The BMW Group has started manufacturing the BMW iX5 Hydrogen. At its Munich Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ), the small-series hydrogen-powered car is being manufactured at the pilot plant. During the development phase, the first sports activity vehicle (SAV) with hydrogen fuel cell technology has already completed a rigorous testing schedule in arduous conditions. From spring 2023 on, it will be utilized as a technology demonstrator enabling locally carbon-free mobility in a few areas, notably the Middle East. "Hydrogen is a versatile energy source that has a key role to play as we progress towards climate neutrality," asserts Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development. We believe that a combination of battery and fuel cell electric drive systems is a wise long-term strategy because hydrogen is expected to become increasingly important for personal mobility. The BMW Group's geopolitical resilience is increased by investing in this sort of drive system because fuel cells don't require any essential raw materials like cobalt, lithium, or nickel. When the hydrogen economy becomes a reality on a large scale, we will be able to provide clients with an appealing product variety thanks to the knowledge we will gather from our BMW iX5 Hydrogen test fleet. The BMW iX5 Hydrogen combines exceptional daily usability and long-distance capabilities with all the advantages of a locally emission-free propulsion system. As a result, its hydrogen fuel cell technology is a desirable addition to the battery electric motor system. This is particularly true for clients who demand short refueling intervals and long ranges, as well as for geographical areas like the Middle East, where the development of suitable charging infrastructure occurs at a different rate. The BMW Group's Research and Innovation Center in Munich houses the pilot facility where the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is being made. Every new model from a company brand is initially produced here, at the point where development and production meet. In the body shop, assembly, model engineering, concept vehicle building, and additive manufacturing, there are about 900 employees. Milan Nedeljkovi, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production, says, "Production of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen and the BMW-developed fuel cell systems demonstrates our supreme flexibility and unmatched know-how in the field of small-scale manufacture. It demonstrates that we currently have the know-how to include hydrogen technology as an extra type of drive in the BMW iFACTORY production system. The hydrogen variant, which is built on the BMW X5 chassis, receives its base vehicles from BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in the United States. The electric motor, which is part of the current, fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology used in battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars from BMW, is located at the rear axle together with the high-performance battery. Since August of this year, the fuel cell systems found under the hood of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen have been produced at BMW's internal hydrogen competence center in Garching, which is located north of Munich.
