GENERAL NEWS
BMW Group gears up for NEUE KLASSE
BMW Group Plant Munich in Germany is gearing up to launch its NEUE KLASSE model in summer 2026. During ongoing series operation, three new production halls are currently being built for the body shop, assembly and associated production logistics. Starting in 2027, the plant in Munich will exclusively produce fully electric vehicles( further enhancing efficiency boosts).
“ For the production start of the NEUE KLASSE, we will have a modern plant in Munich that is characterised by flexibility, innovation and, above all, efficiency,” said plant director, Peter Weber.
“ With the NEUE KLASSE, we will significantly reduce manufacturing costs at the Munich Plant,” explained Weber. In addition to optimised production processes and targeted automation, the NEUE KLASSE’ s new vehicle architecture will also leverage further efficiencies. Focusing on a single drive train variant reduces production steps and the number of parts.
Production strategy
The timeline for the ramp-up in Munich is carefully synchronised, in part due to the plant’ s refurbishment. The first pre-series vehicles will 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 the year.“ Alongside the pilot plant at the FIZ, we are also using virtual simulations to ensure
Dr. Peter Weber, Director of BMW Group Plant Munich and Dr. Milan Nedeljkovic, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production.
a smooth ramp-up,” outlined Weber. He confirmed that Plant Munich’ s experienced launch team is also working closely with colleagues at the new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, where the first NEUE KLASSE model will enter production late this year.
BMW Group plants can produce different model variants and drive train types on a single line. Since the ramp-up of electromobility is not linear and will progress at varying speeds, the company has relied on“ flex-plants” which can manufacture vehicles with both internal combustion engines and electric drive trains.
“ In this way, we can ensure our delivery capabilities in different market situations and maintain good capacity utilisation at our sites,” explained Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Production.
By the end of the decade, the BMW Group expects a significant increase in the market share of fully electric vehicles. For this reason,
the plants in Debrecen and, later, Munich will be the first facilities dedicated exclusively to fully electric vehicles, enhancing electrification capacities throughout the network.
The German plants lead the way on e-mobility in the BMW Group’ s production network. Alongside traditional drive technologies, each of them builds at least one fully electric model for the global market. Even in a volatile environment, the BMW Group continues to grow its domestic locations, manufacturing over one million vehicles there last year( accounting for a reported quarter of Germany’ s total automotive production).
At the same time, the company’ s production also depends on a balanced global distribution of value creation.“ The strategic and flexible structure of our production network strengthens our resilience and makes us more competitive,” added Nedeljković.
The shift towards electrified vehicles also brings changes to employee roles and required skills. With the flexible ramp-up of e-mobility at BMW Group plants, employees can gradually be prepared for new job content. Additional expertise will be developed and retained at the company through extensive further training and workforce flexibility. Last year alone, nearly 25,000 employees completed e-mobility training. Plant Munich is currently holding its third industrial electrician qualification course, conducted in cooperation with the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce( IHK). n
Milan to host key metals events in May
The 23rd edition of sheet metal trade show, LAMIERA, will be held at fieramilano Rho( Milan, Italy) from 6-9 May 2025. It is promoted by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE( the Italian machine tool, robot and automation system manufacturers’ association) and organised by CEU-CENTRO ESPOSIZIONI UCIMU. The event highlights sheet metal forming, cutting and processing machines as well as related technologies in the sector.
Machines and equipment for processing sheet metal; tubes; profiles; wire and structural metal fabrication; presses, moulds and dies; surface treatment and finishing; parts, components and accessories; tooling; fastener materials; technical and industrial subcontracting are at the heart of the exhibition.
The LAMIERA exhibition in 2023.
In 2023, the exhibition attracted 19,000 visits from sector professionals, as well as 400 exhibiting companies( 27 % of which came from outside Italy, representing 22 countries). The 22nd edition of LAMIERA in 2023 also attracted 4,000 visitors from the‘ Made in Steel’ exhibition.
LAMIERA will be held alongside the‘ Made in Steel’ exhibition, which will take place from 6-8 May 2025 at Fieramilano Rho in Milan, Italy.‘ Made in Steel’ is an international event dedicated to the steel supply chain. Every two years, it brings together national and international key figures from the steel industry. The show organiser expects this year’ s event to attract around 350 exhibitors and co-exhibitors, over 30 % of which will be international( 20 countries outside Italy). It anticipates visitor numbers of between 18-20,000. n
www. lamiera. net
www. madeinsteel. it
8 | ismr. net | ISMR April 2025