01 May BMW Half Century
In March 1973, the newly established plant of BMW South Africa started to produce the first BMW vehicles, laying the foundation for a South African icon. Located in Rosslyn, Pretoria, this was the first BMW production site outside of Germany. Few would have imagined the critical role the subsidiary on the tip of Africa would ultimately play in developing products – and nurturing talent – for the Bavarian manufacturer.
Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of BMW AG for Production and Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW Group South Africa, said: “As the first plant outside Germany, the emotional link to South Africa is very strong. It was our first step to internationalise BMW. “Plant Rosslyn has over the past 50 years proven itself to be an essential member of our production network, consistently improving quality and productivity. The passion for the brand is clear, and the right teams with the right spirit are in place to direct its growth for the next 50 years.”
Five decades later, in addition to BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, the BMW Group SA business includes a National Sales Company that sells and distributes BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad; a Financial Services company established in 1990; and a software company (or IT Hub) servicing more than 50 countries.
Over 50 years, however, Plant Rosslyn has remained at the core of the BMW Group’s South African operation. More than R12,6 billion has been invested into the production facility by the BMW Group since 1995. To date, more than 1,6 million cars have been produced at this plant, which recently attained another significant milestone with the 300 000th X3 rolling off its assembly line.
The clearest demonstration of the BMW Group’s long-term commitment to South Africa, BMW Group Plant Rosslyn has over the years produced iconic cars unique to this country. Products such as the 2000 SA, 745i, 530 MLE, 333i, as well as the 325iS have laid the basis for the typical BMW brand DNA to become genuinely South African.
Peter van Binsbergen, CEO of BMW Group SA and the first South African to occupy this seat, said: “BMW Group Plant Rosslyn is an iconic production facility within the BMW Group, and BMW Group SA is a global success story for the business! Plant Rosslyn represents a cornerstone of the BMW Group’s global production network of more than 30 sites in 15 countries. We built the 3 Series here for more than 30 years. BMW SA benefited from the successful adoption of a government-endorsed export programme from 1995 before transitioning to an “X” plant in 2018.”
“Given our rich and colourful history, while we acknowledge our past, our 50th celebration is an equally good time to look ahead. I can only say thank you to the people of South Africa for allowing us to serve you for the past 50 years. We are not only a corporate citizen in South Africa, but through our people and our vehicles, we are a part of the fabric of South African society. Wait until you see what we intend for the next 50 years!”