bmw group plant tour

• What to see
• Tourist attractions

Munich BMW Group Plant

The BMW Group Plant in Munich gives visitors an interactive experience of the design and production processes of the brand's vehicles. Learn all about it!

Taking a guided tour of the BMW Group production factory is a must-do for car lovers, giving visitors access to all areas of automotive production, from design to assembly.

The two-hour tour, which is offered in English and German, will take you to the different parts of the factory, showing you how different BMW Group vehicles are made throughout their engineering production processes.

How to visit?

To join the BMW Group Plant Tour, you just need to contact the factory either by phone or by email. Once you've confirmed your visit, you just need to make your way to the  BMW Welt  information desk in time for your tour.

• +49 (0)89 125016001
• [email protected]

In the BMW Welt, next to Olympiapark.

Guided tours in English and German: Monday to Friday (not public holidays).

Adults: € 10 ( US$ 10.90) Concessions:  € 7 ( US$ 7.60)

U-Bahn:  Olympiazentrum , lines U2 and U3. Bus: line 173.

Nearby places

BMW Welt (309 m) BMW Museum (309 m) Olympiaturm (691 m) Olympiapark Munich (991 m) Neue Pinakothek (3.4 km)

You may also be interested in

Viktualienmarkt

Fresh fruit and vegetables, artisan cheeses, colourful flowers and much much more fill the lively Viktualienmarkt, a historic market in Munich.

The official residence and government seat of the Bavarian royals between 1508 and 1918, the Munich Residenz is the biggest city palace in Germany.

BMW Group in Munich

BMW Welt and Museum - Guided tours

Fascination BMW Group - with guided tours you can get exciting insights into the inner workings of a global brand, right in the heart of BMW Group in Munich.

More actions

• Share on Facebook
• Share via WhatsApp

Exciting insights behind the scenes of the BMW Welt

Visitors can get the best insight into BMW Group in Munich with the various tours. The BMW Welt, the BMW Museum and the BMW Group plant offer both individual visitors and groups different tours with exciting behind-the-scenes insights. The tours in the BMW Welt, in the BMW Group plant and in the BMW Museum take place almost daily and can be booked on site, online, by phone or by email.

The tours offered by BMW Welt are all about the different facets of the BMW Welt experience. From the BMW Welt-Museum-Plant Tour, which is exclusively dedicated to the highlights of the BMW Welt, the BMW Museum and BMW Group Plant, to a BMW Welt Tour in which you can go on a journey through the BMW Welt experience and, for example, discover the logistics behind the car collection.

The tour offer also includes special tours and comprehensive tours that can be combined with the BMW Museum and the BMW Group plant.

The overall view of BMW Group brand and product history in the BMW Museum shows over 125 of the brand's most important and attractive exhibits. Based on the originals, the guides explain the tradition and future of BMW in detail and comprehensively. A combined tour with BMW Welt is also offered.

BMW Group Plant

The BMW Group Plant in Munich produces over 900 automobiles and up to 1,400 engines every day. The production from the press shop to assembly extends over 12 halls. The tour of the BMW Group plant gives close insights into modern automotive engineering and is guided by the personal guide based on the individual information needs of the participants.

Information regarding the various tours at BMW Welt can be found here . You have the possibility to find the most suitable tour for you with the help of the interest query.

Recommendation

There is a choice of forays through BMW Welt, a look behind the scenes at the BMW Plant in Munich or the history of the company at the BMW Museum.

The recommendation for visitors is the BMW Welt-Museum-Werk Tour, which combines some of the highlights of all tours. From the moving tradition and history of the company in the BMW Museum, experience the fascination of production in the BMW Group Plant, and finally encounter all the brands of the BMW Group in BMW Welt.

Images from the BMW Welt and Museum

More information.

• Here you can find information on the various tours at BMW Welt, BMW Museum and BMW Group Plant and the most suitable tour for you

This might also interest you

Munich's Top Sights

The highlights from Residence to Viktualienmarkt

How the weather will be

Sun or rain? The weather forecast (in German)

Here you always have an eye on our city!

PressClub Global · Article.

The complete bmw welt experience: the bmw welt, the bmw museum and the bmw munich plant, 23.03.2012 press kit, press kit: the complete bmw welt experience, press contact..

Bernhard Ederer BMW Group Tel: +49-89-382-28556 Fax: +49-89-382-20626 send an e-mail

Bernhard Ederer BMW Group

Related Links.

This article in other pressclubs.

This press kit is available in 5 languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish and Mandarin - see attachments

1. The complete BMW Welt experience

The BMW Welt “ensemble” – formed by the BMW Welt, Museum and Plant – has quickly become one of Bavaria’s top attractions. The success of all three realms of discovery lies in their diverse range of regularly changing exhibitions and focus topics, as well as their exciting programme of events. The BMW Welt combines technology, design and innovation with lifestyle, dynamism and culture to create a public space for meeting and discussion.

The BMW Welt. The heart of the brand – the beat of the city. Since it opened in 2007, the BMW Welt has provided its roughly two million visitors a year with a wide range of unforgettable experiences – and, today, is one of Bavaria’s most popular attractions. Visitors from all over the world come to admire the latest trends and exhibitions, technology and design, or even experience the excitement of collecting their new car at the BMW Welt. Both as a building and an institution, the BMW Welt serves as an important interface between the company, the brand, its products and the visitor. This is the only place where it is possible to experience the company’s past, present and future as a whole.

