BMW Group announced on the 6th that it has completed a large-scale modernization project at its Munich plant in Germany and will begin mass production of the next-generation pure electric sedan, 'The New BMW i3', starting in August.
The New BMW i3 is the second model following the previously announced iX3.
BMW Group plans to invest around 650 million euros in the Munich plant in Germany and aims to fully convert it into a production facility exclusively for electric vehicles by 2027 to enhance production efficiency.
Over the past four years, BMW Group has redeveloped about one-third of the plant site, establishing new body and assembly plants, as well as logistics facilities. Through this, they have completed a new production structure that enhances production efficiency, flexibility, and digitalization simultaneously.
The Munich plant has improved production quality and efficiency by applying digital technology and artificial intelligence throughout the entire process. The automation rate in the body process is approximately 98%, and in the painting process, real-time detection and correction of even minor defects are done through an AI-based surface inspection system.
The logistics system has also been greatly improved. By introducing a structure that directly supplies about 70% of the approximately 2.5 million parts moving through the process per day to the assembly line, internal transport distances have been reduced, and production speed has been increased. Additionally, a sheet production facility in the form of a 'factory within a factory' has been established to maximize production efficiency by supplying parts in a just-in-sequence manner.
BMW is strengthening its 'local production and local supply' strategy by producing and supplying high-voltage batteries and electric motors in Germany and neighboring countries.