As it bids to strengthen its focus on lightweight construction, BMW AG has secured a 15.6 per cent stake in SGL Carbon SE. The companies were already working together on a joint venture known as SGL Automotive Carbon Fibres.
SGL Automotive Carbon Fibres has a carbon fibre manufacturing plant in Moses Lake in Washington. It plays an important part in the production of ultra-light carbon fibre reinforced plastics that are expected to be used in future vehicle concepts. BMW’s stake in SGL is expected to boost its efforts in lightweight construction including the use of carbon fibre in automobile manufacture.
The carbon fibres produced at the Moses Lake plant are then processed at facilities in Wackersdorf and Landshut; the former delivers textile fabrics made from carbon fibres, while the latter then processes them to make lightweight carbon fibre body components for both the BMW i3 and the BMW i8.
The BMW i3 is the company’s first series-produced electric car and will be released in 2013, with the BMW i8 sports car scheduled for launch in 2014.