Besides personal delivery of up to 100 cars a day to their new owners from all over the world, exclusive presentations of the latest vehicle model series and motorcycles, combined with interactive exhibits, offer insights into BMW research, development, design and production – and allow the visitor to experience the BMW brand and the company from virtually every perspective. The BMW Welt’s Junior Campus for children and teenagers is a comprehensive and exciting programme designed especially for younger visitors. It allows them to explore the world of mobility in a highly creative way and implement it in many different scenarios. The BMW Welt also has its own Events Forum, equipped with state-of-the-art technology for all kinds of company and other events. This makes it an ideal venue for concerts, exhibitions, conferences, live broadcasts, receptions and seminars as well as for the sparkling array of events the BMW Welt hosts itself: From readings by best-selling authors to jazz contests, parties and improvisational theatre, through to New Year’s Eve parties – this is a place where guests can truly feel the beat of the city.

BMW Museum. History up close. The BMW Museum was built right next door to the BMW Group Headquarters – which Munich residents soon dubbed the “Four-Cylinder” – in 1973. The concept behind the BMW Museum, which reopened on 21 June 2008 following an extensive expansion, focuses on the fascination of the BMW brand. Around 120 original exhibits showcase more than 90 years of BMW brand history along a central route, or “road” that guides 400,000 visitors a year through 25 separate exhibition areas. Special junior programmes for children and teenagers round off the Museum’s offering.

BMW Plant. A passion for technology. The BMW Plant Munich is the original BMW Group Plant. As part of the BMW Group’s global production network, the plant builds up to 1,000 BMW 3 Series (Touring and Sedan models) and more than 1,000 power units a day, including four, eight and twelve-cylinder petrol engines and high-performance engines for the M3, M5 and M6. The Munich plant employs a workforce of around 9,000 people from more than 50 countries and accommodates all automobile production technologies. It belongs to the Group’s global production network of 24 plants in 13 countries and, as part of the BMW Welt, also serves as a “window on the world of BMW production”. Individual tours provide a unique and authentic insight into automobile production.

2. The BMW Welt. The heart of the brand – the beat of the city.

The BMW Welt hosts more than 50 different events a year, from Brazilian carnival, to improvisational theatre and poetry slams, through to Sunday matinees and the finale of the renowned BMW Welt Jazz Awards. Since the vehicle collection process is such an integral part of the BMW Welt, visitors who are taking one of the fascinating tours or viewing the changing vehicle exhibitions, can also share in the new car-owners’ joy as they receive their BMW fresh off the production line.

The BMW Welt’s Junior Campus Portal invites younger visitors to enter a fascinating universe for them to discover. The BMW Welt’s wide range of educational programmes allows young guests to try their hand at being an engineer or a car designer, for example. All of the content is closely tied in with the Bavarian school curriculum and designed to appeal to youngsters’ curiosity. Specially trained staff assist with the individual programmes.

Besides the diverse programme of events and regularly changing exhibitions on BMW technology, design and innovation, visitors are also fascinated by the building’s extraordinary architecture. Professor Wolf D. Prix’s award-winning design makes the BMW Welt one of Munich’s most exciting locations – both inside and out. The Viennese architect and his team, COOP HIMMELB(L)AU, consider themselves part of the deconstructivist tradition – together with famous international figures, such as Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind and Rem Kohlhaas. The roof of the BMW Welt could easily fit over Saint Mark’s Square in Venice. But the entire roof construction is supported by just eleven pillars, so that it almost appears to be floating. Some 3,600 solar cells were installed on this same roof, over a total area of 6,300 square metres, creating the impression of a single entity. Photographers and camera teams have also discovered its exciting architecture for themselves: The BMW Welt is regularly used as a location for TV productions and photo shoots.

The BMW Welt also offers an exceptional fine-dining experience. A large team of expert staff takes care of visitors’ well-being, serving everything from light meals to three-course dinners, and making a visit to the BMW Welt a real culinary highlight.

At its opening in 2007, Christian Ude, Lord Mayor of Munich, the Bavarian state capital, commented that: “In this day and age of growing competition among industrial locations, it is by no means a given for such a large, dynamic and, in particular, global company to put down deeper roots in the city. The BMW Welt not only benefits Munich in visual and architectural terms – it is also a highly significant project through which BMW is once again pledging its commitment to its home city.”

The latest information on opening hours, events and guided tours can be found in the internet at www.bmw-welt.com/en .

3. The BMW Museum. History up close

Munich is where BMW’s history all began. The Museum also reflects the ongoing history of the company in the city. Visitors are able to experience and learn about the brand’s technological horizons and design history: from the very beginnings early last century all the way into the new millennium. The Museum’s collection of historical cars, motorcycles, racing and aircraft engines, combined with a glimpse of the technology and designs of the future, have been the foundation of its success since 1973. With its unique range of original exhibits, the BMW Museum appeals to visitors from all over the world and has established itself as one of Munich’s most popular attractions.

Since it reopened in 2008, the BMW Museum has continued not only its own success story, but also that of the company – in a new space, with new content: With its new approach, and five times the exhibition space, the BMW Museum highlights BMW’s competence and innovative strength.

Over an area of 5,000 square metres, vehicles, themes, architecture, design and media concepts combine to provide an unmistakable brand experience and form a unique composition of exhibits from past, present and future. The range of topics comprises the history of the BMW Company, its brand and products, and combines all of these with a broad range of developments in design, technology and motor sports. Strolling through 25 focus topics, visitors from all over the world walk along “Museum roads” and submit to an intense brand experience. The concept of the museum of the future.

The museum concept focuses on the fascination of the BMW brand. Special emphasis has been placed on using the latest presentation techniques to showcase the more than 120 original exhibits and present information on BMW vehicles, their sporting successes and the design development process in an interesting way. A central “road” leading through the Museum creates an urban setting and guides the visitor through space and time. The “Bowl” is an ideal new venue for any kind of temporary exhibition as well as a wide range of cultural events.

The latest information on opening hours and admission prices can be found in the internet at www.bmw-museum.com .

4.  The BMW Plant. A passion for technology

The same high standards of quality, safety and careful use of resources apply at all plants within BMW’s international production network. Innovative production technologies and highly skilled employees at all locations assure the production of premium cars “Made by BMW” comprising more than 10,000 individual parts and components.

