02.02.2018

BMW Group South Africa is taking training and development to the next level at its new R73 million Plant Rosslyn Training Academy. The state-of-the-art, 6000 square meter facility is able to host a staggering 300 apprentices per year.

In 1978, exactly 40 years ago, BMW Group South Africa opened its first training centre at BMW Plant Rosslyn. Development and empowerment of workers for the automotive and manufacturing sectors has been a focus ever since. Even in this pre-democracy era, the company was ahead of the times in training learners irrespective of their ethnic background.

In those 40 years we have provided millions of training hours to uplift our people. Close to 2000 people were employed by BMW Plant Rosslyn, after successfully being trained at the Training Academy. Today, BMW Group South Africa is again a leader in ensuring that training is aligned with global trends and industry needs.

• Training Academy supports the new BMW X3, which will start production in Plant Rosslyn in the coming months.
  
• Size doubled to 6000m2 and includes an accredited Trade Test Centre that allows learners to achieve their trade qualification in-house 
• This functionality will also be extended to the public in the course of 2018 
• Training Academy supports the new BMW X3, which will start production in Plant Rosslyn in the coming months

After 35 years, the BMW 3 Series Sedan rolls off the production line at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn to make way for the new BMW X3.

22.02.2018

Attached is a video highlighting the 1,191,604th BMW 3 Series rolling off the production line at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn and making way for the start of the new BMW X3 production in the coming months.

Yesterday marked yet another significant milestone for BMW Group South Africa when the last BMW 3 Series Sedan rolled off the production line at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn in Pretoria. The plant has produced a total of 1,191,604 five generations of the BMW 3 Series and will begin a new era of producing the new BMW X3 in the coming months. The BMW 3 Series will continue its current lifecycle and be produced by plants within the BMW Group production network.

After 35 years, the BMW 3 Series Sedan rolls off the production line at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn to make way for the new BMW X3. 

• A total of 1,191,604 BMW 3 Series vehicles produced at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn since 1983. 
  Current BMW 3 Series to be produced by other plants within the BMW Group production network.
  BMW Group Plant Rosslyn gets ready for the start of production of the new BMW X3.

05.04.2018

A new chapter in South Africa’s automotive story began this week as BMW Group South Africa started production of the new BMW X3 at its Rosslyn plant. With customer vehicles now rolling off the line, BMW Group once again demonstrates its commitment to its operations in South Africa.

BMW Group South Africa starts production of the new BMW X3 at its Rosslyn plant

• State-of-the-art manufacturing plant has a maximum annual capacity of 76 000 units.
• R6.1bn investment bears fruit as first customer cars start rolling off the line.
• BMW Group’s commitment to South Africa and its people continues after 45 years of operation in the country.
• More than 45 000 people directly and indirectly benefiting from BMW Group South Africa’s operations in the country.

12.04.2018

BMW Group South Africa on the 11th of April opened its new Regional Distribution Centre at Waterfall, Gauteng. Project developer Attacq and BMW Group have invested together R260m to create a 32 000sqm facility with storage space for 600 000 parts and the ability to deliver in increased flexibility to BMW Group dealers.

This investment is in addition to the R6.1bn injection that has been pivotal in upgrading the company’s Rosslyn manufacturing plant for production of the new BMW X3. The plant is currently ramping up production, and the first customer vehicles are rolling off the line, marking a new chapter in the story of Plant Rosslyn and the people of Tshwane.

• New state-of-the-art Regional Distribution Centre has doubled in size and will further refine customer service
• 115 associates employed to handle thousands of dealer orders every day.

07.05.2018

South Africa-manufactured BMW X3s left Rosslyn by train, bound for export markets.

BMW Group South Africa despatched the first proudly South African BMW X3 cars for export on Friday, transporting more than 100 units on 27 wagons via train to the Port of Durban. This marked a significant day for BMW Group South Africa as the company’s manufacturing plant at Rosslyn, Tshwane, continues to ramp up production of the BMW X3.

In terms of the Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP), BMW Group announced a R6.1bn investment to prepare the Rosslyn facility, and the associates who work there, for X3 production. It is one of the biggest single automotive investments in South African history. In February 2018, Plant Rosslyn produced the last of 1 191604 BMW 3 Series cars built over five model generations and 35 years.

29.05.2018

This week BMW Group South Africa is showcasing the legendary vehicles that have been produced at its Rosslyn plant in Tshwane by means of a tour themed “The Legends of Rosslyn”. The tour includes the South African exclusive BMW 333i (E30), which was refurbished in 2017, as well as the renowned and recently restored BMW 325iS (E30) – also known as the “Gusheshe”. In addition, two other special cars will join the tour.

Following the successful refurbishment of the BMW 333i (E30) and BMWM1 in 2017 by BMW Group South Africa’s Press Vehicles Technicians(part of the Group Communications Division), the BMW 325iS is the most recent classic car to be restored.

