Here you can see the webcast of the BMW Group Press Conference at the Auto Shanghai 2025 iX Home » BMW iX Facelift Enters Production In Dingolfing BMW’s longest-range electric model is officially rolling off the assembly line in Dingolfing. The German factory has kicked off series production of the iX facelift The launch comes a little over a month after the world premiere the large electric SUV has managed to rack up more than 130,000 sales since it went on sale in 2021 The iX is built alongside the i5 sedan and wagon, as well as the flagship i7, together with their combustion-engine counterparts. The plant in southern Bavaria produces the 4 Series and all its derivatives. Rumor has it that the next-generation 3 Series (G50) will also be made there It’s certainly not going to be assembled in Munich since the historic plant will switch exclusively to EVs starting in 2027 Codenamed “I20,” the iX might not live to see a second generation. As BMWBLOG reported in July 2024 the next-generation X5 (“G65”) is expected to spawn a fully electric version the new X6 (“G66”) and X7 (“G67”) are also likely to get the EV treatment Doing another iX wouldn’t make much sense since it would clash with the more established X models Since the iX facelift just hit the assembly line, the silent luxobarge still has a few good years ahead. Our sources close to BMW claim production won’t end until mid-2028. At that point, we reckon the iX5 will have already been in production for a while The two models will peacefully coexist for a while before the iX is retired Its replacement will stick to the CLAR platform of the gas model rather than switch to Neue Klasse Beyond the major upgrades to the battery and electric motors the iX also gets an M Sport Package for the first time There’s even a higher-end M Sport Pro Package to spice things up even more customization options now include 23-inch wheels and some fresh colors Buyers can order the biggest electric SUV to carry the roundel in Space Silver More from iX 2025 BMWBLOG | Change consent Welcome to www.automotivelogistics.media. This site uses cookies. Read our policy By 2025-03-03T17:01:00+00:00 The OEM’s German plant has partnered with Landshut University of Applied Sciences to develop an AI tool that makes container management more efficient BMW Dingolfing’s AI solution for empty bins is boosting efficiency Germany has partnered with students from Landshut University of Applied Sciences to develop an innovative solution for plant logistics using AI to make container management more efficient The partnership has developed a tool that automates the counting of empty containers using AI around 1,600 different types of containers are in circulation every day a video of the containers taken on a mobile phone can be used to determine the exact number per container variant due to QR codes placed above the block storage lanes which link to a database of container data The AI analyses the video and calculates the number of containers in real-time Read more: How smarter packaging design is becoming a competitive advantage in autonomous automotive logistics “Our goal was to automate empties counting as efficiently and simply as possible,” said Wolfgang Schratzenstaller “Students bring in new perspectives and unbiased approaches,” Schratzenstaller added the eight-person team developed the cost-effective solution An IT masters’ student who worked on the project explained: “QR codes are places above the block storage lanes which link to a database of container data The AI analyses the video and calculates the number of containers.” The system is currently in the pilot phase to test its performance but BMW hopes the solution will be scaled and used in other areas of plant logistics in the future It is also planned to further automate the counting process by using autonomous Smart Transport Robots (STR) to record the videos At the upcoming Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Europe event running from 18-20 March 2025 at the Kameha Grand Bonn in Germany we will be launching our new packaging focus We will be diving deeper into how innovative packaging solutions and container management strategies are becoming the next competitive advantage in the automotive supply chain and driving sustainability through optimised material flows and cutting-edge designs with input from experts at CHEP, Tri-Wall Circular, GALIA and ODETTE The packaging focus will also be looking at European packaging and waste regulation and the implications for the automotive industry Experts will share strategies to navigate compliance and implement eco-friendly packaging solutions while maintaining cost efficiency and supply chain resilience Register now to secure your place at the event.  