Dingolfing. Exactly 50 years ago, cars built by BMW began rolling off the assembly line at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing. Since September 27, 1973, the plant has produced over twelve million vehicles. Plant Director Christoph Schröder expressed his optimism for the future of the plant and its importance to the BMW Group and the region.
The impressive figures presented by Plant Director Christoph Schröder and Stefan Schmid, Chairman of the Dingolfing Works Council, highlight the success of the plant. Over the past 50 years, a BMW vehicle has been produced every 60 seconds, resulting in a total of 12 million vehicles. The majority of these vehicles come from Dingolfing’s core model series, the BMW 5 Series. The range of models produced at the plant has expanded over the years and now includes vehicles from the BMW 4 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, 8 Series, as well as the BMW iX and BMW M GmbH models.
In addition to large-scale production, Dingolfing’s craftsmanship is also noteworthy. The plant has produced special models, including the 99 BMW 8 Series models designed by artist Jeff Koons in 2022, the 50 exclusive BMW 3.0 CSL models, and the BMW i7 Protection, the world’s first fully-electric security vehicle. The plant also meets the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship for all Rolls-Royce models.
Plant Dingolfing has played a significant role in the economic development of the eastern Bavaria region. Over the past ten years, the plant has hired 12,000 people, including permanent jobs for apprentices and temporary staff. The Works Council Chairman, Stefan Schmid, announced an increase in the number of new apprentices starting their training at the Dingolfing location in the coming year. The plant’s adaptability and forward-thinking approach have been crucial to its success.
Plant Dingolfing has celebrated the premiere of three fully-electric models in the past two years: the BMW iX, i7, and i5. With the start of production for the BMW i5 Touring in the coming year, it is expected that fully-electric vehicles will account for about 40 percent of Dingolfing’s total production in 2024. Plant Director Christoph Schröder emphasized the importance of digitalization and highlighted the plant’s leadership in technology and IT functions.
In addition to vehicle production, Dingolfing is also involved in the production of vehicle components, including pressed parts, chassis, and drive systems. The plant is home to the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production, supplying electric motors and high-voltage batteries to BMW Group’s vehicle plants worldwide. The Dingolfing location also houses the Dynamics Centre, providing original parts and accessories to the global BMW and MINI retail organization.
The BMW Group has invested significant amounts in the Dingolfing site each year, with additional investments planned for future products and technologies. The assembly plant for high-voltage batteries in Irlbach-Straßkirchen will further support the transition towards electromobility and secure thousands of jobs.