Bayerische Motoren Werke AG will harness winds whipping across eastern Germany to secure power -- and defend profits -- as costs rise due to Germany's 550 billion-euro ($740 billion) shift away from nuclear energy.

Four wind turbine towers will soon supply almost a quarter of the power used at BMW's Leipzig plant, where the carmaker builds the X1 sport-utility vehicle and soon the i3, its first electric car.

Daimler AG is firing up a power plant at a truck factory and Volkswagen AG is mulling at least five new generators. The reason: The German auto industry is seeking to sidestep the effects... [continue via Web link]