 12 centimeters. Compared to the previous generation of cells, the energy density increases by more than 20 percent. Moreover, the charging speed and range improve by up to 30 percent.
The design of the battery is also new. Previously, cells were housed in modules that were only placed inside the battery casing in a second step. With the cell-to-pack approach, this intermediate layer is eliminated, allowing cells to be located directly within the casing. This reduces material and weight, and the freed space can be filled with additional cells. On the top of the battery is the Energy Master, a control unit developed by BMW itself. It integrates functions related to power supply and battery management. The latter monitors aspects such as the cell’s charge level and temperature.
How the battery is made in Shenyang
In Shenyang, the cells are first inspected and then connected into clusters using coolers. After laser cleaning, the clusters are welded together with a cell contact system that electrically connects the cells. A foaming process mechanically secures the components. Next, the housing is closed, sealed, and riveted. Finally, an Energy Master test and an end-of-line inspection are performed on each individual battery. For round cells, quality control is particularly complex because a pack consists of many individual cells, and every weld must hold strong. Therefore, BMW monitors the laser welds in real time using inspection systems directly on the production line, and it also employs digital twins and AI-driven testing methods.
BMW Group’s Largest Facility
In April 2024, BMW and Liaoning province agreed in a memorandum of intent to renovate the facility for the new vehicle class. The project was valued at approximately 2.5 billion euros (as reported previously). With an annual production capacity of 830,000 vehicles as of 2024, Shenyang is the company’s largest manufacturing site, comprising the Dadong, Lydia, and Tiexi plants. It is operated by the joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive. Just before Christmas 2025, the pre-production of the long-wheelbase iX3 began there—the first model in the new vehicle class for the Chinese market. Among BMW’s Chinese partners is battery manufacturer CATL (as reported earlier).
BMW’s production network continues to expand outside of China as well. Battery assembly facilities in Woodruff, South Carolina, and San Luis Potosí, Mexico, are set to begin mass production in the coming months.
The battery production in China comes at just the right time for the long-wheelbase iX3. BMW launched pre-orders for this model at the Chengdu Auto Show in August. Prices range from 269,900 yuan (around 36,100 euros) for the iX3 30L to 339,900 yuan (around 45,400 euros) for the 50L xDrive. According to CnEVPost, first deliveries are scheduled for November. However, a report by CarNewsChina, citing the financial website 36Kr, suggests that larger volumes won’t reach customers until 2027. BMW officials attribute the long wait time to quality checks of new technologies.
_Sources:_press.bmwgroup.com (press release), bmwgroup.com (background on Gen6 battery technology), cnevpost.com (pre-sales and prices of the long-wheelbase iX3), carnewschina.com (delivery schedule), ecb.europa.eu (exchange rate as of October 12, 2026)