In 1985, the 325i Shadow line was introduced. Five years later (1990), a sporty upgrade (325iS) was introduced - two versions were introduced in limited numbers: 145kW and 155kW (both 2.7 litre naturally aspirated engines). They had a uniquely identifiable ‘iS’ body kit,15” wheels, full electric package, 25% limited slip differential and MSport suspension with Bilstein struts. The car has a rich racing history winning local races such as the Stannic Group N Class and Castrol Nine Hour races amongst others.

Currently, BMW Group South Africa’s heritage car collection includes the BMW M1, BMW 750Li Individual by Esther Mahlangu, BMW 325iS, BMW333i, the last BMW 3 Series (340i) produced by Plant Rosslyn and the first BMW X3 (xDrive30d) to have rolled off the production line.

30.08.2018

The BMW Plant Rosslyn-built BMW X3s are worth more than R15m, and the first car was handed to the Rhino Orphanage during a ceremony in Midrand today.

The first organisation to receive its BMW X3 20d is The Rhino Orphanage, a Limpopo-based charity dedicated to saving orphaned baby rhinoceroses. Universities and technical colleges selected to receive cars will be announced in due course. All are dedicated to engineering excellence.

05.09.2018

Following BMW Group South Africa’s R6,1 billion investment announced in the past three years for the production of the BMW X3 and customer vehicles rolling off the production line since April 2018 at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, the locally produced BMW X3 is currently embarking on a tour to explore its new home turf.

The tour, which is called the “BMW X3 xPlore Tour”, will see local and international media visiting BMW Group South Africa’s completed state-of-the-art production plant in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria, exploring the first-ever BMW X Lifestyle Park (XLP) as well as theBio2Watt biogas plant – Plant Rosslyn’s renewable energy supplier – and Mpumalanga as well as Limpopo’s top attractions.

Local and international media tour completed state-of-the-art BMW Group Plant Rosslyn – the result of R6,1billion investment since 2015.

• BMW Group Plant Rosslyn to draw 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by the end of 2018 – ahead of BMW Group’s 2020goal for all production locations to transition to fully renewable electricity supplies
• The first-ever BMW X Lifestyle Park to open in November 2018
• Exploring Mpumalanga and Limpopo’s top attractions

20.05.2016

BMW South Africa marks the start of construction of new state-of-the art Bodyshop 

The start of construction on the new, state-of-the art Bodyshop at BMW South Africa’s Rosslyn Plant is a strong visual reminder of the expansion that comes hand-in-hand with the R6bn investment announced by the automotive giant in 2015, to produce the next generation BMW X3.

The new Bodyshop will see a 50% expansion in size to 26000 m2, up from currently 17000m2. Around 300 robots are expected to be in operation in the future. It will set the benchmark in the local automotive industry, and give BMW South Africa a competitive advantage in the global group. This expansion will result in an increase in the number of employees in the new Bodyshop, and the increased robotics will allow us to empower employees with new skills to run these new technologies.

The new Bodyshop is a significant element of the R6bn investment, with funding also allocated to other infrastructure and operational enhancements, suppliers, launch costs and employee training. Construction of the new Bodyshop is planned for completion in the first half of 2017, and will be followed by facility installation, testing and commissioning.  

The production of the next generation BMW X3 at Plant Rosslyn will replace the BMW 3 Series Sedan, which will be allocated to other plants within the global BMW production network. BMW Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina, USA, will also continue to produce the next generation BMW X3. Preparation of the plant for the next generation X3 will happen alongside current production of the BMW 3 Series Sedan until the end of its lifecycle.

10.11.2016

As part of the BMW Group’s centenary celebrations this year – under the motto “THE NEXT 100 YEARS” – BMW South Africa has refurbished two of its classic cars, the legendary BMW M1 and South African exclusive BMW 333i (also known as the Gusheshe). 

As a world-leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles, as well as a provider of premium finance and mobility services, the company has always valued the preservation of its heritage. It is for this reason that BMW South Africa purchased the BMW M1 from a customer in the mid 1980s and used the vehicle as part of its classic collection as well as various activities. The car was later joined by the E23 BMW 745i, E28 BMW M5, E30 BMW 333i and 325iS. However, in the late 1990s, the BMW 745i (E23) and E28 BMW M5 vehicles were sold to customers due to a lack of resources to manage these classic cars. Only the BMW M1, BMW 333i and 325iS remained. 

After acquiring the BMW M1, BMW South Africa restored the vehicle from its original blue colour to the red brand positioning colour. The seats, steering wheel, dashboard and carpets were completely redone at the then seat and upholstery supplier in Rosslyn, using original BMW materials. After some years, some mechanical complications occurred and the car was no longer driveable as parts became scarce. The car was then only used for static purposes until July this year when a decision was taken to refurbish the car and get it mobile again. The refurbishment was completed by the company’s press vehicle technicians as well as two apprentices from the BMW Training Centre at Plant Rosslyn.