BMW Group Plant Munich is making significant strides toward the launch of its fully-electric NEUE KLASSE model in the summer of 2026. As part of the preparations, three new production halls are being constructed for the body shop, assembly, and associated production logistics, ensuring the facility will be at the forefront of innovation, efficiency, and flexibility.
Peter Weber, Plant Director at BMW Group Munich, emphasized the importance of these developments: “For the production start of the NEUE KLASSE, we will have a state-of-the-art plant in Munich that is characterised by flexibility, innovation and, above all, efficiency.” With production ramping up in 2027, the Munich plant will exclusively produce fully-electric vehicles, marking a major milestone in BMW’s strategy for electrification.
One key focus of this transition is improving manufacturing efficiency. “With the NEUE KLASSE, we will significantly reduce manufacturing costs at the Munich Plant,” says Weber. The introduction of the new vehicle architecture, with a single drive-train variant, will simplify production by reducing the number of parts needed, such as wiring harnesses, and eliminating variations between engine types. Automation and optimized production processes are also expected to drive further efficiencies at the facility.
In an unusual move for a vehicle launch, pre-series production of the NEUE KLASSE will take place at BMW’s pilot plant at the BMW Group Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ), with support from the Munich production team. The pilot plant will play a key role in ensuring a smooth ramp-up before production begins at Munich. The team at Plant Munich is also working closely with the new BMW plant in Debrecen, Hungary, where the first NEUE KLASSE model will be produced later this year.
As part of BMW’s international production strategy, the company is increasingly relying on “flex-plants,” which can accommodate both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicles on the same production lines. Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management responsible for Production, explained, “The ramp-up of electromobility is not linear, and our flex-plants help us ensure that we can maintain good capacity utilization at our locations and meet market demands.”
By the end of the decade, BMW Group expects a significant rise in fully-electric vehicle market share. With Debrecen and Munich serving as the primary hubs for electric vehicle production, the company will strengthen its electrification capabilities across its production network.
The shift to electric vehicle production is also transforming the workforce at BMW. As part of this transition, employees are undergoing extensive training to develop new skills for working with electric drive technologies. “Despite technical and structural innovations, our focus is always on people,” Weber emphasized. “We are proud of our employees’ expertise and experience, and their dedication to continuous improvement.”
In line with the growth of electrification, BMW Group has created around 5,500 new jobs across its global production network to support the upcoming generation of e-drives, with the majority of these positions filled through internal reorganization. Additionally, nearly 25,000 employees have completed e-mobility training, demonstrating the company’s commitment to equipping its workforce with the skills needed to succeed in the electric vehicle era.
With these investments in people, production capabilities, and technology, BMW is positioning itself for a future dominated by fully-electric mobility, with the NEUE KLASSE set to lead the way starting in 2026.
