According to BMW, the facility will require an investment of some $100 million and will create 80 local jobs. In Moses Lake, BMW and SGL will manufacture ultra light weight carbon fiber reinforced plastics to be used by the German carmaker in the long awaited Megacity vehicle, as well as in other vehicle concepts.
“We consider carbon fiber a cutting-edge material. Our joint efforts will make sustainable mobility possible in urban environments. Acting sustainably is part of our corporate strategy," Friedrich Eichiner, BMW member of the board said at the conference.
"Our focus includes the whole value chain. Therefore, the energy demand for producing carbon fiber will come from environmentally friendly hydropower.”
”This new plant in Moses Lake is a milestone in the use of carbon fibers for large scale production in the automotive industry,” added Robert Koehler, CEO SGL Group. “It will be the world’s most cost efficient carbon fiber plant using state-of-the-art technologies. This significant investment further underlines our commitment to the U.S., where we already operate carbon fiber and composite materials plants."
The joint venture between BMW and SGL, established last year, will conduct its business through two companies, one based in the US and one in Germany. SGL owns 51 percent of the new business, while the German carmaker 49 percent.
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