The BMW Plant Munich is the BMW Group’s original plant. It is located in the north of the city, directly next to the BMW Group Headquarters, the BMW Museum and the BMW Welt. The Plant employs a workforce of around 9,000 people from more than 50 countries around the world, including around 700 apprentices. As a part of the BMW Group’s global production network, the BMW Munich Plant builds more than 1,000 engines and up to 1,000 cars a day. Representing all of the BMW Group’s international production facilities, the BMW Munich Plant, next to the BMW Welt, offers visitors a direct insight into state-of-the-art automobile manufacture. The BMW Plant Munich. Authenticity and technology.

The origins of BMW production go all the way back to the year 1917. Since 1922, the plant has stood in Munich’s Milbertshofen district in the north of the city. Originally, the Munich Plant built only aircraft engines and motorcycles: In fact, BMW’s 100,000th motorcycle rolled off the production line here in 1938. Automobile production in Munich did not begin until 1951, with the launch of the BMW 501. The first BMW Isetta was built just four years later, securing additional jobs. The BMW 1500, the brand’s first sporty four-door midrange sedan, entered production in 1962, laying the foundation for BMW’s success in the market. The company transferred some stages of production from Milbertshofen to the town of Dingolfing some 110 kilometres north-east of Munich in the late ’60s, with motorcycle production moving to Berlin in 1969 to relieve the BMW Plant Munich.

The BMW 3 Series, to this day the BMW brand’s most successful model series, entered production at the Munich Plant in 1975. Numerous innovations in control and production technology were introduced at the Milbertshofen Plant for the first time – such as the world’s first fully-automated production of the under-body assembly in the body shop. The 1980s were characterised by ongoing expansion of BMW’s production network, with new plants in Steyr, Regensburg and Wackersdorf all going on stream. After the foundry was moved to Landshut and the BMW’s Research and Innovation Centre completed in the north of Munich, the Munich Plant concentrated on the production of automobiles and engines from the mid-80s on. One of the key decisions taken in the ’90s was to build all of the BMW Group’s large, high-performance M engines at the Munich Plant.

BMW attaches great importance to the environmental-friendliness of its production in the heart of the city. It established a neighbourhood forum in 1994 and won the City of Munich’s Environmental Award in 2003.

The Munich location. Innovative, creative, flexible.

All automobile production technologies are accommodated at the Munich Plant over an area of 500,000 square metres: the Press Shop, Body Shop, Paint Shop and Assembly, as well as Engine Production and the Production of Interior Fittings. The modifications necessary for production of current and future models of the BMW 3 Series, as well as future engine generations, required almost the same investment as a brand-new production plant. All five generations of the BMW 3 Series were built at this BMW Plant rich in tradition.

Quality assurance worldwide The BMW Group’s production network includes seven vehicle production plants for BMW automobiles and motorcycles and encompasses a total of 24 production facilities on four continents. Engine plants supply various engines to the vehicle production plants, with the production network being supplemented by component plants. To avoid high customs barriers in certain markets with significant growth potential, BMW also operates Completely Knocked Down (CKD) Assembly Plants building cars in local markets. These plants assemble imported parts kits together with components supplied by local industry.

BMW Plant tours.

Since the BMW Welt opened, visitors – including many customers collecting their cars – have taken a tour along the Plant’s “Production Mile”, which leads through various production halls and production stages, ranging from Press Shop to Assembly. The BMW Plant Munich is open to all visitors over the age of seven. Maximum group size is 30 visitors; guests can opt to take a private tour or join a group tour. Tours should be booked in advance by calling the BMW Welt Info Service at +49 180 2 118822 (0.06 EUR/call from a Deutsche Telekom landline; maximum of 0.42 EUR per minute for calls from German mobile networks). Customers collecting their car at the BMW Welt may include a plant tour as part of their itinerary.

Journalists wishing to join a plant tour are requested to contact the Press Department at BMW Plant Munich: Tel. +49 89 382 25885.

Additional information can be found at www.bmw-welt.com/en .

If you require any further information or photo material please contact:  

Corporate Communications

Martina Daschinger Spokeswoman BMW Welt

Tel.: +49-89-382-14908

Email: [email protected]

Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com

Manfred Grunert

Spokesman BMW Museum

Tel.: +49-89-382-27797

Email: [email protected]

Corporate Communications BMW Group

Julian Friedrich

Corporate Communications and Employee Communications

BMW Plant Munich

Tel.: +49 89-382-25885

Email: [email protected]

TV footage is available at www.press.bmwgroup.com .

The BMW Welt – A world of experiences

The ensemble formed by the BMW Welt, Museum and Plant invites visitors of all ages to experience the past, present and future of the BMW brand for themselves. Guided tours through the BMW Welt, Museum and Plant provide an exciting insight into the world of BMW automobiles. The educational concept of its special junior programmes for children and teenagers focuses on the fun of discovery. Visitors can look forward to a diverse programme of cultural events, art and entertainment, as well as fine-dining at its top on-site restaurants. Whether for jazz concerts, poetry slams, clubbing, improvisational theatre, family Sundays, fashion shows, film premieres, gala events or panel discussions – the BMW Welt and the BMW Museum provide an ideal venue for innovative events.

Article Offline Attachments.

• Press kit BMW Welt english ZIP, EN, 3.76 MB
• BMW Welt francais ZIP, FR, 894.06 KB
• BMW Welt italiano ZIP, IT, 884.03 KB
• BMW Welt espanol ZIP, ES, 781.28 KB
• BMW Welt Mandarin ZIP, ZH-CN, 1.03 MB

Article Media Material.

Bmw group streaming, annual general meeting..

Munich. Here you can watch the webcast of the 104 Annual General Meeting of BMW AG.

