BMW will begin production of the new iX3 at the Hungarian plant in Debrecen in October

BMW will begin series production of its first model of the Neue Klasse, the new iX3, at late October at its modern plant located in the Hungarian town of Debrecen. This facility was digitally designed, using a “virtual factory” model that allowed the assembly lines to be installed with great precision, reducing set-up times and optimising complex processes.

This modern plant also stands out for having autonomous logistics systems, such as electric trains and intelligent transport robots, which guarantee a fully electric material flow throughout the production halls.

The Debrecen paint shop, fully electrified, is key to the sustainability strategy of the Bavarian company. Unlike traditional systems that rely on gas ovens, here all thermal energy is generated electrically, achieving a reduction of up to 12,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Talking about Debrecen means talking about sustainability

A quarter of the plant’s energy demand is covered by a 50-hectare photovoltaic field, which produces approximately 45 GWh per year. Any temporary surplus, when it exists, is stored in a 1,800 cubic metre thermal tank with a capacity of 130 MWh, and heat recovery from compressed air systems and ovens improves the plant’s efficiency, reducing energy consumption by 10 per cent. Thanks to these measures, the iX3 offsets the carbon footprint generated during its production after just 20,000 kilometres driven, making it far more sustainable than any combustion-engine vehicle.

In the press shop, servo-driven lines produce up to 10,000 parts a day from steel and aluminium coils weighing up to 30 tonnes. Surplus material, up to 60 tonnes a day, is recycled in a closed loop. High-resolution cameras and artificial intelligence systems ensure real-time quality control, detecting imperfections instantly.

The body shop, with almost a thousand robots optimised through simulation, simplifies the joining techniques for components to gain efficiency. The design of the iX3 incorporates invisible door seals and a larger battery housing, improving space and performance. On the assembly line, a “finger structure” layout minimises internal transfers, and 80 per cent of the parts arrive directly at the point where they are needed, transported by electric trains and autonomous robots.

The Debrecen plant will, moreover, be the first to produce sixth-generation batteries for BMW, with eDrive technology developed in the Austrian town of Steyr. These batteries use round cells that increase energy density by more than 20 per cent and reduce the weight of the complete pack by 10 per cent, allowing the iX3 to offer an impressive WLTP range of up to 805 km, with ultra-fast charging that makes it possible to travel an additional 372 km after just ten minutes.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverBMW iX32 versions · from 62,900 €