BMW Partners with EVE Energy to Advance Electric Vehicle Battery Technology

The global automotive industry's electrification is entering a new phase of deep integration with intelligence. This presents a common challenge for international automotive OEMs: how to balance differentiated competition with scalable efficiency during the transition to new energy. In response, BMW Group has decided to adopt a breakthrough approach using large cylindrical battery technology in its sixth-generation eDrive electric drive system. This strategic direction is also a result of long-term discussions and deep cooperation with core suppliers. In the key area of battery technology, the market potential of large cylindrical batteries is becoming evident due to their performance advantages and is becoming the mainstream choice for more mid-to-high-end models. BMW's collaboration with EVE Energy dates back to the end of 2017. In 2020, during an internal seminar on the direction of next-generation battery technology, both parties selected large cylindrical batteries as the main focus for their next-generation electrification platform due to their advantages in high performance and standardization. As the cooperation deepened, BMW officially announced in September 2022 that EVE Energy would become one of its core suppliers for the 'new generation' models. To support this cooperation, EVE Energy announced that it would build two new large cylindrical battery production bases in Shenyang, China, and Debrecen, Hungary, to provide nearby support for BMW's global layout. Against this backdrop, their cooperation has reached a key milestone. On June 30, 2025, the 'Pioneer Project' at EVE Energy's Shenyang large cylindrical battery base officially entered the trial production stage. This marks a solid step from technical collaboration to new heights of industry co-creation. During the trial production ceremony, BMW China Vice President Joerg Ghanbari affirmed the partnership from multiple dimensions, including strategic significance and the history of cooperation. He emphasized the importance of this celebration, stating, 'Today, I am honored to gather with all of you to celebrate the strategic cooperation between BMW, EVE Energy, and the vibrant city of Shenyang. This is a great collaboration rooted in innovation, mutual trust, and a shared vision for sustainable mobility.' He also reflected on the extraordinary journey from their initial acquaintance to global collaboration, highlighting the establishment of a new battery factory next to BMW's Brilliance factory. He stressed the strategic value of this partnership in the current market environment, particularly in the face of intense competition in pricing and sales. Ghanbari articulated a future blueprint for technological co-creation, stating that both teams are focusing on preparing for mass production of the sixth-generation 'new generation' models, aiming to become the most successful and innovative automotive manufacturers. EVE Energy Chairman Dr. Liu Jincheng outlined the specific path to achieving this vision, noting that since the official development of large cylindrical batteries for BMW in 2021, their engineers have overcome numerous challenges to reach the current results. The core task of the Shenyang 'Pioneer Project' is to validate and debug EVE Energy's self-developed high-speed assembly line, which employs digital twin technology to optimize the entire line's processes, quality control, and operational experience. This mature experience will be replicated in their European factories. Dr. Liu stated, 'This will be a model project for the industrialization and digital manufacturing technology of large cylindrical batteries.' Indeed, products supported by this technology have already received positive market signals. Just last month, BMW's first new generation mass-production model, the BMW iX3, completed its first dynamic experience in Europe and received unanimous praise from global media and experts. The success of the iX3 test drive is a significant milestone in BMW's electrification blueprint, underscoring the strategic significance of EVE Energy's 'Pioneer Project' trial production. To fully understand this, it is essential to recognize the depth and breadth of BMW's 'new generation' plan. The 'new generation' platform is not merely an iteration of a single model but represents a systematic technological framework for BMW's future, centered on innovations in three areas: digital cockpit, intelligent driving assistance systems, and a restructured vehicle electrification platform—of which large cylindrical batteries are the cornerstone. BMW is accelerating the realization of this grand framework through a clear and aggressive product and sales roadmap. The first new generation model, the BMW iX3, is scheduled to debut this year, with its domestically produced version, the iX3L, already undergoing testing in Shenyang. According to plans, BMW aims to launch over 40 new generation models by 2027, covering all market segments. Such a massive system switch and accelerated electrification process place unprecedented high standards on core battery suppliers in terms of technology, capacity, and quality control. EVE Energy, with its long-term technological accumulation and market validation in the large cylindrical battery field, has become a deep cooperative partner capable of meeting these stringent requirements. Before the trial production at the Shenyang project, EVE Energy's large cylindrical batteries had already been validated in over 60,000 vehicles globally, achieving outstanding operational records. These vehicles have cumulatively traveled over 230,000 kilometers and maintained zero safety accidents and zero major quality issues. Among them, approximately 30,000 Changan Qiyuan models are equipped with their ternary large cylindrical batteries, while another 30,000 Tata Group models in India are outfitted with their lithium iron phosphate large cylindrical batteries. This market performance demonstrates their technical strength across different chemical systems. It also validates an important judgment by EVE Energy: that lithium iron phosphate large cylindrical batteries possess potential advantages in cost-sensitive markets. This direction aligns with BMW's strategy to promote large cylindrical batteries across all platform models in the future. Behind this solid market performance is a powerful manufacturing strength. Achieving both high efficiency and high yield is the core challenge of large cylindrical battery industrialization. As EVE Energy's self-developed advanced production line, the 'Pioneer Project' has shown significant efficiency improvements: single-line capacity reaches up to 220 cells per minute, manufacturing processes have been reduced from 18 to 10 steps, and the production cycle has thus shortened to seven days. Its iterative digital management system plays a crucial role in this, tracing over 2,500 product and process data points while establishing 3,800 quality control points. This robust intelligent manufacturing system forms a solid foundation for achieving a 97% overall yield across multiple large cylindrical battery bases. From early lead to deep collaboration, the trial production of the Shenyang 'Pioneer Project' is of great significance. It signifies that EVE Energy is not just a battery supplier for BMW but a deeply integrated partner in technology, manufacturing, and supply chain for its global electrification process. This global strategic collaboration is extending from Shenyang, China, to the heart of Europe. To align with BMW's production rhythm in Europe, EVE Energy's Hungarian factory has already obtained local building permits this year and is entering the substantive implementation phase. This factory is only 30 steps away from BMW's Debrecen base, specifically designed for the 'new generation' models, enabling efficient just-in-time supply and maximizing supply chain efficiency. The production schedules of both parties have been precisely coordinated. According to plans, BMW's Debrecen factory will begin mass production of its first 'new generation' model by the end of 2025, while EVE Energy's Hungarian factory is set to commence production in 2026, in time to meet the ramp-up of automotive production capacity and subsequent model introduction needs, ensuring battery supply security for BMW in its core European market. From the trial production of the Shenyang 'Pioneer Project' to the close support in Debrecen, EVE Energy and BMW's collaboration has become a typical example of observing the transformation of the global automotive supply chain. It clearly demonstrates a determined trend: on one hand, traditional European automotive giants represented by BMW are creating substantial and urgent next-generation battery demand through a comprehensive upgrade of their local electrification capabilities; on the other hand, core Chinese suppliers like EVE Energy, leveraging their leading advantages in technology, manufacturing, and global layout, are becoming key forces in meeting this demand and reshaping the global automotive industry structure. A new model of more resilient and deeper global industrial collaboration is emerging.