Image: BMWIn February 2025, BMW unveiled its sixth-generation (Gen6) electric motors and continues to rely on the SSM concept—an electrically excited synchronous machine. Instead of permanent magnets, the rotor generates its magnetic field via a winding powered by direct current. BMW has further refined the SSM to suit the new 800-volt architecture of the Neue Klasse, set to debut in models such as the iX3 and the i3.BMW kicked off series production of these Gen6 motors at its plant in Steyr at the beginning of August 2025. This marks the first fully electric drive system to be manufactured at the site, while the production of diesel and petrol engines continues in parallel.With the launch of a second production line for these e-drive motors in Steyr, BMW is significantly increasing its capacity. This expansion comes at a critical time, as demand for the iX3 electric SUV, introduced in March, has been so high that BMW has already switched to two-shift operations at its plant in Debrecen, Hungary. Additionally, series production of the new electric saloon i3, which also uses the e-drive motors from Steyr, is set to begin in Munich this August.After producing the first 8,500 e-drive motors for the BMW iX3 in Steyr in 2025, the Bavarian carmaker aims to achieve a capacity of over 100,000 e-drive motors at the site this year—both by increasing output on the first line and commissioning the second production line.“We are delighted by the popularity of our new all-electric models in the Neue Klasse. The BMW iX3 is already the most ordered BMW electric model in Austria. The recently unveiled BMW i3 is also receiving strong approval. With the launch of the second production line, we will supply our vehicle plants in Debrecen and Munich with more of the motors that power these models. This is our contribution to ramping up the Neue Klasse,” said Plant Manager Harald Gottsche.Helmut Hochsteiner, Head of E-Drive Production at BMW Group Plant Steyr, added: “In addition to increasing capacity, this new production line offers greater flexibility for drive variants. In the future, this line will produce not only the regular sixth-generation electric motor but also a sport variant for BMW M. We are thus well positioned to further advance the transition to electric mobility from Steyr.”bmwgroup.com (in German)
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