CO2 emission information.

Latest facts & figures., further news for: bmw welt · bmw museum · production plants, related videos., add your filter tags..

Your browser is not up to date and may not be compatible with our website.

Please switch to a different browser e.g. Chrome , Firefox or Safari .

Exhibitions at BMW Welt

• Overview Exhibitions
• BMW Luxury Class
• Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
• BMW Motorrad
• Future Forum

Exhibitions at BMW Museum

• House of the Company
• House of Design
• House of the Motorcycle
• House of Technology
• House of Motorsport
• House of Brand
• House of the Series
• Place of Remembrance
• Art Car Gallery
• Guided Tours

Workshops at the BMW Welt

• All workshops
• 3D Print workshop
• Creative workshop
• Programming workshop
• Sustainability workshop

Workshops at the BMW Museum

• Design workshop
• Detective workshop
• Film workshop

Workshops (vacation / school)

• Vacation programs
• Class and group workshops

Children's birthday

Workshops (team / adults).

• Current events
• Vehicle Collection
• Pickup Experience
• Packages & Services
• Vehicle Consultation
• Driving Experience

Event Locations

• Inspiration
• TV and Streaming-Studios
• Film-and Photolocations
• Additional Experience

Restaurants

• All Restaurants
• All Bistros
• Restaurant EssZimmer
• Resturant Bavarie

ADDED EXPERIENCE. MORE FOR YOUR EVENT.

You want to give your event a very specific highlight or you want to optimise team building with an unconventional approach? Are you looking for that unusual touch to break the ice or increase the entertainment factor? Then you'll find just what you're looking for in the additional offers available at the BMW event areas. Book exclusive tours of BMW Welt, the BMW Museum or BMW Group Classic and let your participants take a look behind the scenes of the BMW brand. Or bring the allure of the BMW Group closer to your guests with a Genius, who will give you exciting insights into products and brands. And finally, with the charming cult vehicle BMW Isetta, you are guaranteed to put a smile on your guests' faces when as a passenger they take a ride.

• /content/bmw/marketBMWWELT/bmw-welt_com/en_WL/location-buchen/anfrageformular" href="/en/location-buchen/anfrageformular.html" data-component-path="ds2-link" data-loader="amdLoader" role="link" data-tracking-event="{"eventInfo":{"cause":"","effect":"","eventName":"Book a tour or experience ","eventAction":"Internal click","target":"/content/bmw/marketBMWWELT/bmw-welt_com/en_WL/location-buchen/anfrageformular","element":"Button","track":"internal_click","eventPoints":""},"category":{"mmdr":"","eventType":"delayed","primaryCategory":"","subCategory01":""}}" data-tracking-options="{"name":"page_link","content":{"active":true}}" class="button standard expand ds2-tracking-js--event" target="_self"> Book a tour or experience

BMW WELT GUIDED TOUR.

Let yourself and your guests be inspired by the magic of the place on a guided tour of BMW Welt. Book a guided tour of BMW Welt and discover the heart of the BMW brand together with the participants of your event - from the double cone to the brand areas to the emotional premiere and the terrific view of the Olympic Park.

BMW GROUP PLANT TOUR.

Discover together with the participants of your event where everything for a BMW vehicle begins. Book a BMW Group plant tour Munich and let your guests dive into the world of vehicle production as a part of the BMW Group. Here you will accompany the creation of our vehicles and components live - from the initial vision to the completed vehicle.

BMW MUSEUM GUIDED TOUR.

Offer your guests a museum tour of a very special kind. Because the BMW Museum is not like any other museum. Here you can experience the BMW brand from its beginning to the present in a lively and multi-faceted way.  Ingenious machines, designs, prototypes and visions that have written automotive history - your guests will be thrilled!

BMW GROUP CLASSIC TOUR.

Give your guests a historical highlight - an exclusive insight into the very place where young and classic cars are maintained or even brought back to life at BMW. Book a BMW Group Classic Tour - and enjoy selected areas of the historic vehicle collection as well as the historic workshop.

Programme highlights.

BMW GENIUS.

Give your guests exclusive insights into the fascinating event location. Book a BMW Genius who will be happy to provide information about BMW Welt and the BMW Group with indepth knowledge and inspire your guests - whatever the specialist topic. Look forward to a varied lecture.

BMW ISETTA.

Ensure the fastest way to put your guests in a good mood. A round trip with the legendary BMW Isetta. Affectionately christened the Knutschkugel by the locals, this rarity still provides a unique driving experience in the truest sense of the word - because unfortunately this original vehicle from the 1950s has all but disappeared from everyday life.

BOOK A WORKSHOP AT BMW WELT.

Exciting challenges on the topic of sustainability and mobility of the future await you in this impressive location. Take advantage of all the opportunities that our workshops offer you - they are varied, interesting and a lot of fun.

BMW M DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

Show us what you can do! And we'll show you what else you've got. At the BMW M Driving Experience, challenge and expand your driving skills on an individual basis. Choose from exclusive offers and experience sheer driving fun in a controlled environment on the race track, on the training grounds, in the mountains or in the ice. From BMW Safety Training to Performance Drive to BMW M Drift Training - under perfect training conditions and with experienced instructors.

YOUR IDEA. OUR GUIDANCE.

Use to your advantage the support for the BMW event areas regarding the planning and successful outcome of your event at BMW Welt Munich. Benefit from professional preparation by experts and one-to-one partners for the event spaces - anything you need for that all-round successful event.

• To event consultation
• your Browser

Website currently not fully available

Our tool for managing your permission to our use of cookies is temporarily offline. Therefore some functionality is missing.

What Are The Locations Of The BMW Group World Tour?