Renault is reducing CO2 and logistics waste by embedding circular economy and reuse strategies into its packaging operations the automotive industry is rethinking packaging – placing sustainability cost efficiency and innovation at the core of ongoing discussions Orbis is opening a packaging production plant in Greenville Texas that will make its full range of reusable totes and pallets for the automtoive sector Site powered by Webvision Cloud BMW Group has initiated production of its new M5 Touring at its Dingolfing facility marking a significant milestone as the third generation of the performance wagon introduces hybrid technology for the first time The launch follows four months after the start of M5 Sedan production at the same plant The latest M5 Touring represents a strategic blend of performance and practicality featuring an innovative M Hybrid powertrain that combines a high-performance V8 engine with an electric motor This hybrid system delivers a combined output of 535 kW/727 hp and maximum torque of 1,000 Nm the new BMW 5 Series family ‘made in Dingolfing’ is complete,” said Plant Director Christoph Schröder “We can now offer customers of our core model series worldwide a unique variety of drive technologies and body variants.” The vehicle’s plug-in hybrid system features an 18.6kWh battery enabling up to 42 miles of pure electric range Charging capabilities include support for up to 7.4kW through a standard home wallbox The electric motor contributes approximately 200bhp and 200lb ft of torque working in conjunction with the 4.4-litre biturbo V8 through an eight-speed StepTronic transmission Performance figures for the M5 Touring include a 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds – just 0.1 seconds slower than its Sedan counterpart The standard top speed is electronically limited to 155mph though this can be increased to 189mph with the optional M Driver’s Package The M5 Touring becomes the seventh M model to be produced at Dingolfing joining an exclusive lineup that includes the M4 Coupé and Convertible BMW M models represent approximately six percent of the plant’s total production output the vehicle’s low CO2 emissions of 46 g/km offer tax advantages with Ireland notably pricing the M5 Touring below the M3 Touring due to its plug-in hybrid technology BMW has started production of the revised iX The electric model has been built at the site since 2021 and has since been sold more than 130,000 times worldwide The iX – or more precisely the iX xDrive60 version – is the BMW Group’s longest-range electric model to date with 701 kilometres according to WLTP and ‘the company’s most important all-electric innovation in 2025’ the Munich-based company qualifies: “before the ‘New Class’ makes its debut at the end of the year.” BMW has not yet decided whether this only applies to the most important electric innovation or whether the upcoming iX3 will also exceed the 701-kilometre standard range describes the iX as a “special vehicle for us.” “Four years ago it paved the way for many future technologies here on-site,” says Schröder “It marked the beginning of the all-electric vehicle era in our plant.” i5 and their estate offshoots are now also built in Dingolfing – four electric models in future also an electric sedan in the 3 Series segment) and Regensburg (iX1 With the facelift presented in January BMW has only slightly adapted the polarising design of the iX; the focus was on updates to the technology the battery data and performance values of the drives have changed in all three versions The base model iX xDrive 40 becomes the iX xDrive 45 which has 60 kW more system power (300 kW) and can therefore accelerate to 100 kph a whole second faster – in 5.1 instead of 6.1 seconds The iX xDrive 60 (previously with the code number 50) increases its system output from 385 to 400 kW and accelerates from a standstill to 100 kph in 4.6 seconds – these two variants stop accelerating at 200 kph The top-of-the-range iX M70 xDrive model (previously iX M60 xDrive) gets a power boost of 30 kW to 485 kW in future and offers up to 1,100 Nm of maximum torque in ‘My Mode Sport.’ With Launch Control the BMW SUV should reach 100 kph in 3.8 seconds; with the ‘one-foot rollout’ method it should even be just 3.5 seconds The M model can reach speeds of up to 250 kph As the battery has also been increased in all three model variants the ranges are increasing (at least according to WLTP) The base model will gain particularly strongly with the facelift as the energy content will increase by around 30 per cent to 94.8 kWh thanks to new battery cells – previously it was only 74.1 kWh The changes for the other two models are minimal: the iX xDrive60 has 109.1 kWh (previously 108.8 kWh) while the iX M70 xDrive has 108.9 kWh instead of 108.6 kWh press.bmwgroup.com I agree with the Privacy policy electrive has been following the development of electric mobility with journalistic passion and expertise since 2013 we offer comprehensive coverage of the highest quality — as a central platform for the rapid development of this technology News Home » BMW 3 Series Production Moving To Dingolfing Plant: Report From the E21 to the G20, all seven generations of the 3 Series have been built at home in Munich. However, that may change with the arrival of the G50 in a few years A new report from a Bimmer Post forum member claims the eight-gen sports sedan will be assembled at the Dingolfing plant from the second half of 2026 Logic tells us the more practical G51 Touring will be produced in Dingolfing That’s where the bigger 5 Series and 7 Series are also assembled That raises some questions about available production capacity given how busy the plant already is. It’s a valid concern when you consider the 4 Series and iX are assembled in Dingolfing as well. However, there are worrying reports the 4er lineup won’t be renewed for the next generation with combustion engines the iX is unlikely to stick around after this gen seeing as how BMW is preparing a fully electric iX5 EV versions of the next X6 and X7 are also on the agenda These three large electric SUVs would surely cannibalize sales of the iX But why is BMW allegedly taking the 3 Series out of Munich? To facilitate the historic plant’s transition to electric cars. The Neue Klasse-based i3 sedan will hit the assembly line in 2026. By the end of 2027, it’s been officially confirmed the factory will only make EVs It’ll become the first existing plant in the production network to exclusively build zero-emission models The first-ever factory to do so will be the upcoming Debrecen plant The Hungarian site will become operational in the second half of 2025 when production of the Neue Klasse iX3 is scheduled to commence Every second car built in Munich already doesn’t have a combustion engine, so the path is clear. In 2023, BMW made 217,480 cars in Munich, up by 8% compared to the year before. Even so, the site was only in sixth place in the global production network based on the volume of cars. Dadong (China) was the most prolific followed by Spartanburg (USA) with 410,793 cars and Tiexi (China) with 307,972 vehicles To facilitate Munich’s switch to EVs BMW is spending €650 million at the site where the first gas car Source: Bimmer Post More from News Home » BMW Pauses Production At Dingolfing Factory BMW is going through a rough patch in China where demand has slowed down. In addition, around 1.5 million vehicles have been impacted by a potentially faulty integrated braking system supplied by Continental. That includes 320,000 vehicles that haven’t been delivered to customers yet These unforeseen issues have now put the brakes on production at the company’s largest plant in Europe Located in southern Bavaria, the Dingolfing site is currently on a hiatus It stopped making cars on Thursday afternoon (September 12) and won’t resume operations until Tuesday morning (September 17) Contacted by the business newspaper Automobilewoche a BMW spokesperson confirmed the production pause is caused by the two issues we mentioned earlier BMW manufactured 291,907 cars at the Dingolfing factory in 2023 It’s where the new M5 Sedan and M5 Touring are being made alongside the regular 5 Series models the 4 Series and M4 models are produced there as well The flagship 7 Series and fully electric iX are assembled at the same German site alongside the 8 Series the final 6 Series Gran Turismo rolled off the assembly line The 8er lineup isn’t expected to stick around for much longer body shells for Rolls-Royce vehicles are produced there In case you’re wondering which car hit the assembly line first it was an Iberian Red carbureted 5 Series (520 Almost two-thirds of all vehicles built in Dingolfing have been 5er models Source: Automobilwoche (subscription required) 4 Series Home » 23 BMWs Pose Outside Dingolfing Factory In Germany BMW’s Dingolfing site in Germany is one of its busiest assembly plants in the global production network It ended in fourth place among the company’s most prolific factories BMW puts together a multitude of products at the plant in southern Bavaria What better way to show off the goods than by organizing a family portrait? We counted no fewer than 23 BMWs occupying the streets outside the Dingolfing factory. The latest member to hit the assembly line is the “G99” as the long-awaited M5 Touring entered production earlier this month You can