One million times the thrill of M: The one-millionth BMW M recently rolled off the production line at the BMW Group plant in Munich – a BMW M3 in the BMW Individual special paint finish Fire Orange III. This milestone not only represents more than five decades of performance, innovation and driving pleasure from BMW M, but also points to the future of the brand and its headquarters in Munich: Down the line, the BMW Group’s main plant will be the manufacturing site of the all-electric BMW M3 as the first high-performance model in the BMW M New Class. This marks the beginning of the next chapter in the BMW M success story in Munich.
BMW M combines road and racetrack capabilities with everyday practicality. The one-millionth BMW M vehicle shows that these values are still very much appreciated by our customers, 40 years after the market launch of the first BMW M3.
ANNIVERSARY BRIDGES TRADITION AND THE FUTURE.
ANNIVERSARY BRIDGES TRADITION AND THE FUTURE.
The BMW M3 Competition, which rolled off the production line at the BMW Group plant in Munich as the one-millionth BMW M, was handed on the day of its completion by Peter Weber, Head of the BMW Group plant Munich, to Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH, during a festive ceremony.
Reaching the one-million mark also points the way to the future: from 2027, the first all-electric BMW M3 will be manufactured at the main plant in Munich. This decision underlines the sustainability and innovative strength of the Munich production site
FLAGSHIP PLANT TO LEAD IN TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC MOBILITY.
FLAGSHIP PLANT TO LEAD IN TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC MOBILITY.
As the flagship plant of BMW Group, the Munich site fuses its long-standing tradition of building sporty BMW models with the transition to electric mobility. From 2027, the plant will produce only fully electric vehicles, including two models from the New Class: alongside the BMW i3, this will be the BMW M3, the first fully electric high-performance model featuring BMW M New Class technology. In doing so, the home site is underlining its strategic role within the global production network.
The plant was successfully converted while remaining in operation. The focus is on modern production structures, comprehensive digitalisation and close collaboration with the development teams and suppliers. In total, the BMW Group invested around 650 million euros in the production site dedicated exclusively to fully electric vehicles.
We are delighted that we will also be producing the first fully-electric BMW M3 here in Munich. BMW M has a special emotional significance for our associates here – so we are especially proud to be actively shaping the future of this icon.
HIGHWAY TO THE FUTURE.
In an interview, Peter Weber, Head of the BMW Group Plant Munich, explains how one million BMW M vehicles produced to date and the transition to electric mobility will shape the future of the Munich site and the brand.
The one-millionth high-performance vehicle from BMW M has now been completed at the BMW Group Plant Munich. Would such a large number of vehicles delivered have been conceivable back in 1972, the year BMW M was founded?
54 years ago, this figure world have been virtually unimaginable. The fact that the one-millionth BMW M High Performance vehicle has now been manufactured at the Munich plant is a striking testament to the development that BMW M and our production site have undergone together. Above all, this anniversary celebrates the people behind the vehicles: the expertise, commitment and passion of our employees. They have made this milestone possible and are the reason why BMW M has been setting global standards for decades.
The anniversary model is a BMW M3: what significance does this model hold for the brand today, and what significance will it hold in the future?
The BMW M3 holds a very special significance for the Munich plant, as its history and production are closely linked to our site. The first BMW M3 was built at the Munich plant more than 40 years ago. The team’s pride in and emotional attachment to this iconic model are correspondingly great. The fact that the first fully electric generation of the BMW M3 will also be produced here in future continues this special history and demonstrates just how important the M3 is both for the future of BMW M and for the Munich plant.
What does this outstanding production milestone mean for the BMW Munich plant?
The one-millionth BMW M High Performance vehicle is a powerful testament to the capabilities of our plant. It combines the Munich plant’s long tradition of producing iconic BMW M models with its future. I am particularly proud that we are reaching this milestone during the greatest transformation in the site’s history. At the same time, it demonstrates the role our plant plays within the BMW Group’s global production network.
In future, the Munich plant is set to focus in particular on building fully electric BMW M High Performance models from BMW M. How will this change production processes and the plant in general?
Electrification is changing not only the vehicles, but also production. That is why the Munich plant is currently undergoing the biggest transformation in its history. With new production buildings, modern manufacturing structures and comprehensive digitalisation, we are laying the foundations for the next generation of BMW vehicles and, with them, for future all-electric BMW M models. The refurbishment of our plant enables us to meet these requirements optimally while further increasing efficiency.
BMW is Munich, and Munich is BMW: how important is the plant to the Bavarian capital?
BMW and Munich have been closely linked for more than 100 years. The plant is not only a major employer and economic driver for the region, but also an integral part of the city’s industrial identity. Many generations of Munich residents have worked here or still do today. The Munich flagship plant demonstrates how production is possible in an urban environment.
What does the future hold for the BMW Munich plant?
Our future is fully electric. From 2027, we will manufacture exclusively all-electric vehicles in Munich. The New Class models mark the start of a new chapter for the plant. In doing so, we are combining the advantages of a flagship plant steeped in tradition with state-of-the-art production structures and digital technologies. The decision to also manufacture the fully-electric BMW M3 in Munich in the future is a strong commitment to the site and its long-term prospects.
A new powertrain is one thing, a new way of manufacturing is another: what other innovations can we expect to see at the BMW Munich plant over the next few years?
The transformation goes far beyond the powertrain. New production buildings have been put up across around a third of the plant’s site, including a new body shop, state-of-the-art assembly areas and new logistics facilities. At the same time, we are consistently driving forward digitalisation. Intelligent data networking, digital control centres and automated logistics processes are helping us to further enhance quality, efficiency and flexibility.
