In February, I had the uncommon alternative to witness firsthand one of the crucial bold transformations in BMW’s historical past. Hidden behind the model’s iconic headquarters and museum, the Munich plant is present process an enormous modernization effort that may fully reshape how BMW builds vehicles within the coronary heart of its hometown. This manufacturing unit—one in all BMW’s longest-running manufacturing websites—has been in operation since 1922, and by 2027, it’s going to produce solely totally electrical automobiles, making it one of many firm’s first vegetation devoted completely to Neue Klasse manufacturing.
In contrast to BMW’s brand-new manufacturing unit in Debrecen, Hungary, which was designed from the bottom up for the Neue Klasse EV platform, the Munich facility should be rebuilt from inside, whereas sustaining full-scale manufacturing. The problem is gigantic: BMW is tearing down and rebuilding one-third of your complete plant with out stopping manufacturing. Every single day, 1,000 vehicles roll off the road whereas cranes, vans, and employees function round them. The manufacturing unit just isn’t increasing outward as a result of house limitations—it’s rising vertically, with three-story manufacturing buildings changing older constructions.
“We aren’t reworking this plant simply because we’re transitioning to electrical automobiles. The plant can already produce electrical vehicles, just like the i4, which makes up 40% of its present manufacturing. The reconfiguration is occurring as a result of the plant is 100 years outdated. Sometimes, it’s a must to rethink manufacturing and develop a brand new construction,” defined Dr. Mohan Noronha, Venture Lead for the Structural Transformation of BMW Manufacturing facility Munich.
Constructing a New Manufacturing facility Whereas Maintaining the Outdated One Working
The transformation of the Munich plant isn’t just about introducing new expertise—it’s about doing so whereas protecting the manufacturing unit operational. In contrast to many automotive vegetation that shut down for in depth retooling, BMW has no such luxurious right here. Town’s dense city atmosphere makes large-scale enlargement inconceivable, so the automaker is demolishing and rebuilding sections of the manufacturing unit in phases whereas manufacturing continues.
This course of requires cautious planning and exact logistics. BMW has initiated 13 main relocation initiatives to clear house for the brand new constructions. Whole departments, together with engine manufacturing, wastewater remedy, and axle pre-assembly, have been moved to different areas to make method for the brand new meeting strains. The engine manufacturing division has been relocated to Austria and the UK, marking the tip of combustion engine manufacturing in Munich.
With these huge shifts, 600,000 tons of fabric should be dismantled, examined, and both disposed of or repurposed. Laws require BMW to research and course of this materials earlier than transferring it off-site, which means massive parts of the manufacturing unit grounds should be used for momentary storage. In the meantime, 400 vans transfer out and in of the plant each single day, delivering elements for manufacturing and hauling away dismantled constructions.
New, Extra Power Environment friendly Buildings
When accomplished, the transformation will introduce 70,000 sq. meters of recent manufacturing flooring house, making the plant extra environment friendly and higher fitted to EV manufacturing. Three new manufacturing buildings are being constructed for meeting and physique store operations, every with three full tales to optimize flooring house. These new constructions might be 40% extra vitality environment friendly than those they exchange, aligning with BMW’s broader sustainability objectives.
“We needed to rethink every thing. There’s no room to develop outward, so we’re constructing vertically. The brand new Last Meeting Corridor has three flooring, every 9 meters excessive—the footprint alone is the dimensions of six soccer fields. And while you step inside, you understand simply how briskly issues are altering. If you happen to go away for 2 weeks and are available again, new partitions have already gone up,” Dr. Noronha instructed us throughout our go to.
Expertise, AI, and Workforce Transformation
Past its structural modifications, the Munich plant can be adopting new expertise to streamline manufacturing. The brand new physique store will combine 900+ robots, considerably lowering the necessity for guide labor in welding and meeting processes. AI-powered high quality management techniques will examine automobiles in real-time, minimizing defects and bettering effectivity. Moreover, automated logistics techniques will exchange conventional forklifts, lowering human labor in elements transportation.
Regardless of this shift towards automation, BMW just isn’t lowering its workforce. The plant presently employs 6,500 individuals from over 60 nationalities, and as an alternative of layoffs, BMW is retraining and repositioning staff for brand new roles in EV manufacturing. A brand new Expertise Campus is being constructed to offer steady coaching, making certain that staff stay on the forefront of contemporary automotive manufacturing.
“We aren’t lowering jobs; we’re coaching our individuals for the longer term,” mentioned Dr. Noronha.
Sustainability and the Way forward for City Manufacturing
The transformation can be pushed by sustainability and group integration. Given the manufacturing unit’s location within the coronary heart of Munich, BMW has dedicated to lowering emissions, noise, and site visitors congestion whereas bettering the plant’s visible and environmental footprint. The brand new design incorporates inexperienced areas, and BMW is exploring methods to make elements of the manufacturing unit extra accessible to the general public.
Moreover, logistics are being optimized to reduce pointless transportation, with elements being delivered on to manufacturing strains as an alternative of passing by way of a number of areas. These efforts will cut back site visitors across the plant and decrease emissions, making the power extra appropriate with the encircling city atmosphere.
An Spectacular Achievement in Only a Yr
Strolling by way of the plant, it was clear—this isn’t only a easy manufacturing unit improve. It is a historic transformation. For over a century, BMW’s Munich plant has been the beating coronary heart of the model’s manufacturing. Now, it’s evolving right into a state-of-the-art EV manufacturing hub, setting the stage for the Neue Klasse fashions that may outline BMW’s future.
Probably the most exceptional half? BMW is doing all of this with out stopping.
