The automotive industry has long been defined by its powertrains—internal combustion engines, hybrid systems, and more recently, electric drivetrains. Each technological leap has been a response to evolving consumer demands and environmental considerations. However, the fundamental architecture of these powertrains has remained relatively consistent, with incremental improvements over time. In a landscape where automakers are racing to define the future of mobility, the introduction of a radically different powertrain is a rare occurrence.
The first manufacturer created the e-motor: everything after is a variation from that
Most advancements in electric vehicle technology focus on enhancing existing systems—improving efficiency, reducing weight, and extending range. A truly revolutionary approach, one that reimagines the very foundation of how electric motors operate, is uncommon – one of the reasons combustion still impact. Such innovations not only challenge engineering norms, but also have the potential to set new benchmarks in performance and sustainability.
In this context, a recent development has emerged from an unexpected source. A renowned automaker has unveiled a new electric motor that deviates from traditional designs – combustion and electric. This motor, produced at their Steyr facility in Austria, marks the first fully electric drivetrain manufactured at this location.
New BMW engine: the firstborn in the new plant in Austria
The introduction of this motor is part of a broader strategy to advance the company’s electric vehicle offerings. While details remain limited, the implications of this innovation could be significant, potentially influencing the direction of future electric vehicle technology to substitute internal combustion.
BMW has reached a key milestone in its electric vehicle plans, delivering the first electric engine from its Steyr plant in Upper Austria to Debrecen, Hungary, just ten months after installation of the production system began. The sixth-generation electric engines, which started production three months ago, will be installed in test vehicles for BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse platform.
“We’ve been sending these engines to our development department in Munich since September, and now they’re going directly to Plant Debrecen for test vehicles,” said Klaus von Moltke, Senior Vice President of Engine Production at BMW and Managing Director of the Steyr plant. Helmut Hochsteiner, Vice President of Electric Engine Production at Steyr, said the team will continue refining the production process in the coming months. This step brings BMW closer to full series production of both Neue Klasse vehicles and the Austrian-made electric motors.
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The Steyr plant, BMW’s largest engine facility, employs 4,700 people and produces over one million petrol and diesel engines a year. It also hosts a major drivetrain research and development center. BMW announced in June 2022 that it would start e-drive production at the site in 2025.
Expanding into electric engine production marks an important evolution for the historic Steyr facility as BMW accelerates its shift toward electrification. Just ten months after the installation of the production system began, BMW Group Plant Steyr shipped its first electric engine to Debrecen, Hungary. The e-engine will be installed in Neue Klasse test vehicles.
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Production of the next-generation electric motors at Steyr started three months ago. Delivering engines from Steyr to Debrecen is a key milestone toward full series production of the Neue Klasse and its Austrian-made motors. The Steyr plant, BMW’s largest engine facility, hosts a major drivetrain research and development center. Today, BMW Motoren GmbH in Steyr ranks among Austria’s top industrial companies in revenue and exports. Moves like this are becoming increasingly beneficial for companies that want to build new installations in Europe to move beyond the internal combustion engines.
Our coverage of events affecting companies is purely informative and descriptive. Under no circumstances does it seek to promote an opinion or create a trend, nor can it be taken as investment advice or a recommendation of any kind.
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