BMW Group Korea has officially begun construction on a new BMW R&D center within the Cheongna International City this month.
The BMW R&D Center Korea, which first opened in 2015 at the Incheon BMW Driving Center, is now the fifth research and development facility established within the BMW Group globally, following facilities in the United States, China, Japan, and Brazil. This center focuses on the development of future mobility technologies, including electrification, autonomous driving, and digital solutions. In 2019, key executives from BMW Group’s headquarters visited Korea and announced a roadmap for the expansion of the Korean R&D center.
To offer more optimized solutions and mobility services for the Korean market, BMW Group Korea decided to relocate and expand the R&D Center Korea, collaborating with domestic companies, universities, and government research institutions in a bid to promote growth as a global partner of the BMW Group.
In December 2021, they signed a memorandum of understanding with Incheon City and the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority to establish the new BMW R&D Center, and earlier this year they completed land lease agreements and building permits, officially starting construction with a target completion date set for 2024.
The new BMW R&D Center Korea will be situated on a 5,295m2 site in the Incheon Hi-Tech Park and will conduct various research in fields such as autonomous driving, connectivity, and electrification technology through technical exchanges between Germany and Korea. Additionally, the test lab facility, built alongside the research institute, will feature separate space and equipment for vehicle certification and electrification technology validation, contributing to domestic job creation as the workforce expands.
Dieter Strohbl, Head of R&D at BMW Group Korea, stated, “The new BMW R&D Center Korea, which has broken ground in the Cheongna International City, will play a crucial role in providing customers in Korea with even more optimized vehicles and services.”
Meanwhile, the BMW Group has been continuously investing in the Korean market to expand the automotive culture and infrastructure. In 2014, they established the BMW Driving Center, a unique automotive complex that combines a track and customer experience facilities in Yeongjongdo, Incheon, and in 2017, they built the world’s largest BMW parts logistics center in Ansung, Gyeonggi Province, enhancing local investments.
BMW Group Korea plans to continue providing better services to customers and contributing to the domestic automotive industry through various forms of investment in Korean society.
By Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr