(AGENPARL) - Roma, 11 Dicembre 2025 - (AGENPARL) – Thu 11 December 2025 Corporate Communications
Media Information
11 December 2025
50 years of BMW 3 Series production – an international success
story
+++ Over 18 million BMW 3 Series built worldwide +++ Manufactured at 18
plants in 13 countries since 1975 +++ A driving force for the production network
and a trailblazer for the BMW iFACTORY +++
Munich. Built on four continents, the BMW 3 Series has been one of the most
important products in the BMW Group’s international production network for 50
years. Since manufacturing began in 1975, the BMW 3 Series has rolled off the
assembly line more than 18 million times at 18 plants across 13 countries. Core
themes of the BMW iFACTORY – such as efficiency, flexibility, digitalisation and
resource-efficient production – thread consistently throughout the production
history of the BMW 3 Series.
BMW Group Plant Munich: Origins and role as a technology pioneer
The main plant in Munich has been the centre of BMW 3 Series production since
1975. From an early stage, the BMW Group committed to flexible manufacturing at
the site, enabled by modern technologies, such as overhead conveyor systems and
freely programmable welding machines. A fully-automated body shop was
introduced in Munich in 1982 for the second generation of the BMW 3 Series.
Through the use of industrial robots, it was possible to achieve an automation rate
of more than 90 percent for this technology. Supplemented by flexible shift
systems and modified work-time models, capacity increased significantly.
Continuous modernisation, from powder coating technologies to computercontrolled engine production, ensured that the facility always remained state-ofthe-art. Today, the plant deploys numerous digitalisation applications and AIsupported quality systems. In this way, the BMW 3 Series has consistently been a
major driving force for the technological development of BMW Group production.
Company
Bayerische
Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Postal address
BMW AG
80788 München
Telephone
Internet
www.bmwgroup.com
Corporate Communications
Subject
Media Information
11 December 2025
50 years of BMW 3 Series production – an international success story
BMW 3 Series as a driver of growth and internationalisation
Volume growth at the plants was also influenced by the BMW 3 Series. In 1980, 3
Series production expanded from the main plant in Munich to Plant Dingolfing, and
later to Plant Regensburg in 1986. The BMW 3 Series also provided the
momentum for the internationalisation of BMW production. In the 1980s,
additional production lines were established at other sites, including Rosslyn,
South Africa (from 1984) and Spartanburg in the United States (from 1994). These
locations enabled local supply for their respective markets and laid the foundations
for the company’s global distribution of value creation – today, a key feature of the
BMW Group production network.
The BMW 3 Series – an enabler for new plants
Since the opening of the Regensburg plant, the BMW 3 Series has served as the
enabler for all new BMW plants – with the exception of the facility in Debrecen. The
plants in Spartanburg, Leipzig and San Luis Potosí, as well as the BBA joint
venture in China, all initially ramped up with the BMW 3 Series. Over the decades,
various 3 Series derivatives – ranging from sedans and convertibles to Touring and
M versions – have been produced at nearly all BMW Group plants with maximum
flexibility. Multiple derivatives and different drive technologies – vehicles with
internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and fully-electric drive trains – all
come off the same assembly line.
Today, the seventh generation of the BMW 3 Series is produced in Munich,
Shenyang (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico) and at the company’s own regional
plants in Chennai (India), Rayong (Thailand) and Araquari (Brazil), as well as at
partner plants in further countries.
Preparations for the eighth generation of the successful model series are
proceeding in parallel: A fully-electric version of the BMW 3 Series will ramp up at
Plant Munich from the second half of 2026 as the next vehicle of the NEUE
Corporate Communications
Subject
Media Information
11 December 2025
50 years of BMW 3 Series production – an international success story
KLASSE, with subsequent production in China and Mexico. A return of the BMW 3
Series to Plant Dingolfing is also planned.
Seven generations of the BMW 3 Series across the production network (full
plants)
1st generation 3 Series
Sedan
2nd generation 3 Series
Sedan, Convertible, Touring, M3 (Coupé and
Convertible)
3rd generation 3 Series
Sedan, Coupé, Convertible, Touring,
Compact, M3 (Sedan, Coupé, Convertible)
4th generation 3 Series
Sedan, Coupé, Convertible, Touring,
Compact, M3 (Coupé, Convertible)
5th generation 3 Series
Sedan, Coupé, Convertible, Touring, M3
(Sedan, Coupé, Convertible)
6th generation 3 Series
Sedan, Touring, Gran Turismo, M3 (Sedan)
The Sedan, Touring and Gran Turismo continued
to be marketed as the BMW 3 Series, while the
Convertible, Coupé and new Gran Coupé formed a
separate family for the first time: the BMW 4
Series range.
7th generation 3 Series
Sedan, Touring, M3 (Sedan, Touring), i3
(fully-electric, China only)
Plants
Munich, Dingolfing
Munich, Dingolfing,
Regensburg
Munich, Dingolfing,
Regensburg, Spartanburg
(USA), Rosslyn (South
Africa)
Munich, Dingolfing,
Regensburg, Rosslyn
(South Africa)
Munich, Regensburg,
Rosslyn (South Africa),
Dadong (China), Leipzig
Munich, Dingolfing,
Regensburg, Rosslyn
(South Africa), Tiexi (China)
Munich, Regensburg,
Rosslyn (South Africa),
Tiexi (China), San Luis
Potosí (Mexico)
since
Corporate Communications
Subject
Media Information
11 December 2025
50 years of BMW 3 Series production – an international success story
If you have any questions, please contact:
Corporate Communications
Sandra Schillmöller, Head of Communications Production Network BMW Group
Cell phone: +49-151-601-12225
Martina Hatzel, Communications Production Network BMW Group
Cell phone: +49-151-601-11966
Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com/deutschland
The BMW Group
With its four brands, BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading
premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial services.
The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a
global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2024, the BMW Group sold 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles
worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to
€ 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action.
Sustainability is a key component of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy – from the supply chain
through production to the end of the use phase of all products.
www.bmwgroup.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bmwgroup
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwgroup
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