BMW Group has chosen SGL Carbon to supply carbon fibres and semi-finished textile products for a range of components in its upcoming next-generation electric vehicle, the BMW iNEXT. The framework agreement also covers a number of different glass and carbon fibre fabrics. Delivery is expected to start in 2021 and will last for the vehicle’s entire lifecycle.

SGL Carbon will be involved at various stages of the value chain. The carbon fibres are going to be manufactured at the Moses Lake plant in the US state of Washington, while the materials will be produced at the Wackersdorf site in Germany, said a press release from SGL.

“With this project, SGL Carbon is strengthening its position as a supplier of fibres, materials, and components for the automotive industry. As far as we know, this will be the second largest electric vehicle series project in the industry after the BMW i3, in terms of the total volume of carbon fibres it is expected to use,” said Andreas Wüllner, president Composites – Fibres & Materials (CFM) at SGL Carbon.

This partnership for the BMW iNEXT continues years of pioneering collaboration between BMW Group and SGL Carbon in the area of fibre-reinforced plastics. The cooperation began with the founding of the former joint venture, SGL Automotive Carbon Fibres, and developed over many years through the realisation of the first completely series-production-ready passenger compartment made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic in the BMW i3, and innovative uses of the material in the BMW i8 and BMW 7 series. (PC)