BMW’s historic assembly plant in Munich, the company’s oldest in the world, is undergoing a massive transformation that will see it convert from an internal combustion engine plant to an all-electric one starting in 2027.
The automaker has confirmed that the factory will start series production of the BMW i3 all-electric sedan from August 2026. This will mark the start of the rollout of the Neue Klasse within BMW Group’s global production network, the carmaker said in a press release.
The BMW i3 Touring Will Also Be Made in Munich
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The i3 sports sedan is the second model in the Neue Klasse range of dedicated EVs after the iX3 compact SUV, which is manufactured at the company’s plant Debrecen, Hungary. Pre-series production of the BMW i3 has already started in Munich in February, with the plant switching to final production cars for customers come August.
But the i3 sedan won’t be the only Neue Klasse model produced in Munich. BMW announced that the upcoming i3 Touring (the wagon body style) will also be made at the site. “The BMW i3 is just the beginning – several Neue Klasse models will be manufactured in Munich in the future, including the BMW i3 Touring,” said plant manager Peter Weber.
Over the past two years, BMW has invested over €650 million (approximately $750 million) to upgrade the Munich plant. As a result, the facility is said to be more efficient, flexible and digital, making it ideal for the requirements of the electric mobility and the Neue Klasse family.
BMW Munich Plant Going All-In on EV Production From 2027
From 2027, the Munich plant will build all-electric vehicles only, and that’s more than a symbolic shift. It will help the factory achieve a further boost in efficiency thanks to proactive planning, close collaboration with development teams and suppliers, as well as modern production technology.
“We have considerably reduced production costs over recent years. With the start of production of the BMW i3, we will reduce overall production costs at the Munich plant by a further 10 per cent, bringing them below the level of the current vehicle generation,” said Peter Weber, Head of BMW Group Plant Munich.
What’s quite remarkable about the Munich plant is that even in the midst of this radical transformation, it is still churning out up to 1,000 ICE vehicles a day—mainly from the 3 Series and 4 Series lines for the European and US markets. The facility also builds the i4 and M3 for export worldwide.
The Munich plant will be supplied with high-voltage Gen6 batteries from a facility in Irlbach‑Straßkirchen, around 90 minutes away, while the Gen6 motor for the BMW i3 is produced at the company’s plant in Steyr, Austria.
