At the BMW Group, tomorrow’s technologies are already under the spotlight today: since 2017 we have been carrying out detailed research into the potential of quantum computing. This technology uses the laws of quantum mechanics to perform certain computing operations much faster and more efficiently than classical computers. In the not-too-distant future, it could solve previously unsolvable complex problems in fields such as materials science and artificial intelligence (AI). This article provides a short overview of how quantum computers work and how they could be used at the BMW Group.

Quantum computers work in a fundamentally different way from computers that have gone before: traditional computers work with bits that can take on a value of either 0 or 1, and have to complete one calculation process before the next one can begin. Quantum computers, on the other hand, work on the basis of the principles of quantum mechanics – and of the concepts of superposition and entanglement in particular. In terms of data units, they work with qubits rather than bits, which can exist in more than one basic state at any given time – in the values of both 0 and 1 simultaneously, in other words. This allows quantum computers to carry out multiple calculations in parallel. What’s more, qubits can be ‘entangled’, meaning the state of one can directly influence the state of another, even over longer distances.

What sounds like science fiction actually harbours major potential and means quantum computers can solve certain problems exponentially faster than classical computers, especially where complex optimisation tasks are concerned. So far, the innovation is not yet in use for industry-relevant problems, but in the future it could conceivably be applied in areas such as cryptography, materials science, and in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

At the BMW Group a team of experts has been working on this promising technology since as early as 2017 and consistently expanding its understanding of it. After a period of rigorous evaluation, in 2020 the BMW Group set out its strategy for quantum computing. Describing the technology’s relevance in the context of the company, Andre Luckow, Head of Innovation & Emerging Technologies at the BMW Group, says: “We see quantum computing as a strategic future technology that could benefit our core business and position us as an innovation leader. We also want our activities in this field to strengthen the digital sovereignty of Europe as a business location.”

The activities Luckow mentions centre on potential industrial uses of quantum computers in three extensive fields of application: materials science, engineering and processes. In materials science, greater, more efficient computing power could support the discovery of things like robust yet lightweight materials. In engineering it could improve virtual development by enabling faster or more accurate aerodynamics and crash simulations. In terms of processes – in logistics or production, for example – it could support optimisation problems. But the BMW Group also sees a role for AI in all three fields: “Linking quantum computing to AI will open up even more possibilities,” Luckow adds. All in all, quantum computing has the “potential to redefine innovations in every sector,” says Robert Bruckmeier, general manager for Computing & Network Artificial Intelligence at the BMW Group.

The BMW Group is also heavily involved in quantum computing research and works closely with universities and research institutions. In 2021, for example, it endowed a professorship at the Technical University of Munich, and another in early 2024 at the RWTH Aachen. While Munich conducts research into the algorithmic foundations for industry-relevant application, the experts in Aachen are focusing on concrete software solutions and competencies.

The BMW Group is also a member of the Quantum Technology & Application Consortium, QUTAC, which brings together large German companies to advance the use of quantum computing in industry.

To expand its quantum computing expertise even further, the BMW Group has joined forces with Classiq and Nvidia. The aim of their collaboration is to optimise the electrical and mechanical architectures of cars of the future. Here, the new technology will primarily be used to solve complex design problems, such as the optimisation of drivetrains and cooling systems. Other areas requiring the computing power of quantum computers include engine and battery integration and the enhancement of production processes, for instance with robot route planning in BMW Group plants.

Lukas Müller of Team Future Compute at the BMW Group explains: “Our collaboration with Classiq and Nvidia has produced an innovative quantum application and shows what could be possible in the automotive industry of the future.”  

The BMW Group is also collaborating with Airbus. In late 2024, for the second time, the two companies and a team of globally renowned quantum computing experts selected five winning teams in the Quantum Computing Challenge. Working on solutions to mobility problems, the Challenge generated promising advances not just for the automotive industry but for aerospace too. 

As yet, the practical application of quantum computing in industry is still in its infancy. More research is needed to further explore the actual possibilities of the technology as well as its potential for revolutionising existing processes at the BMW Group. The BMW Group continues to strategically investigate and trial quantum computing in order to strengthen its role as a driver of innovation.