BMW will switch to the next generation of lower-cost batteries for its new electric-vehicle platform from 2025 as automakers battle rising prices for raw materials.
BMW will use round cells instead of prismatic ones for its “Neue Klasse” (New Class) underpinnings, following Tesla’s lead. The U.S. automaker has been using a cylindrical shape for some time.
The change will deliver a 30 percent drop in costs, according to people familiar with the plans.