14 October 2026
BMW Group connects Leipzig plant to Germany’s hydrogen network
BMW Group announced the official start of construction of a hydrogen pipeline connecting its Leipzig production plant directly to Germany’s national hydrogen network, marking a major milestone for hydrogen use in industrial manufacturing. The approximately two-kilometre pipeline, scheduled to become operational in the first half of 2028, will make Leipzig the world’s first automotive plant with a direct hydrogen grid connection. Developed in cooperation with ONTRAS Gastransport and MITNETZ GAS, and supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the Free State of Saxony, the project will enable BMW to significantly expand hydrogen use in energy-intensive production processes, particularly high-temperature paint-drying operations, where hydrogen can replace natural gas. The Leipzig facility already operates Europe’s largest hydrogen-powered intralogistics fleet, comprising more than 230 fuel-cell forklifts and tug trains, and has introduced eleven dual-fuel paint ovens capable of operating on hydrogen or natural gas.