Twenty years ago, on July 18 2001, BMW Group announced a new German plant to be built in Leipzig. When production was finally launched, the plant employed about 2,500 people after a 1 billion euro investment with a daily output of 650 units. Today, twenty years later, daily output stands at more than 1,100 units, made by a plant workforce of over 8,000 employees. Investments have so far totaled more than €3 billion and are still ongoing. Since March 2005 Leipzig has produced more than three million vehicles in total.

Im Beisein von Oberbürgermeister Burghard Jung (Mitte), Werkleiter Hans-Peter Kemser (links) und Betriebsratschef Jens Köhler rollte am Freitag (28.10.2016) der zweimillionste BMW aus dem Werk Leipzig vom Band. Das Jubililäumsfahrzeug ist ein i3 in der Farbe Protonic Blue, produziert für einen Kunden in den USA.

On this occasion, BMW Plant Leipzig announces that in 2023 it will become the first German facility to produce both BMW and MINI vehicles, all on the same production line. The Leipzig facility will manufacture the next-generation MINI Countryman. On the very same production lines, the Leipzig workers will build both the combustion-powered and the fully electric versions of MINI and BMW cars.

“Over the last few years, we have worked constantly to lead our plant into a successful future. The contract to manufacture the MINI Countryman successor is taking us towards a further milestone,” said Hans-Peter Kemser, Plant Director at BMW Group Plant Leipzig. And that’s not the only goal Leipzig has set itself: “As a green plant, we want not only to be carbon-neutral but also to manufacture with zero CO2 emissions,” said Hans-Peter Kemser, announcing plans for the near future of the plant.

Hera are some key events past and future, at BMW Group Plant Leipzig:

  •   2002 Zaha Hadid’s proposal for the design of the central building is chosen. The ground-breaking ceremony his held.
  • 2003 The foundation stone is laid for the central building. The topping-out is celebrated.
  • 2005 Plant Leipzig goes on stream, launching series production of the BMW 3 Series. The central building wins the German Architecture Award.
  • 2009 Plant Leipzig produces its 500,000th vehicle. The new press shop opens, with the first high-speed servo press in the world.
  • 2011 Plant Leipzig manufactures its millionth BMW.
  • 2013 Four wind turbines go into operation. Production of the BMW i3 begins, and Leipzig becomes the first car plant in the world to integrate CFRP into series production.
  • 2014 Production of the BMW i8 begins. The plant is extended to accommodate the manufacture of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (the first front-wheel drive BMW), and the press plant is upgraded.
  • 2016 Plant Leipzig manufactures its 2 millionth BMW.
  • 2017 The Battery Farm goes into operation.
  • 2019 The paintshop is upgraded.
  • 2021 Plant Leipzig produces its 3 millionth BMW. Production of battery modules is launched.
  • 2023 Production of the MINI Countryman successor to begin.