BMW began building its latest electric car, the flagship iX SUV, using the occasion to tout the green credentials it hopes will appeal to buyers and regulators who increasingly demand sustainable products.
The automaker on Friday started series production of the battery-powered iX at its Dingolfing plant, near Munich, which sources hydroelectric power from nearby rivers. The model is expected to go on sale for about 75,000 euros ($89,000) and will challenge Tesla and Daimler in the luxury EV segment.
The Dingolfing site's sustainability portfolio includes everything from "energy-efficient installations to packaging planning, through transport logistics and recycling, up to and including topics such as biodiversity and water management," BMW said in a statement.
BMW is eager to convince investors it has not fallen behind in the race to develop mass-market electric cars.