- BMW aims to cut 60 million tons of carbon dioxide by 2035.
- Shenyang factory operates fully on renewables, awarded national “Green Factory” status.
- EV battery recycling, renewable charging help lower emissions across the supply chain.
BMW AG is committing to reducing at least 60 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035 compared to 2019 levels, with its activities in China anticipated to be crucial in achieving this target. The revised target signifies a new milestone in BMW's strategy towards attaining net-zero emissions by 2050.
The firm intends to reduce lifecycle emissions by a minimum of 40 million tons by 2030 and anticipates halving emissions per euro of revenue by 2035. BMW announced that it will implement a comprehensive decarbonization strategy covering raw material sourcing, production, vehicle usage, and recycling at the end of life. This involves broadening the use of renewable energy throughout production and supply networks, enhancing recycled-material proportions in high-emission items such as batteries and aluminum, and promoting efficiency improvements across every type of drivetrain, including its growing range of electrified vehicles.
BMW's manufacturing center in Shenyang, located in Northeast China's Liaoning province, has turned into a key element of the company's worldwide sustainability initiatives. The facility has run solely on renewable energy since 2019 and has been recognized as a national "Green Factory" for nine straight years. In 2024, its independently constructed solar capacity produced 91.86 GWh of renewable energy — sufficient to power around 30,000 homes for a year. A new mid-depth geothermal heating initiative, harnessing energy from 2,900 meters below the surface, aims to lower yearly emissions by approximately 18,000 tons.
BMW is engaging suppliers located in China as a part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Approximately 200 primary Chinese suppliers have pledged to utilize renewable electricity, contributing to a reduction of supply-chain emissions by about 1 million tons in 2024 compared to 2019.
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The firm announced it has reached a 100 percent recycling rate for disposed EV batteries in China, reclaiming over 2,100 tons of battery materials in the previous year. BMW will introduce its next-generation "Neue Klasse" models in China, utilizing sixth-generation eDrive technology that incorporates cylindrical cells and a proprietary energy-management system aimed at minimizing losses and enhancing performance.
The car manufacturer stated that the manufacturing overhaul for the new models reduces the vehicles' embedded carbon footprint right from the time they exit the Shenyang production line. BMW is collaborating with State Grid and other partners to advance public charging powered by renewable energy. Its joint-venture brand, Ionchi, currently provides charging services powered entirely by renewable energy.