Munich Historic BMW Plant Undergoes Transformation Into High Tech Autonomous Electric Vehicle Production Site For Neue Klasse Assembly
The original BMW production site in Munich, which dates back to 1922, is currently navigating a significant technological metamorphosis. The BMW Group has committed $750 million toward a comprehensive modernization of the campus, aiming to convert the century-old facility into a lighthouse for automated, electric vehicle manufacturing. The site is scheduled to begin the assembly of the upcoming Neue Klasse electric sedan, the BMW i3, in August 2026.
This industrial overhaul is engineered to phase out internal combustion production entirely, with the facility projected to operate as an electric-only plant by 2027. The centerpiece of this transformation is an advanced body shop outfitted with 800 industrial robots. According to BMW Group data, this configuration pushes the site’s automation capabilities to approximately 98%, marking one of the most significant shifts in the company's manufacturing history.
Operational complexity at the site will be managed through a dense web of artificial intelligence. The production system is designed to ingest 20,000 parameters per machine, creating a high-fidelity feedback loop that allows the factory to monitor quality control and paint finishes autonomously. This digital infrastructure is robust enough to track and coordinate the movement of roughly 2.5 million individual components throughout a single day of operations.
Beyond the assembly line, the logistics of the factory floor are also shifting toward machine autonomy. Robots are slated to assume responsibility for 60% of all internal parts delivery, reducing the reliance on human logistics teams within the plant. Upon the finalization of this upgrade, the Munich facility expects to sustain a daily output of 1,000 vehicles, effectively balancing its legacy status as the company’s oldest factory with the aggressive technological demands of the electric vehicle era.
