German carmaker BMW and British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover have confirmed they'll be working together to develop new electric drive units for the next-generation of electric vehicles.

Why work together, firstly? When carmakers come together, it's usually to share technology, resources and expertise. It's not the first time carmakers have worked together and it certainly won't be the last.

“The automotive industry is undergoing a steep transformation. We see collaboration as a key for success, also in the field of electrification. With Jaguar Land Rover, we found a partner whose requirements for the future generation of electric drive units significantly match ours. Together, we have the opportunity to cater more effectively for customer needs by shortening development time and bringing vehicles and state-of-the-art technologies more rapidly to market,” said Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development.

The deal between the 2 giants suits JLR and BMW as both brands are looking to save money when it comes to research and development of future electric cars. Both parties as BMW and JLR have big plans for electrification. BMW has 2 established players locally in the form of the i3 and i8, while Jaguar's I-Pace was recently launched in SA. Globally, both brands offer plug-in hybrid versions of their internal combustion vehicles.

In the spotlight is the 5th generation of BMW's eDrive tech, which will be showcased in the forthcoming BMW iX3 Sports Activity Vehicle. The engine features an electric motor, transmission and electronics in one compact unit, as well not requiring any rare earth metals. This powertrain will be powering future BMW and JLR products.

We should see the BMW iX3 going on sale in 2020 and it will rival the Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC.

Further Reading

Jaguar I-Pace Is World Car of The Year

Jaguar I-Pace (2019) Launch Review

Jaguar I-Pace (2019) Specs & Price

BMW i3 120 Ah (2019) Launch Review