After several years of heavy construction, the BMW plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, finally opened today in the presence of high-ranking Mexican representatives from the government and members of the BMW Board of Management. This represents the end result of an investment of over $1 billion in the country and the creation of over 2,500 jobs. Once it reaches peak production capacity, the San Luis Potosi plant will have an output of 175,000 units per year.
BMW has had a presence in Mexico for over 25 years now, but starting today, their best-selling car will be built locally, the G20 3 Series being the main product coming out of San Luis Potosi. The ceremony in San Luis Potosi was attended by guests including Dr. Alfonso Romo Garza, Head of the Office of the Presidency of the Mexican Republic; Dr Juan Manuel Carreras López, governor of the state of San Luis Potosi; Oliver Zipse, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production and many others.
“The new plant in San Luis Potosi is an important pillar of the BMW Group’s global production strategy. We aim to achieve a balance in our production and sales in the different world regions. We want to strengthen our footprint in important and growing markets. Plant San Luis Potosi will significantly boost our regional production flexibility in the Americas. From here, we are delivering our locally produced BMW 3 Series Sedan to customers worldwide,” said Olive Zipse, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production.
This is now one of the most high-tech plants BMW has worldwide, with Industry 4.0 technologies already at play. Smart Maintenance Assistant Software is being used for the first time, enabling proactive maintenance throughout the plant to be planned ahead of time, thereby increasing equipment availability. Service activities are based on current, intelligently organized system data instead of predefined maintenance intervals. Using smart devices such as tablets and smartphones, staff receive all relevant information regarding equipment status.
Various Industry 4.0 technologies are used, for example, in assembly, where screens have largely replaced paper throughout the assembly process. Two screens per tact provide staff with all the information they need – information which, in the past, was only available on paper. This digital job card is being used for the first time at the BMW Group plant in Mexico. Robots and employees work directly alongside one another in engine pre-assembly, cooperating in a way which plays to the strengths of each. Robots have the power to turn the heavy convertor, while the employees have the manual dexterity to make the final adjustments to fit them together precisely.
This is also going to become the most efficient plant in the BMW portfolio. The site, with the production network’s lowest water consumption per vehicle produced, will be the BMW Group’s first paint shop to generate no process wastewater at all. The water needed for the painting process is reconditioned and reused. The use of renewable energy sources ensures that the plant will be supplied with 100% CO2-free electricity in future. A solar energy plant on-site, covering an area of more than 70,000 m2, will produce part of the energy.
Ok. What will happen, if Trump smacks the import tax on mexican goods?
It’s in the news, BMW are a global manufacturer & certainly can export new volume seller 3 Series anywhere. Or, reduced cost of North American manufacture & transport can absorb the cost.
Re-strategize quickly. They still make 3s in Germany so maybe start shipping from there or any other plant that makes 3s and isn’t subject to tariffs. Keep the Mexico plant making cars for the rest of the world.
Maybe it’s just me, but I would never buy a BMW made in Mexico. Part of the experience and prestige of owning an expensive European automobile is where it was assembled. I hope that I’m wrong, but I think this will only help seal the fate of the 3 series – death by cross-overs.
So American made is fine but no south of the border for you? There are several words I can think of for that.
I figured someone would say that. That’s actually not the case at all. I’m not crazy about them being made in America either. I think the difference is, that the X models have mostly always been made in America, whereas the 3 series was always made in Germany. It’s kind of akin to buying Waterford Crystal for the same price as when it was made in Ireland, and finding out it was made in China – that doesn’t make me racist against the Chinese – it just means if I’m paying that much, I want authentic craftsmanship and engineering. I hope that gets my point across a little bit more clearly.
No. BMW manufacture in 14 countries on 4 continents, they turned Canadian Magna from Austrian parts manufacturer to vehicle builder with original X3, Countryman, now Z4, Supra. 3 Series was manufactured in S. Africa for decades. Before Spartanburg BMW lost billion$ in currency fluctuations, were it not for Spartanburg BMW would have not doubled their volume this century, they not only would not be viable, independent & expanding, they could be Chinese, Indian or defunct. You don’t even know where most parts are manufactured, let alone their “authentic craftsmanship and engineering” (oh, & their engineering & design staff are hardly exclusively German anymore, either). The point you make clearly is you function on falsehoods & biases rather than historic fact & reality. Mercedes & Porsche also contract production outside of Germany, Swedish Volvo are Chinese (as is 10% of Daimler), veddy British Jaguar Land Rover are Indian, reverse colonialism, welcome to the 21st century.
I knew most of this already, thanks. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No need to be rude about it.
You wouldn’t be able to identify country of origin by driving their product, so to be biased against it on that basis is what is rude.
Driving is not the only determinant of quality. I’m done arguing with you at this point though. You’ve already decided to disagree with me no matter what I say so, whatever.
Because unlike you I know quality & country of origin are unrelated, like your name is no indicator of quality.
Many F30s were built and exported to the US from South Africa. This isn’t something new for BMW.
Yep, fair point. It’s not something new. They were actually named “3 series south africa” when you plug in the VIN. I never wanted one made in South Africa, either.
3 series should be only made in german or american plants for the US market. Made in Mexico is only good for cheaper products like 1 series, 2 series Active/Grand Tourer and 2 series GT.
The M340i xDrive will be assembled in Germany still. Just don’t get a 330i.
No one with common sense in the US will be willing to pay 20-25% Trump tax for a 330i from Mexico, because for the same money you can get almost a M340i with 6 cylinders from good old Germany. 0-62 mph in 4,1 seconds included.