BMW will run its Factories at 110% Capacity this Year

Automotive News Europe quotes BMW production chief Frank-Peter Arndt in saying that the BMW plants will run at 110% capacity for 2011. This is because of the high demand for BMW vehicles worldwide. Full capacity is defined by industry standard Harbour Report as two shifts that work five day a week. This will also be done to meet the demand for the new X3 and 5 Series. Last month, BMW reported sales of 128,446 units, a 9.3 percent increase over the same month last year.

Arndt says that having the “right capacity at the right time in the right place” has more importance than the percentage capacity use. He believes that BMW could handle absorb fluctuations of between 20% and 30%. According to the production boss, BMW is still on course to deliver 1.6 million vehicles this year. In early 2012, production will ramp up with the introduction of the new 3 Series and more 1 Series vehicles.

BMW will be increasing the capacity of its current plants in China, India, South Africa and the U.S. Building a plant in Brazil is still in consideration.

Source: 4heewlsnews