Munich. BMW Group Plant Munich is ready for the
production of the next vehicle generation. The manufacturing equipment
has been installed in the new body shop and assembly line, and
functional checks have been successfully completed. During this
so-called “Common Function Test,” every system undergoes dry
runs, in which production planners and plant technicians put the
machinery through its paces. All production steps are executed without
any parts in the system. Cycle by cycle, an invisible vehicle takes
shape. Although no actual car is produced, this process provides the
certainty that everything operates seamlessly and as planned.
Peter Weber, head of BMW Group Plant Munich, is delighted: “Just in
time for the holidays, we have reached an important milestone: All
manufacturing technologies and equipment are ready to go, and we are
already training our associates for production of the BMW i3. We are
taking major strides towards production of first pre-series vehicles,
which will then come completely from our plant.”
However, plant employees will have to remain patient a little longer
until then. BMW i3 assembly, which has so far been carried out at the
nearby Research and Innovation Centre, will be relocating to Plant
Munich in January. With this move, all technologies at Plant Munich
are then in place to continue rigorous testing of the complete
production system. Series production of the new BMW i3 will then ramp
up in summer 2026.
Typical iFACTORY: digitally planned and tested
Plant Munich is consistently aligned with the guiding principles of
the BMW iFACTORY. Both the new body shop and new assembly line were
digitally planned and built from the outset. Existing installations in
the press shop and paint shop are also integrated into the BMW Group’s
Virtual Factory. This made it possible to conduct functional testing
of all technologies for the new vehicle generation virtually and well
in advance.
Extensive remodelling completed in just 18 months
In just 18 months, about a third of the plant grounds has undergone
extensive remodelling. Old halls were dismantled, and a new assembly,
logistics centre and body shop were built – all while still
manufacturing up to 1,000 BMW 3 Series and 4 Series vehicles per day.
Series production of the new BMW i3 is scheduled to begin in the
second half of 2026.