BMW Group has started series production of the new BMW i3 at its Munich plant, marking another step in the company’s transition toward fully electric vehicle manufacturing.
BMW begins production of Neue Klasse model
The new BMW i3 is the second model based on the company’s Neue Klasse architecture, a platform designed to improve efficiency and support the next generation of electric vehicles.
BMW said the project has reduced production costs by 10% compared with previous vehicle generations, supported by coordinated planning between development teams, suppliers and the introduction of advanced automation and digital processes.
Although the vehicle has not yet reached dealerships, BMW has already recorded strong demand following the opening of pre-orders.
Munich plant undergoes major transformation
The launch of the BMW i3 follows a four-year transformation program at the Munich production facility, during which the plant maintained output levels of up to 1,000 vehicles per day.
Around one-third of the production area was redesigned, including the creation of a new body shop, an assembly facility and dedicated logistics areas to support electric vehicle production.
Since 1975, the Munich site has produced more than nine million BMW 3 Series vehicles. Under the company’s current industrial strategy, the plant is expected to produce only fully electric vehicles from 2027.
BMW expands electric vehicle supply chain
The production of the new BMW i3 involves several manufacturing locations across the BMW Group network.
The sixth-generation electric motor is assembled at BMW’s Steyr facility in Austria, where new production lines manufacture the rotor, stator, power electronics and transmission through an integrated process.
The aluminium foundry in Landshut, Germany, supplies structural components used for the motor housing, supporting the production of BMW’s latest electric vehicle technology.