Its passenger vehicle competitors make big rigs. BMW doesn’t. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

Although Mercedes and Audi (well, as in its owner, Volkswagen Group) make semitrucks, BMW doesn’t.

BMW announced that to bring components to its battery production operation at BMW Group Plant Leipzig, it is using two trucks to shuttle between the factory and a logistics center.

To make this appropriate, the trucks are electric.

So where did BMW source the trucks?

Mack? Peterbilt?

Nope.

Designwerk.

The company was founded in 2008. Its first vehicle launched in 2009: a three-wheel mail delivery vehicle.

It began work on commercial trucks in 2018 and now has models ranging from 18 to 44 tons.

However, the trucks are based on Volvo FM, Volvo FMX and Volvo FH series chassis.

Designwerk also offers one based on “the low-entry chassis of the Econic from Daimler Trucks AG.”

The trucks in the BMW application are based on the Volvo chassis.

An interesting thing: Volvo Group—the company that builds commercial vehicles, not the Volvo that makes passenger vehicles—bought 60% of Designwerk in 2021.