see the super wagon in the background it’s widely believed the 8er and iX won’t be renewed for the next generation The BMW Dingolfing site celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2023 at which point 12 million vehicles had been built the factory also produces bodies for all Rolls-Royce models More than 18,000 people were working there at the end of last year assembling around 1,500 cars on a daily basis Plant Dingolfing is the BMW Group’s largest European production site. It’s where the luxury brand wants fully electric vehicles to account for 40% of the total output in 2024. The i5 sedan/wagon and i7 are all built there, alongside the iX and the low-volume armored i7 Protection. If you recall, it’s also where BMW assembled 50 units of its most expensive car ever, the 3.0 CSL Source: BMW Group Werk Dingolfing / Instagram A post shared by BMW Group Werk Dingolfing (@bmwgroupwerkdingolfing) More from 4 Series Home » Dingolfing Plant has Built More than 1.5 million Electric Motors The BMW Group has announced a significant milestone at its Component Plant 02.20 in Dingolfing the facility has produced more than 1.5 million electric motors the plant began its transition to focus on electromobility starting with around 200 employees producing electric motors and high-voltage batteries for BMW’s early plug-in hybrids and fully electric models The fifth generation of these components started production in 2020 Dingolfing isn’t BMW’s most productive plant it’s still shy of BMW’s much newer Spartanburg many of which are either hybrids or fully electric vehicles To meet the increasing global demand for electrified vehicles BMW Group has established a network of e-drive production facilities in Leipzig For the new sixth generation of high-voltage batteries which will be used in models of the Neue Klasse starting in 2025 BMW is setting up additional locations in the US These sites are positioned near BMW vehicle plants to follow the “local for local” principle Dingolfing’s expertise will support the development of these new facilities The plant is involved in skills development for the new facility in Debrecen and the high-voltage battery plant in Irlbach-Straßkirchen which will produce the next generation of electric motors BMW has officially started production of its seventh-generation M5 sedan at its Dingolfing plant in Bavaria This marks a significant milestone for the iconic high-performance vehicle as it is the first M5 to feature an electrified drivetrain The new M5 combines a V8 engine with an electric motor in a hybrid system that delivers a total output of 727 horsepower This powerful combination allows the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds provides an electric-only range of 67 to 69 kilometers according to WLTP standards Plant Director Christoph Schröder expressed pride in the facility’s role in producing the M5 “We are proud to be building the latest generation of the iconic M5 here in Dingolfing.” He highlighted the plant’s long history with the model noting that Dingolfing has been fully responsible for M5 production since 1988 The production process for the new M5 involves several specialized steps The vehicle’s body undergoes modifications in the body shop to accommodate its wider frame and M-specific rear axle customers can choose from ten standard colors or 150 special-request finishes Schröder also emphasized the plant’s integrated approach to manufacturing “Under one roof production approach.” Many key components including the chassis and high-voltage battery are produced on-site or at nearby facilities the plant expects to build several dozen M5 vehicles daily The European market launch is scheduled for November 2 the plant will begin production of the new BMW M5 Touring expanding the M5 lineup to include a wagon variant This new hybrid M5 represents a significant step in BMW’s electrification strategy blending high performance with increased efficiency in one of its most renowned models In the not too distant future, fully-autonomous vehicles are expected to proliferate our roads, but before that happens, carmakers are looking to use self-driving systems to maximize production efficiency. At BMW vehicles at its plants in Dingolfing and Leipzig The German company has been testing the advanced systems since 2022 the BMW 5-Series and 7-Series models built at the plant drive themselves along a route of more than one kilometer from two assembly halls and through a small test course They then end up at the plant’s finishing area Read: BMW’s Flagship Munich Plant Will Build Only EVs From 2027, So Where’s The ICE 3-Series Going? BMW will also introduce the system at its Regensburg and Oxford production facilities