BMW breaks ground on new R&D center in Incheon

Rendered image of BMW's new research and development (R&D) center in Cheongna, Incheon [BMW KOREA]

Ground was broken for BMW's new research and development (R&D) center in Korea, the German carmaker said Monday.

The center will be built on a 5,295-square-meter (56,995-square-foot) site in Cheongna, Incheon, and will be open in 2024. It will handle the development of future technologies including self-driving, connectivity and electrification in close cooperation with the German headquarters.

Korea is the carmaker's fifth country to have an R&D center in the world after the United States, China, Japan and Brazil.

BMW first opened an R&D facility at BMW’s Driving Center on Yeongjong Island in Incheon but decided to expand it and move it to Cheongna.

A test lab facility will be open at the center, which will have advanced equipment to test new BMW cars before their official launch.

"The new BMW R&D Center Korea in Cheongna will play a key role in delivering optimized vehicles and services for Korean customers," said Dieter Strobl, director of R&D at BMW Group Korea.

BMW sold a total of 78,545 vehicles in Korea last year, up 19.6 percent on year and maintaining its No. 2 spot in imported brands right after Mercedes-Benz.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]