You can learn more about a few production lines in the automobile industry by taking a guided tour of the BMW Group’s main facility in Munich. The primary facility is situated in Munich’s northern region, across the street from the corporate offices of the BMW Group, the BMW Museum, and BMW Welt. This site employs about 8,000 people from more than 50 different countries, including about 850 trainees. As part of the global production network, about 600 engines and over 1,000 vehicles are made here every day. The flagship plant of the BMW Group represents our other manufacturing facilities and offers a close-up look at cutting-edge automotive engineering.

Please be aware:

– It is mandatory that visitors speak the language of the appropriate guided tour (German or English) or bring a professional interpreter for reasons of health and safety.

– Participants must be at least 6 years old to be accompanied on a guided tour of the Munich plant; those who are unaccompanied must be at least 14 years old.

– Please be aware that taking pictures and filming inside the plant is strictly forbidden.

– Factory tours at the BMW Group Plant Munich are typically barrier-free, but please be aware that the route may alter owing to production needs on the day of your tour.

– Weekends, state-wide holidays, and days when production is shut down are not permitted for plant tours.

– We will keep an eye on the development of COVID-19 case numbers in Germany and around the world. Individual plant tours can be abruptly rescheduled depending on how the situation develops. Due to infection control procedures, the tour’s time and content have been modified, and only a few technologies may be seen.

Reserve your tour right away. Please be aware that weekends, bridge days, and public holidays are not available for factory tours (state of Bavaria).

* Children and students under the age of 18, apprentices, students, disabled individuals, those taking a year off to volunteer for a cause related to the environment or social justice, the unemployed, the retired, members of BMW Clubs, the MGV and the BVGD, journalists, BMW staff (valid only for single tickets), and owners of the BMW Card or BMW Premium Card

In This Article...

PASSION AND ACCURATE.

You can learn more about a few production lines in the automobile industry by taking a guided tour of the BMW Group’s main facility in Munich. The primary facility is situated in Munich’s northern region, across the street from the corporate offices of the BMW Group, the BMW Museum, and BMW Welt. This site employs about 7,000 people, many of them are international. 850 trainees. A daily average of 900 cars are produced here as part of the global production network. The flagship plant of the BMW Group represents our other manufacturing facilities and offers a close-up look at cutting-edge automotive engineering.

where we can be found globally.

The BMW Group is the top premium vehicle and motorcycle manufacturer in the world and also offers top-notch financial and mobility services through its four brands, BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad. The BMW Group has a global sales network in more than 140 countries and has over 30 production facilities throughout the world. A total of 118,909 people worked for the BMW Group as of December 31, 2021.

Long-term planning and ethical behavior have always been the cornerstones of the BMW Group’s success. Early on, the company charted the future’s trajectory, and it continually prioritizes sustainability and effective resource management in all aspects of its strategic orientation, from the supply chain to production to the end of the product life cycle.

Lively experience the future.

Follow the BMW VISION NEXT 100 on its global journey to see the future of transportation for yourself. Visit www.next100.bmw to receive unique online updates on every facet of our vision throughout the world tour.

A trip to BMW World, the Museum, and the Plant

Munich’s post-war growth and the history of BMW are interwoven. The Munich plant, one of many in the area and even more globally, employs up to 8,000 people, making it one of the direct greatest employers in the region. It is safe to argue that the automotive giant is largely responsible for Munich’s prosperity, especially when factoring in the nearby workforces of BMW’s different suppliers.

The BMW complex is divided into three zones that may be visited, and it covers a sizable area not far from the former Olympic stadium. We’ll start with the simplest task and progress from there.

The BMW tour lasts how long?

A fascinating look into the corporate, brand, and product histories of BMW can be found at the BMW Museum. The 5,000m2 exhibition hall houses over 125 of the most expensive and beautiful cars, motorcycles, and engines produced by the brand. Along with the BMW Plant and BMW Welt, the BMW Museum is a part of the BMW brand experience in Munich. One of the first brand museums was established in 1973, and in 2008 it underwent a redesign and expansion. Enjoy in-depth insights into the BMW brand’s history, present, and future.

The ticket for the guided tour includes admission to the Museum. From the time of validation, the Museum ticket is valid for five hours. The Museum is still open for visits before, during, and/or after the tour. The BMW Museum does not allow pets.

Open Guided Tour: The open guided tour is available in both German and English and is handicap accessible.

Starting Point: BMW Museum’s foyer (Am Olympiapark 2, 80809 Munich). Allow us to lead you to the meeting location right here.

Ticket costs:

Price for a family of up to two adults and three minors is EUR 29. All prices are inclusive of VAT.

Group Tour: The group tour is accessible to people with disabilities and is available in both German and English.

* Children and schoolchildren under 18 (children under 6 are free), apprentices, students, disabled people, people taking a year off to volunteer for social or environmental causes, unemployed people, retirees, members of BMW Clubs, the MGV and the BVGD, journalists, BMW staff, and owners of the BMW Card or BMW Premium Card.

What will be hosted at the BMW Group Classic Center?

The employees of the BMW Group Classic Centre have a wealth of knowledge, skill, and enthusiasm. They help with the preservation and repair of vintage cars and motorcycles and provide assistance when buying or selling a classic car.

Where is the location of the upcoming BMW exhibition?

The most recent iteration of the India Art Fair, which will take place in New Delhi from April 28, 2022, to May 1, 2022, will feature a display on the “Future of Mobility” by BMW Group India. The business will display two models from its all-electric lineup: the MINI Cooper SE 3-door electric hatchback and the BMW iX electric SUV. The German automaker hopes to demonstrate the special relationship between art and automobiles through this.

Since 2012, BMW India has supported the development of contemporary Indian art and artists as the fair’s presenting partner. The partnership this year will showcase the company’s advanced electric mobility. The unique BMW iX car “Suno,” which was created by artist Faiza Hasan for the ‘The Future is Born of Art’ commission, will be on display in addition to the standard BMW iX and MINI Cooper SE.