will also use the technology when it begins series production “Automated Driving In-Plant optimizes our production process and delivers significant efficiency gains for our logistics,” BMW board management responsible for production “That is why we will be swiftly rolling out this technology throughout our production network.” BMW plans to expand the use of the technology for other areas of vehicle production allowing newly-built cars to drive themselves through testing zones and across outdoor distribution areas more on-board technology will be used to support the external sensors VW Sell More EVs, Yet Makes a Lot Less Money Ram Reveals Revamped, Stylish Sub-$50K 1500 Express Home/NewsBMW cars now drive themselves off the assembly lineBMW and MINI are transforming car manufacturing with self-driving vehicles that navigate themselves off the assembly line BMW has been testing what it calls Automated Driving In-Plant (known by its German acronym AFW) since 2022 during a pilot project in its largest new vehicle production plant in Dingolfing While over 17,000 employees build a wide variety of BMW models at Dingolfing (4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Series), as well as EV components and Rolls-Royce bodies the AFW technology there is currently being used to produce the 5 Series and 7 Series BMWs which allows this technology to be used throughout the EU BMW plans to go to series operation with the AFW system New vehicles in Dingolfing are driving fully autonomously from the assembly halls through a short test course to the finishing area External LIDAR sensors along the cars’ entire route control their automated movements and do not rely on any semi-autonomous features that each individual vehicle may be equipped with This has been achieved with state-of-the-art cloud architecture combined with Europe’s largest LIDAR infrastructure BMW’s Leipzig plant is the next to have AFW integrated into its production process Leipzig uses around 5,600 employees to produce about 1,000 vehicles per day Leipzig’s implementation of AFW will see about 90% of the MINI and BMW vehicles produced there using this automated driving system within the plant Future plans include the use of AFW to drive through the full testing zone ending up outdoors where the vehicles can be loaded onto trucks or trains for further distribution BMW plans to constantly refine the AFW technology potentially improving the system’s performance through the use of on-board sensors inside the production vehicles This should enable the external LIDAR sensors to work better and more precisely BMW hopes to use its learnings from the AFW system to enhance its implementation of autonomous driving systems in the upcoming years Additional BMW factories that are slated to receive the AFW self-driving system are Regensburg in Germany and Oxford in the UK with both slated to receive the system in 2025 where the BMW Neue Klasse EVs will be built will also receive the AFW technology by the time it begins series production in late 2025 LLC and respective content providers on this website Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroupwerkdingolfing/ Plant Dingolfing is the BMW Group’s largest European production site The M5 Touring is the seventh M model to be produced at the facility representing about 6% of the plant's overall output BMW Group has commenced series production of the new BMW M5 Touring at its Dingolfing facility in Germany four months after the BMW M5 Sedan began rolling off the same production line The new M5 Touring is noted for its M HYBRID drive train that combines a high-revving V8 engine with an e-drive system delivering a peak performance of 535kW/727hp and a maximum torque of 1,000Nm The BMW M5 Touring’s advanced powertrain offers a combined consumption of 2.0 l/100km and 30.7kWh/100 km its fuel consumption with a discharged battery is 10.9 l/100km categorising it in CO2 emissions class B when weighted and class G with a discharged battery The addition of the BMW M5 Touring to the Dingolfing plant’s production portfolio reinforces the location’s role in manufacturing BMW M high-performance vehicles The M5 Touring is the seventh M model produced at the facility which accounts for approximately 6% of the plant’s total output Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis The plant also manufactures the BMW M4 Coupe and Convertible BMW Group Plant Director Christoph Schroder said: “With the BMW M5 Touring the new BMW 5 Series family ‘made in Dingolfing’ is complete Recently , BMW Group has also commenced production of the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe at the Leipzig plant will join a diverse production lineup that includes the BMW 1 