BMW Group Plant Munich is making ready to introduce the NEUE KLASSE in the summertime of 2026. As a part of this initiative, three new manufacturing halls are being constructed for the physique store, meeting, and related manufacturing logistics whereas sequence operations proceed.
Plant Director Peter Weber said, “For the manufacturing begin of the NEUE KLASSE, we can have a state-of-the-art plant in Munich characterised by flexibility, innovation, and, above all, effectivity.” Starting in 2027, the Munich facility will focus solely on the manufacturing of totally electrical automobiles, additional boosting effectivity. This objective depends on efficient planning, sturdy collaboration with growth groups and suppliers, and the incorporation of recent manufacturing applied sciences into the brand new layouts.
Weber talked about that the introduction of the NEUE KLASSE will considerably decrease manufacturing prices on the Munich plant. This will likely be achieved by way of improved manufacturing processes, focused automation, and a brand new car structure designed to boost effectivity. By concentrating on a single drive practice variant, the variety of manufacturing steps and parts—akin to wiring harnesses, which beforehand assorted by engine sort and had been complicated to put in—will likely be decreased.
The timeline for ramping up manufacturing in Munich is meticulously coordinated, partly because of the ongoing plant refurbishment. The primary pre-series automobiles will likely be produced on the pilot plant of the BMW Group Analysis and Innovation Centre (FIZ), with help from the Munich manufacturing crew, earlier than the yr concludes.
Weber defined that alongside the pilot plant at FIZ, they’re additionally utilizing digital simulations to make sure a seamless ramp-up as they put together for the launch. He famous that the skilled launch crew in Munich is collaborating carefully with colleagues on the new facility in Debrecen, Hungary, the place the primary NEUE KLASSE mannequin is scheduled to start manufacturing later this yr.
When it comes to the worldwide manufacturing community, BMW Group crops are designed to fabricate numerous mannequin variants and drive practice varieties alongside a single manufacturing line. With the ramp-up of electromobility anticipated to happen at completely different charges, the corporate has launched “flex-plants” able to producing each inner combustion engine automobiles and electrical drive practice fashions. Milan Nedeljković, a Board of Administration member answerable for Manufacturing, defined, “This method permits us to safe our supply capabilities in numerous market circumstances and keep excessive capability utilisation at our websites.”
The BMW Group predicts important progress available in the market share of totally electrical automobiles by the top of the last decade. Because of this, each Debrecen and the Munich crops will likely be devoted solely to producing totally electrical automobiles, thus enhancing electrification capacities throughout the manufacturing community.
German crops paved the way in e-mobility inside BMW Group’s manufacturing community. Every facility builds not less than one totally electrical mannequin for the worldwide market alongside conventional drive applied sciences. Regardless of ongoing market volatility, the BMW Group has continued to develop its home manufacturing capabilities, manufacturing over one million automobiles final yr, which represented 1 / 4 of Germany’s complete automotive output.
The manufacturing technique additionally depends on balanced international worth creation. Nedeljković added, “The strategic and versatile construction of our manufacturing community enhances our resilience and boosts our competitiveness.”
Because the shift in direction of electrified automobiles progresses, worker roles and ability necessities are evolving. The phased ramp-up of e-mobility at BMW Group crops permits staff to step by step adapt to new job features. Weber emphasised that, “Regardless of technical and structural improvements, our focus is all the time on folks. We take pleasure in our staff’ experience and expertise and their dedication to steady enchancment. It’s because of their dedication that we will constantly ship premium-quality automobiles.”
To make sure the event and retention of further experience, the corporate is investing in intensive coaching and workforce flexibility. Final yr, almost 25,000 staff underwent e-mobility coaching, and Plant Munich is at present conducting its third industrial electrician qualification course in collaboration with the Chamber of Trade and Commerce (IHK).
Over the previous few years, roughly 5,500 jobs have been created all through the BMW Group manufacturing community for the present and future era of e-drives, with greater than three-quarters of those roles stuffed by way of inner reorganisation.
Mar 4, 2025
Blagojce Krivevski
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