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The electrification that is revolutionizing the automotive world could only call into question the production centers that are changing substantially. This is what is also happening at BMW, one of the premium car brands which, while not abandoning internal combustion engines, including diesel at least until European directives allow it, is gearing up for a future that will be increasingly electric. Based in particular on the new family of Neue Klasse models which is destined to inaugurate a new era and will end up revolutionizing the image of the brand with a style completely different from the current one and more in the name of minimalism, albeit with strong references to the past.
If, for example, the double front kidney grille, the signature of all BMWs, remains in place, the light clusters that identify it will change their appearance. This has already been seen on the Vision Neue Klasse concept unveiled in 2023 which anticipates the first arriving model, an electric sedan which will be followed by a compact SUV, to arrive within two years at a range of 6 electric ones. Equally futuristic will be the interiors with the elements of contact between man and machine reduced to a thermal minimum while the heart of future electric vehicles will be the BMW Panoramic Vision, a head-up display with augmented reality extended to the entire windscreen which will allow the passenger to receive information information and with gesture commands access all the functions.
The Neue Klasse will therefore be the BMW group’s strategic lever to rapidly increase the curve of electric models in the range, with the aim of reaching a 50% share of BEV in 2030 starting from the 20% planned for 2024. The production site that will see the birth of the Neue Klasse could only be that of Munich which will be updated with an investment of 650 million intended for the construction of the new dedicated lines. If throughout 2026 the production of the Neue Klasse will run alongside that of the endothermic models, starting from 2027 only electric ones will be produced here.
The approach to assembling the Neue Klasse will, however, be different than today. The goal is to simplify all processes as much as possible. To do this, future electric cars will be equipped with fewer components and will use digitalised production with the assistance of artificial intelligence to monitor the quality of the cars in final assembly. All this will lead to a reduction in production costs estimated at around 25%. The reconversion of the Munich production center is, therefore, of crucial importance for BMW, even if already today for every two cars that leave the factory, one is based on an electric or electrified powertrain.