Neste supplies renewable diesel to BMW for initial fueling of newly built vehicles in Germany

Photo: BMW Group

Neste and BMW announced Dec. 12 a collaboration for the supply of 100 percent renewable diesel, also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO100).

BMW will purchase Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ and use the fuel for the initial fill of diesel vehicles leaving BMW’s manufacturing plants in Germany.

Per the agreement, Neste’s renewable diesel will be used in the BMW plants in Munich, Dingolfing, Leipzig and Regensburg.

The transition of the initial filling to HVO100 will thereby affect more than half of the global production volume of BMW’s diesel vehicles.

First deliveries of the fuel to individual plants have already begun. 

BMW recently expanded its approval of the use of renewable diesel to cover an even larger portion of BMW models.

While renewable diesel is in general compatible with all diesel engines, the official approval from BMW provides further assurance for drivers, for example when it comes to liability questions. “We are grateful for BMW’s trust in us, and we are looking forward to this cooperation,” said Joerg Huebeler, Neste’s head of market development for transport and industry in Europe and Asia-Pacific. “Renewable diesel plays an important role in the transformation towards sustainable mobility globally. The first filling of BMW cars in Germany with Neste’s renewable diesel allows customers to experience firsthand that significant greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission reductions with renewable diesel are possible without any impact on the vehicle performance. We also wish to express our gratitude to our partner Biofuel Express, who supports us in delivering the fuel to BMW.”

This is not the first time BMW and Neste have cooperated on renewable diesel.

In 2023, in addition to the use of electric trucks, a one-year test of renewable diesel took place in logistics operations around the BMW plant in Munich—with Neste being the supplier of the fuel.

With the steps now being taken, BMW is taking advantage of the change in the German law this past spring, which permits the free sale of renewable diesel in Germany. 

Neste’s renewable diesel is made from 100 percent renewable raw materials, primarily waste and residue oils and fats.

Leveraging these raw materials, the use of the fuel can reduce GHG emissions by up to 90 percent over the lifecycle of the fuel compared to fossil diesel.