BMW Group says that starting in 2024, its BMW and Mini brands will use cast aluminum wheels made with 100 percent green power.
The change is particularly relevant to the energy-intensive electrolysis used in the production of aluminum, as well as the wheel-casting process.
According to the company, corresponding agreements have been reached with all BMW Group wheel suppliers.
BMW claims that wheels account for approximately 5% of supply chain CO2 emissions. Transitioning to more sustainable production that relies on green power, will cut emissions by more than half. The BMW Group purchases approximately 10 million light-alloy wheels per year, with cast aluminum accounting for 95 percent of these purchases.
The BMW Group maintains that through independent audits, it can ensure that its contracted producers use aluminum in a conscious and sustainable manner, saving up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
“Green power is one of the biggest levers for reducing CO2 emissions in our supply chain. We have already signed more than 400 contracts with our suppliers, including suppliers of wheels and aluminium, requiring them to use green power,” says Joachim Post, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network.
BMW also emphasizes that aluminum has good recycling properties, making it easier to recycle old wheels as part of the circular economy. This eliminates the need for the primary raw material to be produced through energy-intensive electrolysis. At the same time, the secondary raw material must meet the BMW Group's premium quality, design, safety, and mechanical properties requirements.
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