February 26, 2026 – On February 25, Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW Group, accompanied German Chancellor Merz on a visit to China.
During the visit, BMW Group and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) inked a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in Beijing.
This move is aimed at reducing carbon emissions through coordinated efforts in the battery supply chain, systematically lowering the carbon footprint of electric vehicles, and deepening cooperation in sustainable development.
Zipse emphasized that cooperation and open innovation are of great significance. China holds a central position in BMW’s global strategy, and the group adheres to the principle of “In China, For China, With China”.
At present, BMW has invested over 120 billion yuan in its Shenyang production base. It has also established four R&D and innovation hubs and three software companies in China, building a well – developed localization system.
In terms of product planning, the new – generation BMW iX3 long – wheelbase version, the first locally produced new – generation model, will make its global debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April.
Its core digital experience features are jointly designed and developed by global and Chinese R&D teams, precisely meeting the needs of Chinese users.
