BMW and CATL have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to deepen cooperation, including the joint development of a “battery passport.” According to industry sources on the 26th, the agreement focuses on collaboration in decarbonizing the battery supply chain and facilitating cross-border data transfers.

On February 25, BMW Group Chairman Oliver Zipse accompanied German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on a visit to China. During the visit, BMW Group and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) signed a cooperation memorandum of understanding in Beijing, aimed at promoting collaborative carbon reduction in the power battery supply chain, thereby systematically reducing the carbon footprint of electric vehicles.

According to CATL's official WeChat account on the 27th, BMW Group and CATL signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in Beijing on February 25. The two parties will engage in in-depth collaboration around cross-border data pilot projects for battery passports and coordinated carbon reduction in the supply chain's carbon footprint.

【SMM Steel】From 2026, BMW will use thyssenkrupp's bluemint® recycled steel in the BMW iX3 for outer panels, interior parts, and the battery housing. It replaces iron ore with scrap in blast furnaces, cutting CO₂ while keeping high surface quality and formability. The steel offers fire protection and EM shielding for the battery. No factory changes are needed as properties match conventional steel. The deal supports thyssenkrupp's shift to carbon neutrality, including a planned H₂-ready DRI plant. By 2045, all output aims to be climate-neutral bluemint® steel.

["[BMW China Announces Integration with DeepSeek] On April 27, following its strategic cooperation with Alibaba on AI large language models, BMW further deepened its local AI ecosystem layout, with BMW China announcing the integration of DeepSeek. In the future, DeepSeek's capabilities will also be applied to new-generation BMW car models produced in China. Starting in Q3 this year, it will be first applied to multiple new BMW vehicles for sale in China equipped with the 9th generation (BMW) operating system, enhancing the human-machine interaction experience centered around the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant through deep thinking capabilities."]

【BMW deepens cooperation with ByteDance】 On April 21, BMW Brilliance Digital Information Technology Co., Ltd. partnered with ByteDance’s cloud computing platform, Volcano Engine. The collaboration will focus on AI - driven innovations in automotive marketing and services to enhance user car - purchasing experiences and dealer operational efficiency. This move follows BMW’s recent launch of its "360 - degree AI strategy" last month and marks another step in leveraging AI technology to boost innovation across its domestic value chain.

On March 25, BMW Group announced the launch of its 360-degree full-chain AI strategy in China.

BMW Group has made a groundbreaking announcement that it will launch mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) by 2028. With a vision for the future, BMW aims to achieve "carbon neutrality" by 2050 and is taking the lead in the premium passenger car segment by unveiling its mass-produced HFCVs. This ambitious plan is underpinned by three key factors: Firstly, BMW boasts over 40 years of experience in hydrogen powertrain research and development, as well as more than 20 years of technological accumulation in hydrogen fuel cell technology, positioning it at the forefront of technological advancement. Secondly, BMW is fully committed to advancing hydrogen-powered technology and will introduce its first mass-produced HFCV in 2028, igniting a new wave of innovation in the automotive industry. Lastly, BMW is actively aligning with China's hydrogen energy development plan, promoting sustainable transportation, and offering customers a broader range of travel options. Moreover, BMW Brilliance Automotive will explore the application of hydrogen energy in domestic logistics, contributing to carbon reduction and emission mitigation across the entire industrial chain.

【BMW Announces AI Models in Locally-Produced Vehicles by 2026】On March 25, BMW announced that its first locally-produced new-generation model in 2026 will be equipped with AI large-language models and intelligent agents to achieve human-like communication and open ecosystem integration. BMW also stated that it will release information about cooperation with top Chinese tech companies for joint R&D in areas such as AI large-language models and intelligent voice interaction.

On March 17, BMW China announced that it reached cooperation with Huawei Device to integrate BMW's digital ecosystem with HarmonyOS, introducing services such as the BMW Digital Key, HUAWEI HiCar, and...