BMW to produce lithium batteries in San Luis Potosi

SAN LUIS POTOSI – BMW announced an investment of 800 million euros in the San Luis Potosi plant, which began operations in June 2019.

Of the announced investment amount, 500 million will be allocated to the construction of a new lithium or high-voltage battery production center.

"With this new investment, our plant in San Luis Potosí will play a central role in the BMW Group's transition to electric mobility," said Harald Gottsche, president and CEO of BMW Group Planta San Luis Potosi.

This expansion on the plant's current site (which will begin construction in 2024 and start operations in 2026) will provide employment for 500 people.

BMW currently employs 3,000 people at the San Luis Potosi plant, which produces the BMW 3 Series, 2 Series Coupe and M2.

The BMW 2 Series Coupe and M2 are produced in San Luis Potosi for at least 17 countries.

Reiner Braun, President and CEO of BMW Group Latin America, indicated that the company purchases lithium from two companies, one in Australia (2019) and the other in Argentina (2022), for the batteries -which would be manufactured in China- used by the electric car line assembled in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Regarding the possibility of buying lithium from Mexico, Reiner Braun pointed out that they currently have multi-year contracts with two suppliers and preferred "not to speculate on future development".