The BMW Group’s commitment to fostering art, sustainability, and innovation is furthered by the “The Future is Born of Art” program, which aims to support up-and-coming Indian artists. Four chosen artists were requested to make suggestions using the BMW iX as a canvas and show how they individually interpreted the theme. The winning design by Faiza Hasan will be displayed at the Art Fair and reflected on the BMW iX as a car cover.

“Art is a beautiful way of seeing the world as it was, is, and will be tomorrow. More than ever, India Art Fair reflects a unique blend of art, creativity, and a strong awareness of evolving socio-ecological sensibilities. In the same way, BMW Group’s pioneering vision is reflected through its vehicles. Our electric vehicles are an expression of a sustainable future,” said Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India, in a speech on the occasion.

The BMW iX and MINI Cooper SE have already won the hearts of auto enthusiasts in India. We invite everyone to come and experience the face of progressive e-mobility at India Art Fair, he continued. “Just like an artist develops a work around a central theme, BMW Group develops its e-vehicles around the core of sustainability – in form, function, and emotion. As Joy is reborn, we are excited to share our vision with the world.”

Visit Financial Express for the most recent India news, business news, and live share market updates. Get the Financial Express App to get the most recent business news.

Where is the BMW Golf Championship?

The BMW Championship will take place at Wilmington Country Club from August 16–21, 2022. Reserve your seat to watch the penultimate event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, which features the top 70 players in the globe.

How many nations are there assembly facilities for the BMW Group?

The BMW Group is the top premium vehicle and motorcycle manufacturer in the world and also offers top-notch financial and mobility services through its four brands, BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad. The BMW Group has a global sales network in more than 140 countries, and its production network consists of 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries.

The BMW Group sold more than 169,000 motorcycles and over 2.3 million passenger cars in 2020. On revenues of EUR 104.210 billion, the profit before tax for the 2019 fiscal year was EUR 7.118 billion. A total of 126,016 people worked for the BMW Group as of December 31, 2019.

Long-term planning and ethical behavior have always been the cornerstones of the BMW Group’s success. As a result, the company has made resource conservation a core component of its strategy, as well as thorough product accountability and ecological and social sustainability across the whole value chain.

Cookies are used on this website to enhance your experience and the services we offer. We kindly request that you enable cookies in your browser if you desire to use the website going forward so that you can take full advantage of all its features.

If you do not allow the use of one or more cookie categories, we will not be able to activate this component and you will not be able to view this content. Please note that by accepting cookies on this page, you are accepting cookies on the entire website. Please check our Cookie Policy Page for more details.

Does the BMW Museum merit a visit?

The BMW Museum is now as much a physical representation of the Bavarian Motor Works as Munich is. Since May of 1973, the BMW Museum has been engaging and educating visitors from all over the world about the more than 100-year-long corporate, brand, and product history of the BMW Group. Over the course of the 5,000 m2 show space, you may find over 125 of the most valuable and beautiful cars, motorcycles, and engines the company has to offer. The rotunda and the “Museum Bowl” are home to temporary exhibitions with a variety of themes in addition to permanent shows with about 120 unique exhibits. The BMW Museum is pleased to be one of Germany’s most popular museums and sets new attendance records every year. Since 2008, there have been more than five million visitors reported. A trip to the BMW Museum is always worthwhile, whether it’s for a permanent or passing display.

Entry tickets to the BMW Museum:

Of course, you are welcome to wander the Museum’s permanent and changing exhibits without joining a tour.

Hours of Operation: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (Tuesday – Sunday). 5:30 pm is the latest admittance time.

Please be aware that tickets are only offered for a short time due to the current circumstances.

• 0 Shopping Cart € 0,00 -->

BMW Group Plant Munich Tour

In the BMW Group Plant you will get an exciting look behind the scenes of automobile manufacturing.

As representative of all the BMW Group’s international production facilities, the BMW Group Munich Plant, right next to the BMW Welt, offers us an amazing impression about state-of-the-art automobile manufacture. The tour through BMW’s original plant offers an exciting insight into all areas of automobile production: the Press Shop, Body Shop, Paint Shop, Engine Shop, the Production of Interior Equipment and Seats, as well as Assembly.

Additional Details

Paid Tickets -

Free Tickets -

Donation Tickets -

Date And Time

Event category, share with friends, information.

• Privacy Policy
• Internal Wiki

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with the most important information and events concerning your studies.

• Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

This website uses the following additional cookies:

Google Analytics

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Video plant tour: Insights into production

Get to know our production: During your virtual visit, you can take a look behind the scenes of our global production network. The BMW Group produces at more than 30 locations. In addition to worldwide automotive plants like in Munich, Leipzig and Oxford, these also include the motorbike plant in Berlin, as well as other plants.

How does a piece of sheet metal become a solid car roof? What happens to cut-off parts that are no longer needed in production? And what actually happens during the so-called “marriage”? During your virtual visit you will get a comprehensive insight into our plants and production. We also take a look at the history of the BMW Group and, above all, its future: What will the electromobility of tomorrow look like? What goals is the BMW Group pursuing in the area of sustainability and what innovations is it currently working on? Find out now in the video!

Have we aroused your interest for a plant tour? Visit us at our plants in Berlin, Leipzig or Oxford. Learn more and get your tickets now.

Use of cookies

We use cookies – including third-party cookies – to collect information about how visitors use our websites. They help us give you the best possible experience, continually improve our sites and provide you with offers that are tailored to your interests.

The information collected via cookies can also be processed outside of the European Union, for example in the USA. By clicking the “Accept all” button you agree to the use of these cookies. You can withdraw your consent at any time, change your preferences and get detailed information about our use of cookies by clicking “Individual”.

Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper functioning of the website.

Statistics cookies acquire information anonymously. This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website.

