BMW Group’s innovation signals the start of construction of the new BMW Group plant in Mexico. Guests attending the official ceremony in San Luis Potosí included Rogelio Garza Garza, Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce at the Mexican Ministry of Economics; Dr. Juan Manuel Carreras López, Governor of the state of San Luis Potosí; Oliver Zipse, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production and Milagros Caiña-Andree, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Human Resources and Labour Relations.
Start of production for BMW 3 Series Sedan planned for 2019
San Luis Potosí will build the BMW brand’s best-selling model series, the BMW 3 Series Sedan and will also balance out production capacity at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn in South Africa, which will build the new BMW X3 instead of the BMW 3 Series in the future.
Start of production is scheduled for 2019, with an annual production capacity of up to 150,000 units. The BMW Group is investing around a billion US dollars in the new plant and creating at least 1,500 new jobs. The decision to locate in San Luis Potosí was based on criteria such as the broad supplier network and qualified local workforce, as well as the technical and social infrastructure.
Mexican plant to set new standards
The BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí will be a full plant, comprising body shop, paint shop and assembly, characterised by an innovative production system and comprehensive sustainability standards. From the first full year of production, the plant will be the BMW Group’s most resource-efficient production location worldwide.
For example, the use of renewable energy sources ensures that the plant is supplied with 100% CO2-free electricity, most of which comes from a solar system on the plant’s grounds. Responsible use of water resources is a particular sustainability goal in San Luis Potosí. The water needed for the painting process is reconditioned and recycled, making it the group’s first paint shop to produce zero process wastewater.
The BMW Group is relying exclusively on digital 3D plans for both building construction and equipment installation at the plant. During every phase of construction, architects enter specific information, such as location, dimensions or completion date into digital models. The combination of these two technologies enables real-time analysis of construction progress and cost-efficient modifications, and provides the BMW Group with constant planning reliability.
BMW Group sets the course for continued growth in the NAFTA region
The BMW Group production network comprises 31 locations in 14 countries on four continents. Mexico is another building block in the BMW Group’s growth strategy as it is a member of the NAFTA free-trade zone with Canada and the US, making it easier to export automobiles and import supplier parts.
This expansion is in response to strong global demand for X models. The new BMW X7 will be produced in Spartanburg in the future. With Spartanburg and San Luis Potosí, the BMW Group will have full production capacities at key locations in North America.