Automotive industry: BMW starts mass production of the electric i3 in Munich
The electric version of the 3 Series will be the first model of the "New Class" to be built in Germany. What this means for the main plant and the future of production.
Munich - The serial production of the fully electric BMW i3 has commenced at the company's Munich headquarters. This marks the first time a model from the "New Class" is being manufactured in Germany, according to the company. The Munich plant had been undergoing a conversion for several years to accommodate the production of 3er and 4er models.
Production chief Raymond Wittmann spoke of a new era for the plant, stating, "Together with the fully electric BMW i3, we bring together what belongs together: hardly any model represents our brand so well as the 3 Series, and hardly any production location represents our brand so well as the Munich plant."
The start of the i3 project is expected to reduce manufacturing costs in Munich by 10 percent, according to works director Peter Weber. By 2027, the company's headquarters plans to produce only fully electric vehicles, expecting further models of the "New Class" to follow. A new body shop, vehicle assembly, logistics areas, and a delivery hall were built on about one-third of the site to support this transition. The production ramp-up is expected to be rapid.
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