BMW Group is partnering with Rimac Technology to equip the updated all-electric BMW i7 with Gen6 cylindrical battery cells, targeting higher energy density, increased range, and faster charging. Production of the new high-voltage battery system will take place in Croatia ahead of the i7’s debut at Auto China 2026.
At the core of the new system are 4695-format cylindrical lithium-ion cells, marking the introduction of Gen6 cell chemistry into BMW’s luxury segment. According to BMW, the cells offer a volumetric energy density about 20% higher than that of the prismatic cells used in the previous Gen5 architecture. The battery combines these Gen6 cells with an established Gen5 module design, forming a hybrid approach intended to accelerate deployment.
BMW states that this configuration enables a ‘significantly increased range’ for the updated i7, although specific figures are to be announced at the vehicle’s world premiere on 22 April at Auto China 2026 in Beijing.
The current i7 xDrive60 offers up to 624 kilometers (WLTP), a benchmark the revised model is expected to exceed. In parallel, charging capability is set to improve, with higher charging power and correspondingly reduced charging times.
Spreading Neue Klasse technologies
“We are quickly rolling out the technologies of the Neue Klasse across our entire model portfolio, including, of course, in our all-electric luxury sedan. The teams of both companies have developed a tailor-made solution for the new BMW i7,” said Thomas Engelhardt, Senior Vice President Development High-Voltage Storage and Charging at BMW Group. “The excellent collaboration with Rimac Technology is a good example of European innovative strength.”
The high-voltage battery systems are manufactured by Rimac Technology at its campus near Zagreb, using dedicated production capacity covering approximately 15,000 m2.
The systems are delivered ready for assembly to BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in Germany, the sole production site for the BMW 7 Series, where they are integrated into the vehicle floor.
The updated i7 is expected to adopt selected elements of BMW’s forthcoming Neue Klasse technology platform, while retaining parts of the existing Gen5 drivetrain architecture. Beyond the battery upgrade, further details on design and interior changes are set to be disclosed at the Beijing premiere later this month.
Rimac Technology
Rimac Technology, a Tier 1 supplier within the Rimac Group, specializes in electrification systems including high-voltage batteries, e-axles, and electronic control units. The collaboration with BMW represents a further step in its transition from a niche supplier for high-performance vehicles to a partner for large-scale automotive programs.
“BMW has always been known for pushing engineering to the highest level, which made this collaboration especially exciting for us,” said Mate Rimac, Founder and President of Rimac Group and CEO and CTO of Bugatti Rimac.
“Together, we developed a high-voltage battery system that unlocks the full potential of the new cylindrical cells in record time, delivering significant improvements in energy, range, and charging performance. We are proud to now see this system being produced at scale at our new Rimac Campus,” Rimac added.
BMW and Rimac already announced their collaboration in 2024. At the time, it seemed that Rimac would not be part of the development of the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology. Instead, the partners then stated that they would work together on ‘selected vehicle projects’.