Content from video sharing platforms and social media platforms is blocked by default. If cookies are accepted by external media, access to these contents no longer requires manual consent.

BMW Group Plant Spartanburg

BMW’s only American factory is a marvel of the blending of modern engineering and design aesthetics. See for yourself how the ultimate driving machine is built during a guided plant tour.

• (888) 868-7269

contact info

1400 Highway 101 South Greer, SC 29651 (888) 868-7269

The Grand Tour of German Automotive—BMW Leipzig

The second BMW plant I visited was in Leipzig. This modern greenfield plant had a very good material flow, where especially the finger line impressed me a lot. In terms of efficiency it was the best-performing plant in Germany, shortly after Munich, and on par with Toyota. It was also exceptionally clean. The only flaw I saw was that they have the order to never stop the line… which goes against my lean philosophy. But read on. Disclaimer : The following are based on my personal observations and opinions and may not be accurate or correct. It is based on publicly available information and what I observed during public tours, and when I observed it. The observations may differ at a different time and place.

BMW Leipzig

The BMW Leipzig plant did not have the space restrictions of Munich, and was built on a green field. The plant was opened in 2005, and is one of the newest in the BMW group. This gives much more flexibility with the material flow, and the material flow alignment is truly outstanding in Leipzig. They use a highly flexible “finger system” for their final assembly line, which I liked so much that I wrote a separate blog post on this . This allows 80% of the material to be just in time (JIT) and just in sequence (JIS).

I also liked their central building designed by Zaha Hadid, where the car bodies flow right through the offices. Even as an office drone, you will never forget what the whole plant is about. I liked the highly fancy architecture. All offices are open space, including the office of the plant manager.

Similar to Munich, around 9000 workers produce around 1000 cars per day, including 180 electric cars. They do want to increase the volume to 130 cars, though. Like many other car plants, of the 9000 workers, only 5600 are BMW employees; others are subcontractors or temp workers.

One tidbit: They use old batteries from their hybrid vehicles to power their AGVs, and even more of these batteries to buffer the electricity from their four wind turbines. They also have different AGVs, and the latest one, a smaller one from iw.hub , no longer needs induction loops or QR codes but can navigate freely in the plant. It is smart enough to drive around obstacles by itself. I have seen this in the Centre Innovation Évry research lab , but it is rare to see it in production. Other, larger AGVs from ds automation still need induction loops, though.

They have four press lanes where 450 people work in three shifts, albeit three of the lanes were stopped when we visited. All presses were electric, not hydraulic. 70% of the demand from the Leipzig body shop comes from their own press shop. Like Munich, the press shop can switch their very heavy tools extremely fast and be fully automated within three minutes. This is among the fastest I have seen in Germany, and comparable to Toyota.

They are also good with inventory, and I felt like they have small lot sizes compared to other car makers. They claim that they have at most two days worth of inventory. They are also experimenting with robots for picking up the pressed sheet metal at the end and to put in into the storage rack, but the challenge is the optical quality control, which is still better done by human eyes.

BMW Leipzig also had a very high level of 99% automation using 1400 robots to add in average 5300 spot welds. The 650 employees are mostly for maintenance, programming, and generally to keep the robots running. Only four people still add value in the press shop and insert plastic tubes for drainage in the car body. Such floppy parts are hard to automate. The robots also have automatic tool changes.

Interestingly enough, all car bodies are designed both for right hand and left hand driving, and have an opening for the steering column on either side. Only during assembly will the steering wheel be put on one side.

We also visited the light tunnel for the quality control after the body shop and before the paint shop. Here, too, they continue to improve. Side by side was an older light tunnel line, and four light cells. In the old tunnel, the problem was that quality control is unpredictable, and sometimes a problem may slow down a car body for quite some time, blocking all other stations. Since you cannot predict that, you can’t really do mixed model (or workload) sequencing. This made the light tunnel to a constant bottleneck. While I am usually in favor of lines, in this case a cell makes more sense. The four quality control cells had a much higher and more consistent output than the light tunnel lane.

They also adjusted the light. The old tunnel simulated full daylight at noon, which is good for quality but draining for the workers. The newer cells use 15:00 PM Daylight, which is much better for the biorhythm of the workers. In any case, they want to automate this within the next five to six years.

The body shop lead time is 10 hours out of the total lead time for the plant of 32 to 34 hours. This is faster than an industry average of around 40 hours. If a robot breaks down, they have both wheeled and fixed cranes to swap out the problematic robot quickly to continue production.

The paint shop has 700 employees and 144 robots adding 9kg of paint per car with a lead time of 12 hours. Like Munich they do the two color layers wet-on-wet without drying in between. We did not go to the painting line itself like in Munich, but we visited the light tunnels after the paint shop. Here they use three tunnels plus additional quality control boxes. The light changes slightly according to the color of the (now painted) car to make inspection easier.

Like Munich, cars with a different color roof go through the line twice. However, they are experimenting with what they call “zero over-spray,” where they can spray a color right next to another color without any masking tape. Not sure how that works, but it is at a trial stage. They also look into the possibility to modify the phosphate bath, where the car body takes a full dip before being painted. Currently, the bath runs at 60°, but they hope to lower the temperature to 20° and hence save a lot of energy.

Final Assembly

The 3.4 km long final assembly runs at a quite fast takt of 58 seconds per car, making around 1000 cars per day with 2000 employees at 376 stations. They work in groups of 4 to 20 workers,  in two shifts. Like all automotive assembly line, it is mostly manual work, with only 6% of the work done by machines. Like Munich, all cars go through a single assembly line, in this case the BMW 1, the BMW 2 grand coupe and active tourer (hybrid), and the Mini Countryman (also electric). The lead time is 10 hours. This line uses the quite smart  Finger Line ssystem .

