BMW Group Korea Signs Agreement to Establish New R&D Center in Cheongna

Approximately 5,000㎡ Site in Cheongna Urban High-Tech Industrial Complex
Research on Future Mobility Fields Including Autonomous Driving and Electric Vehicles Conducted with German Headquarters

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] BMW Group Korea announced on the 16th that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Incheon City and the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ) on the 15th at Incheon Metropolitan City Hall in Namdong-gu, Incheon, to establish a new BMW research and development (R&D) center.

This agreement includes relocating and expanding the current BMW R&D center located at the Yeongjongdo Driving Center in Jung-gu, Incheon, to Cheongna International City. The signing ceremony was attended by Park Nam-chun, Mayor of Incheon, Lee Won-jae, Head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, Dieter Strobl, Head of BMW Group Korea R&D, and other officials.

The BMW R&D Center Korea will break ground next year on a 5,295㎡ site within the Cheongna IHP Urban Hi-tech Industrial Complex and is scheduled for completion in 2023. The center will conduct research in future mobility fields such as autonomous driving, connectivity, and electrification technologies in collaboration with the German headquarters. It will be equipped with testing facilities for product development, as well as testing and inspection, and is expected to create domestic employment opportunities due to workforce expansion. Additionally, the jointly established test lab facility will include separate spaces and equipment for vehicle certification and electrification technology verification.

Mayor Park stated, "We expect that the global R&D cooperation with automotive parts companies possessing excellent technology will continue to expand, greatly contributing to Incheon’s growth as a hub for advanced future mobility technologies."

Dieter Strobl also said, "The new BMW R&D center to be established in Cheongna, Incheon, will be a symbolic place where electrification, autonomous driving, and digital-based future mobility technologies are developed. We expect it to foster collaboration with the German headquarters and outstanding Korean companies, as well as create opportunities for domestic companies to enter the global market."

Meanwhile, BMW R&D Center Korea is the fifth such center established worldwide, following the United States, China, Japan, and Brazil. In 2019, key executives of the group visited Korea and announced a roadmap for expanding the Korean R&D center.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.