Cluster architecture (CLAR): BMW plans for 2025

Over the years, cluster architecture, or simply CLAR comprises BMW’s language. This highly flexible architecture replaces the classic platforms, making it extremely versatile for a great deal of different model series. From compact and dynamic models, such as the 2 Series Coupe to one of the most luxurious X7 SUV, BMW becomes economical and flexible with production. BMW CEO Oliver Zipse announced during a financial meeting yesterday in Munich their future plans for the CLAR. Hungary will host the production of the new platform for numerous models in 2025. BMW engineers heavily focused on the electromobility of the models.

“Our latest cluster architecture aligns towards electric drive trains,” Zipse said. “This area reports immediately to me. It’s institutionally connected to all divisions – from finance, markets, procurement, development, and production to sales and marketing. This allows us to have a greater advantage and development, in collaboration with our partners. Our goal is to provide an optimum cluster architecture and the new plant in Hungary plays a vital role in this. This new plant helps increase the new BEV-centric architecture from the middle of the decade.”

Before taking over the BMW board in 2019, Oliver Zipse has been eyeing the “Power of Choice” strategy for years as chief of production. He figured that the latest cluster technology perfectly suits this. The BMW group has not fully relied on the electric platform but an equally suitable architecture for all drives. Before, their attempt for an independent electric architecture came with a huge cost.

The current BMW CLAR focuses on the combustion engines and integration of electrified drives, but this will change the year 2025. Their development will begin to shift towards electric drivetrains.

In the next few years, we expect a few electric vehicles from the current CLAR architecture. Recently, we had the BMW iX3 electric SUV. In 2021, we expect the arrival of the iX crossover and the i4 Gran Coupe as well. Following this, the new generation of the 7 Series will be tuned in an electric drivetrain set in 2022-2023. Furthermore, the 5 Series electric follows the shift and is merely the beginning of a massive BMW electric offense.