BMW Group to use sustainably produced aluminum wheels from 2024

The BMW Group will use solid aluminum wheels made with 100{7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91} inexperienced ability for its BMW and MINI brand names from 2024 onwards. For the BMW Team, this is one more move towards its aim of developing the most sustainable source chain in the automotive business.

The changeover applies, in distinct, to the electricity-intensive electrolysis employed in manufacturing aluminum and to the wheel-casting course of action. To this conclude, corresponding agreements have been reached with all BMW Group wheel suppliers.

Up right until now, wheels have accounted for about 5{7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91} of supply chain CO₂ emissions. Transitioning to much more sustainable production that depends on eco-friendly ability will reduce these emissions by much more than 50 percent. The BMW Team procures about 10 million gentle-alloy wheels per 12 months 95{7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91} of these are produced from solid aluminum.

By means of independent audits, the BMW Team can be certain conscious and sustainable use of aluminum by its contracted producers, preserving up to 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ for each yr.

Environmentally friendly electric power is just one of the most significant levers for lessening CO₂ emissions in our offer chain. We have by now signed more than 400 contracts with our suppliers, like suppliers of wheels and aluminum, necessitating them to use green ability.

—Joachim Write-up, member of the Board of Administration of BMW AG responsible for Buying and Provider Network

Aluminum has excellent recycling attributes, building it simpler to soften down outdated wheels as part of the circular economy. This removes the need for energy-intense electrolysis to create the key uncooked material. At the identical time, the secondary uncooked content need to also meet the BMW Group’s quality demands for quality, style, security and mechanical attributes.

MINI will grow to be a pioneer in this discipline in 2023, when it will commence making use of light-weight-alloy forged wheels built from 70{7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91} secondary aluminum in the new generation of the MINI Countryman. The blend of 100{7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91} green power for output and 70{7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91} secondary uncooked materials information can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80{7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91}, in contrast to standard manufacturing processes.

The BMW Group has been actively associated for lots of many years in worldwide initiatives concentrated on standardizing raw substance extraction. These involve the aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI), an intercontinental non-gain organisation supported by environmental and industrial associations, NGOs, aluminum producers and processing organizations. The BMW Group welcomes the point that many of its aluminum wheel suppliers have presently joined ASI and are building an vital contribution to building an environmentally and socially dependable aluminum benefit chain in this way.

ASI already accredited the gentle metal foundry at BMW Group Plant Landshut in December 2019 for its sustainable use of aluminum, confirming that it handles aluminum consciously and responsibly.

Transitioning to 100{7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91} eco-friendly energy for generation of forged aluminum wheels is one more stage toward minimizing CO₂ emissions in the BMW Group provider community. The purpose is to decrease emissions during the offer chain by 20{7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91} from 2019 concentrations by 2030. Systematically raising the share of secondary aluminum by means of this system makes a further more contribution to sustainability, in line with the principles of the circular economy to which the BMW Team aspires.

Because 2021, the BMW Team has sourced aluminum from the United Arab Emirates created completely using electric power acquired from solar electric power. The aluminum generated in Dubai is processed in the gentle metal foundry at BMW Group Plant Landshut, in which it is applied to manufacture physique and travel teach components. The 43,000 tonnes of solar aluminum sourced in this way provide virtually half the annual necessities of the Landshut mild metallic foundry.