BMW teams up with Rimac for new i7 battery tech

BMW has called on Rimac to help jointly develop the battery system for the new version of its all-electric flagship saloon, the i7.

Scheduled to debut at the Auto China 2026 motor show on April 22nd, the facelifted i7 will be the first all-electric BMW to use the BMW Group’s Gen6 cylindrical lithium-ion cells paired with Rimac’s scalable Gen5 module-based tech.

While no comments have been made on its charging power, these new cylindrical cells provide the new BMW i3 and iX3 with a 20% higher energy density than the prismatic cells used previously.

Compared to the 400kW charging capacity of the latest i3 and iX3, the existing i7 has a maximum charging rate of 195kWh, capable of a 10%-80% charge in 34 minutes. The new co-developed battery tech is expected to reduce plug-in time.

However, the new i7 won’t run on BMW’s new EV-only 800V architecture. As such, it still won’t meet the i3 and iX3’s maximum fast-charging speeds, which can reach up to 400kW. No information has been issued surrounding the new i7’s range, but it is expected to build on the current longest-range model’s 387-mile capacity.

The new i7’s battery will be built at the 90,000 m² Rimac Campus in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb. It will then be shipped over to BMW’s dedicated i7 plant in Dingolfing, Germany, for final assembly.

Following the announcement that BMW is the latest carmaker to use Rimac tech, Rimac’s founder and president, Mate Rimac, commented: “BMW has always been known for pushing engineering to the highest level, which made this collaboration especially exciting for us.

“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 now proud to see this system being produced at scale at our new Rimac Campus.”

BMW Group described the German/Croat tie-up as “a strong example of European innovative strength”.

Alongside the improved battery, further changes to the new BMW i7 are set to include a new front end with a squarer, more prominent grille, and wider daytime-LED running lights. Inside, it is expected to come with BMW’s Panoramic iDrive system and Munich’s latest-generation touchscreens.

The i5 is also due for a facelift later this year, and an electric-only full-sized iX5 SUV is set to join BMW’s EV line-up in 2027.