BMW will begin production of its i3 electric saloon in Munich in August

BMW will begin series production of its new Neue Klasse electric saloon at its main plant in the Bavarian company’s home city of Munich next August. This model is of special importance for the brand, since to make this project a reality the company’s main plant has had to be converted into a centre that from 2027 will be dedicated exclusively to the production of electric vehicles.

It is important to clarify that the new i3 should not be confused with the iconic compact that BMW launched under the same name more than a decade ago. The new i3 is a completely new saloon that forms part of the legendary BMW 3 Series.

Following the start of pre-series production of the new i3 in early February, work at the plant has been intensively focused on optimising all processes. During this phase, assembly times are being adjusted, operations refined and logistics flows tested before full-scale production gets under way.

Everything is already perfectly planned

From August, after series production begins, BMW plans to progressively increase the pace until it reaches a thousand i3 units per day. To achieve this, the Bavarian company will apply the BMW iFactory strategy, already successfully implemented at its Hungarian plant in Debrecen, where the iX3 is produced. This strategy is based on the intensive use of artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and digital technology to optimise production processes.

The arrival of the i3 represents a decisive step in the transformation of the Munich plant, into which BMW has already invested a substantial sum that will ultimately reach 650 million euros. Roughly a third of the complex’s floor area already includes a new body shop and a modern assembly line, together with updated logistics areas. The goal is for the plant to produce only electric vehicles by 2027.

“In recent years we have considerably reduced production costs. With the start of production of the BMW i3 we will achieve an additional 10 per cent reduction in total costs in Munich, bringing them below the level of the current generation of vehicles.”