Series Nominations are now open for the prestigious Just Auto Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network By clicking here, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and consent to us collection your details for the purposes of your enquiry The artifacts include pieces of gold jewelry like this earring in the shape of a boat or barge from more than 2,000 years ago The wealth of grave goods suggests the person buried there was a leader of high status — possibly a Stone Age chieftain a "mayor" was buried with a wealth of food and riches according to archaeologists who found the rare burial in southern Germany the discovery was made last week by district archaeologists excavating at the village of Exing The person in the grave was buried with food and drink for the afterlife; dyes for body painting; a stone ax and a stone adze; and a boar's tooth split in two.  The rich grave goods indicate that the person buried there was of high status possibly an elder or a chieftain — and archaeologists have dubbed them "The Mayor." The investigation hasn't yet determined how old the person was when they died Related: 'Octagonal' sword from Bronze Age burial in Germany is so well preserved, it shines as very few Neolithic skeletons have survived Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox the finds indicated a person of special position who was older in years and had probably earned their wealth and status The two parts of a boar's tooth were probably two halves of a container that had once held a flint blade and tools for making fire — a symbol of status because hunting wild boars was dangerous at that time The person in the grave was buried in a squatting position and several vessels had been placed around their head — but it's not yet known what they originally held.  A drinking vessel placed in front of the skeleton's face was probably their personal cup and stone blades were also placed in the grave.  The spectacular finds from Exing span roughly 7,000 years from the Neolithic through to the Copper and Bronze Ages —11,000-year-old submerged stone wall discovered off Germany was once used to trap reindeer —Nearly 8,000 medieval coins and 7 Bronze Age swords unearthed in Germany —Wishing well used for Bronze Age 'cult rituals' discovered in Bavaria Eibl said the area was important during the Neolithic period for its rich settlements such as Köthingeichendorf, which was a center of importance throughout Europe at that time.  The skeleton of "The Mayor" will now be examined on site by an anthropologist and have photographs taken to produce a precise 3D model. The technique, known as photogrammetry, involves stitching multiple digital images together to make a virtual model. Live Science ContributorTom Metcalfe is a freelance journalist and regular Live Science contributor who is based in London in the United Kingdom Ancient Egyptians drew the Milky Way on coffins and tombs Space photo of the week: Record-breaking James Webb telescope image captures 1,678 galaxy groups at once BMW M5 Home » 2025 BMW M5 G90 Enters Production the new BMW M5 has already hit the assembly line The G90 comes to life in Germany at the Dingolfing plant where the super sedan has a long tradition pre-assembled bodies for the original E28 were made there the first-gen M5s were hand-finished by BMW M in Garching the cars have been fully built in Dingolfing The super sedan is built alongside the regular 5 Series and the smaller 4 Series and M4 models. Later this year, the hotly anticipated M5 Touring is also going to be manufactured at the same factory. BMW claims the G99 will enter production before the sedan’s market launch in Europe on November 2. Meanwhile, the G90 has no fewer than 150 special colors from the Individual catalog which we’re not expecting to see on the wagon The two G90 models BMW chose to highlight are for different markets. The seemingly Speed Yellow M5 is for Europe while the Isle of Men Green is likely for the United States Eagle-eyed readers will notice the orange side reflectors on the wheel arches – a mandatory feature in the US That amber light is also found in the upper corner of the headlights The G90 duo also provides a good opportunity to see the 2025 M5 with different wheel designs The yellow car has the Style 951 M set in black while the green one has two-tone 952 M alloys measuring 20 inches at the front and 21 inches at the rear The shoes come wrapped in 285/40 ZR20 and 295/35 ZR21 tires We can’t help but spot the gold brake calipers of the yellow M5 indicating that the car had the optional carbon-ceramic brakes After pressing the start button on production BMW plans to ramp up output to several dozen M5s a day in the coming