German premium carmaker BMW announced Feb. 27 that its group plant in Munich is gearing up to commence the pre-series production of its Neue Klasse electric vehicles from summer of 2026. That will be followed with full-fledged production operations of the new range of EVs in Munich from the beginning of 2027.
To ensure pre-series production at the site, the carmaker is setting up three new production halls for the body shop, assembly and associated production logistics.
“For the production start of the Neue Klasse, we will have a state-of-the-art plant in Munich that is characterized by flexibility, innovation and, above all, efficiency,” said BMW Group Munich Plant Director Peter Weber. “With the Neue Klasse, we will significantly reduce manufacturing costs at the Munich Plant.”
In addition to optimized production processes and targeted automation, the Neue Klasse’s new vehicle architecture is also expected to leverage further efficiencies. Focusing on a single drive train variant reduces production steps and the number of parts — for example, for wiring harnesses, which previously varied according to engine type and can be complex to install.
BMW said that its timeline for the ramp-up in Munich is carefully synchronized, in part due to the plant’s refurbishment.
The first pre-series vehicles are planned to be built at the pilot plant of the BMW Group Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ), with support from Plant Munich’s production team, before the end of 2025.
“Alongside the pilot plant at the FIZ, we are also using virtual simulations to ensure a smooth ramp-up,” added Weber.
Weber further said that the Munich’s facility’s experienced launch team is also working closely with colleagues at the new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, where the first Neue Klasse EV model is scheduled to enter production late this year.
BMW claimed that its group plants are capable of producing different model variants and drive train types on a single assembly line. The company’s strategy to be able to assemble both internal combustion engines and electric drive trains on the same assembly line underlines its strategy of setting up flexible manufacturing processes. “In this way, we can ensure our delivery capabilities in different market situations and maintain good capacity utilisation at our locations. The strategic and flexible structure of our production network strengthens our resilience and makes us more competitive,” said Milan Nedeljković, member of the board of management responsible for Production.
