Munich-based automotive giant BMW is gearing up to initiate local Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) production in Thailand during the second half of 2025, marking a significant milestone in the company’s global expansion plans. The announcement was made last week by Alexander Baraka, Head of BMW Group Thailand, revealing the company’s strategic decision to invest in battery production within the Southeast Asian nation.
The forthcoming high-voltage battery assembly plant, spanning an impressive 4,000 square meters, represents a crucial expansion of BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand’s business activities. Notably, this development focuses on the assembly of purchased battery cells rather than in-house cell production.
According to BMW, the imported battery cells will undergo assembly into modules at the newly established production facility, ultimately integrating into the high-voltage battery. The company has committed substantial investment, exceeding 1.6 billion baht (approximately 42 million euros) for the project. A substantial portion, nearly 1.4 billion baht (around 36 million euros), will be allocated for acquiring state-of-the-art equipment and systems.
BMW is no stranger to manufacturing in Thailand, operating a vehicle plant in Rayong that currently produces battery systems for plug-in hybrids. These combustion engines and hybrids cater not only to the local market but also contribute to the company’s global export strategy. With the imminent introduction of a purely electric car next year, BMW is poised to extend its reach in the electric vehicle market.
While BMW has not disclosed the specific model to be produced in Thailand, it is confirmed that the vehicle will feature the fifth generation of high-voltage batteries. This generation incorporates prismatic cells, painted and installed in modules before being assembled into a ready-to-install battery pack. The upcoming ‘New Class,’ scheduled for production in Hungary in 2025, will mark the transition to the sixth generation of batteries, featuring round cells and adopting a cell-to-pack concept without modules.
Milan Nedeljković, BMW Board Member for Production, emphasized the strategic significance of local high-voltage battery production in Rayong, stating, “Local production of high-voltage batteries in Rayong is the next logical step in the continued electrification of our production network. Once again, the principle of ‘local for local’ applies, supporting economic development, employment opportunities, and knowledge transfer in Thailand and the ASEAN region.” The move aligns with BMW’s commitment to fostering regional economic growth and facilitating the transition to sustainable mobility solutions.
