BERLIN, July 30 (Reuters) - BMW plans to set

up five new assembly sites on three continents to build its

sixth-generation high-voltage batteries, the German carmaker

said on Tuesday.

Assembly plants for the batteries are currently under

construction in Germany, Hungary, the United States, Mexico and

China, said the carmaker, which said a "local for local"

approach would help it ensure production could continue even

when unexpected political or economic events take place.

(Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Rachel More)