I was again impressed by how clean the BMW automotive plants are. Only Porsche comes close. It had also the best estimate of the percentage of the time the worker adds value of any plant in Germany with 64%, similar to what I would expect to see at Toyota. One aspect the guide pointed out was that they heat all their cable harnesses to 35°C before assembly for a consistent quality.

I liked the plant a lot, except one (in my opinion) flaw: Their line must always run. They don’t stop the line. They do have andon cords in two colors, which before actually could slow (blue) or stop (yellow) the line, but now both merely call for help. If the car has a problem that cannot be fixed within the station, it gets removed from the line and added later again after fixing. While this does improve the output of the line somewhat, it totally takes the pressure off from actually fixing the problem. Hence, I am a bit uncertain if this is actually a good thing, and would be hesitant to copy that. My next post will look at the third BMW plant I visited in Berlin, making motor bikes. Now, go out, stop your line in case of problems and organize your industry.

If You Want to Follow in My Footsteps

BMW offers tours to the general public in Munich, Leipzig, and Berlin (their motorbike plant). For Munch you can reserve tickets here . This two-hour tour was the only one of the many tours in Germany where we actually went into the paint shop. Both tours in Munich and Leipzig were very good and the guides were very informative. You also see some fancy architecture.

PS : Many thanks to BMW for offering tours through their plants to the public!

3 thoughts on “The Grand Tour of German Automotive—BMW Leipzig”

Thanks for sharing your personal insights, Christoph! As a fellow BMW enthusiast, it’s always exciting to dive into the intricacies of automotive manufacturing, especially when it involves our favorite brand.

Looking forward to more of your BMW adventures, and let’s keep the spirit of innovation and excellence alive in the automotive world!

Hi Chris, Any way to obtain copy of your Toyota series? Thanks, Harry

Hi Harry, this is the The Grand Tour of Japanese Automotive, a series of 8 blog post. The first one is here .

Leave a Comment

Notify me of new posts by email.

Upstate, S.C.   The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX today announced the celebrity course rotation for this year’s tournament, with play taking place June 6-9 at Thornblade Club and The Carolina Country Club. The celebrity course rotation is as follows:

Thornblade Club (Thursday); The Carolina Country Club (Friday):

• Captain Danny Brown (On Patrol: Live PD)

• Connor De Phillippi (Gold Rated BMW Motorsport Works Driver)

• Jay DeMarcus (Country Pop Musician – Rascal Flatts)

• Joe Don Rooney (Country Pop Musician – Rascal Flatts)

• Debbe Dunning (Actress and Model – Home Improvement)

• Matt Hamilton (Olympic Curler and Gold Medalist)

• Matt Iseman (American Ninja Warrior Host)

• Ann Liguori (Sports Radio and Television Personality)

• OG Lott (Golf Social Media Influencer and Founder of RNG Golf Club)

• Will Lowery (Golf Channel Contributor and Podcast Host)

• Ben Soffer (Social Media Influencer and Founder and CEO of Spritz Society)

• D.B. Sweeney (TV and Film Actor)

• Justin Wheelon (Emmy Award-Winning Director and Actor)

• James Wisniewski (Professional NHL Defenseman)

• Danny Woodhead (Former NFL Running Back)

The Carolina Country Club (Thursday); Thornblade Club (Friday)

• Brian Baumgartner (Television Actor – The Office)

• Alexis Belton (World Long Drive Competitor)

• Brice Butler (Former NFL Wide Receiver)

• Larry the Cable Guy (Comedian)

• Michael Collins (ESPN Golf Analyst)

• Seth Curry (Current NBA Shooting Guard for the Charlotte Hornets)

• Marcus Jones (Current NFL Cornerback for the New England Patriots)

• Ryan Leaf (Former NFL Quarterback)

• Phillip Phillips (American Idol Winner and Musician)

• Ben Rector (Pop Singer-Songwriter and Record Producer)

• Gary Sheffield (Former MLB Outfielder)

• Roger Steele (Golf Social Media Influencer)

• David Wells (MLB World Champion)

• Vince Young (Former NFL Quarterback and College Football Hall of Fame Inductee)

The tournament format features an amateur and celebrity cut at the conclusion of 36 holes after all contestants in the field complete 18 holes at both Thornblade Club and The Carolina Country Club. Following the cut, the remaining amateur and celebrity teams, as well as professionals who make the cut in the tournament proper, will play the third round at Thornblade Club. The fourth and final round, to be contested at Thornblade, will solely feature Korn Ferry Tour professionals.

Tickets are available to the public and must be purchased in advance. To purchase tickets, visit BMWCharityGolf.com.  

Coverage of this year’s tournament will air on the Golf Channel. Scheduled broadcast times are:

• Thursday, June 6, 12pm - 2pm        

• Friday, June 7,  9am - 11am

• Saturday, June 8, 8pm - 10pm

• Sunday, June 9, 8pm - 10pm    

Funds raised during the 2024 BMW Charity Pro-Am will benefit eight featured charities: Folds of Honor Palmetto State Chapter, Friends of the Reedy River, Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute, The Hispanic Alliance, Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, Neighborhood Cancer Connection, PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well Spartanburg and Upstate Warrior Solution. As part of the tournament’s focus on charitable giving, the community is invited to participate in Birdies for Charity, a program enabling individual donors to make a one-time flat donation or pledge one cent or more per birdie during the tournament. 

To learn more or to purchase tickets to the 2024 tournament, visit www.bmwcharitygolf.com.

ABOUT THE BMW CHARITY PRO-AM PRESENTED BY TD SYNNEX 

South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI), the non-profit foundation of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX, was created in order to foster regional unity and collaboration in the Upstate; to showcase and celebrate the quality of life and vibrancy of the Upstate; and raise money and awareness for South Carolina charities. Since 2001, the tournament has distributed nearly $16 million to numerous Upstate SC non-profit organizations, part of the PGA TOUR’s $3 billion plus raised for charity.