Carmaker BMW has announced plans to invest €400 million over the next three years to produce zero-emission electric cars in Germany.
The investment, which was launched by chair of the board of management Norbert Reithofer and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, will expand the company’s Leipzig plant to produce the Megacity Vehicle (MCV).
“With this vehicle we are revolutionising automotive design and production, and offering our customers the first purpose-built electric vehicle for urban areas,” says Reithofer.
BMW claim that the MCV will be the first mass produced car to feature a passenger compartment made from lightweight carbon fibre reinforced plastic.
The Leipzig plant will also produce the BMW ActiveE, which is based on the BMW 1 Series Coupé, as early as 2011. The ActiveE will be BMW’s second foray into electric vehicles following the MINI E.
BMW plans to make Leipzig its global centre of expertise for the production of electric vehicles.
The company has also set itself targets to reduce the energy requirement by 50% and water usage by 70% per car, as well as sourcing 100% of its energy from renewable sources.