Work begins on BMW Plant Leipzig Capacity Expansion

The BMW Group is to invest more than €300 million in its Leipzig plant. Comprehensive construction work to extend and update the body and paint shops, assembly and logistics is already under way, laying the foundation for continued growth and the production of future models in Leipzig. The main focus of activities at the plant is to increase annual production capacity by approx. 100,000 units, from the current 250,000 to about 350,000 p.a. in 2020. Production of BMW i models will rise much earlier, in autumn of this year, from 130 to 200 units a day to meet the welcome growth in demand.

“We have every faith in the skills and productivity of employees at our Leipzig plant,” said Oliver Zipse, BMW AG Board Member for Production. “So it’s only logical that, with the measures we are introducing now, we should make the plant even more flexible and, above all, more efficient to keep it competitive in the future.”

This important step for the company as well as the Leipzig/Halle region and the free state of Saxony was today honoured in the presence of the Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Andreas Scheuer; the Minister President of the Free State of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer; the First Mayor of the City of Leipzig, Torsten Bonew; the Board Member for Production, Oliver Zipse; Plant Director, Hans-Peter Kemser, and Works Council Chairman, Jens Köhler.

Andreas Scheuer, German Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure: “Germany is the land of mobility. The automotive industry is our leading sector – and that’s not about to change. It has created jobs for hundreds of thousands of people and will continue to do so in the future. We now have the chance to bring new German drive technologies onto the market, and must make electric mobility real for people and convince them with performance.”

Minister President Michael Kretschmer: “This plant extension is a clear sign which will strengthen Saxony even further as an industry base and secure good jobs for the Leipzig region. I am delighted that BMW remains faithful to Leipzig and continues to make major investments here.”

“What’s most important to me, as Plant Director, is our company’s clear show of trust in our employees and our region,” said Hans-Peter Kemser. BMW Group Plant Leipzig first launched series production in March 2005, with 2,000 employees. Another 3,300 jobs have since been created, taking the total headcount to over 5,300 today. Since series production was first launched, in March 2005, more than 2.3 million vehicles have rolled off the production lines in Leipzig, and investments have totalled approx. €3 billion.

Works Council Chairman Jens Köhler emphasised: “Today is an extremely important day for our employees. These investments will secure our jobs here in Leipzig and ensure our plant is future-proof.”