(Yicai Global) Oct.18 -- German automaker Bayerische Motoren Werke AG [ETR:BMW], better known as BMW, will open its first high-voltage battery factory in China on Oct. 24, making the company the first luxury car brand to set up its own such production line, sources close to the firm said yesterday.

The facility, located at the BMW Brilliance New Engine Shenyang Plant in northern China's Liaoning province, will produce 33,000 battery packs a year, suitable for use in the company's new 530Le plug-in hybrid car.

BMW's integration of battery production will not affect the company's orders with domestic battery supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology Co, but actually lead to the two parties working more closely. The latter will provide the cells for BMW to use in its battery packs.