BMW's new 530e plug-in hybrid is to be produced at Magna's contract manufacturing plant in Graz, Austria, starting later this year. As a contract manufacturing partner for two premium electrified vehicles – the BMW 530e and the previously awarded Jaguar I-Pace – Magna's Graz facility is seeing new demand from automakers.
Production of the new BMW 5-series marks the successful continuation of the strategic partnership between the BMW Group and Magna that started over 15 years ago. The first BMW produced in Graz, an X3 SUV, rolled off the assembly line in Graz in 2003.
"We are excited to be adding another electrified vehicle architecture to our line-up," said Guenther Apfalter, president, Magna Steyr. "Vehicle electrification is a growing trend in the industry and, with our complete vehicle know-how, we are in a great position to help our customers meet the demands."
Magna started the split production on the BMW 5-series sedan in March this year and will commence production of the Jaguar I-Pace, its first electric car, in the first quarter of 2018. This year the company celebrates a milestone of more than three million vehicles produced in total for various automakers over the life of the plant in Graz.