weeks That carbon fiber roof we mentioned is sourced from just 30 kilometers (19 miles) away at the plant in Landshut The chassis and 18.6-kWh battery pack come from within the Dingolfing site Even though it’s manufactured on the same assembly line alongside the lesser 5 Series G60 More from BMW M5 Head of CommunicationsTelephone: +49 8731 76 22020 CommunicationsTelephone: +49 8731 76 25449 Communications Production Network BMW GroupTelephone: + 49 89 382 31181 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmwgroup/ Supported Characters→ alphanumeric→ space→ dash Operators→ &→ |→ ( … ) Example→ (hybrid | electric) & suv & perodua to match arictles of perodua suv with either hybrid or electric engine Phone: +49 8731 76 22020, email: Julian.Friedrich@bmw.de Phone: +49 8731 76 27666, email: Thomas.Niedermeier@bmwgroup.com Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com, www.bmw-werk-dingolfing.de Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroupwerkdingolfing/ 5 Series Home » New BMW 5 Series Touring Starts Production at Plant Dingolfing BMW Group Plant Dingolfing has officially begun production of the new 5 Series Touring, marking a significant milestone for the company. This latest iteration of the popular wagon is offered for the first time with four different powertrains: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and all electric “Our BMW 5 Series Touring is especially important for Germany and the European market and a lot of customers have been waiting for it,” said Plant Director Christoph Schröder because that’s when the new Touring – now in its sixth generation – will reach dealers’ showrooms and the first cars are handed over to customers The new model is already available to order now has been the exclusive manufacturing hub for the BMW 5 Series Touring since its debut in 1991 it has produced more than 1.2 million units becoming a cornerstone of BMW’s production capabilities The new BMW 5 Series Touring continues this tradition being manufactured flexibly alongside the BMW 5 Series Sedan and BMW 4 and 6 Series models on a single production line This flexibility is part of a strategic investment in the plant which amounted to approximately 80 million euros for the new BMW 5 Series Touring project Schröder further commented on the integral role of the BMW 5 Series in Dingolfing’s identity describing it as part of the plant’s DNA The launch of the new Touring model not only signifies the continuation of a successful model series but also represents a significant step towards the plant’s future in premium vehicle production BMW 5 Series vehicles accounted for about a third of Dingolfing’s output with the introduction of the new Touring model expectations are set for a substantial increase in production numbers in 2024 First drives of the BMW 5 Series Touring are scheduled in May so expect to learn more about the driving experience of the new sports wagon shortly after. Of course, the BMW 5 Series Touring remains an European affair, but the U.S. market will get its fair share of a wagon with the introduction of the G99 BMW M5 Touring later this year More from 5 Series Home » BMW Dingolfing plant: Corona case confirmed in the workforce The person concerned is undergoing medical treatment with only mild symptoms so far It goes without saying that a very thorough disinfection of the plant was arranged and carried out The colleagues who had contact with the person in question and who could potentially have been infected with the coronavirus Production at the BMW plant in Dingolfing is currently not affected and is continuing as planned the effects of the corona virus on the BMW Group’s production have so far been limited Even if the production in the three Chinese plants resumed long after the involuntary extension of the New Year holidays is also dependent on the scheduled deliveries from its suppliers In addition to the numerous suppliers from China the deteriorating situation in Italy and other European countries also plays an important role because important suppliers are also based there The link with suppliers and partners in China has already shown BMW ramps up electric car motor output at Dingolfing plant In addition to concerns about their own production ability there is concern about the willingness of customers to buy new products No reliable forecasts are currently viable But one thing is certain: there is currently a big question mark over the entire automotive industry [Source: Bimmertoday] Telephone: 49 8731 76 22020, Email: Bernd.Eckstein@bmw.de Telephone: +49 89 382 54459, Email: Frank.Wienstroth@bmw.de Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com, www.bmw-werk-dingolfing.de Email: presse@bmw.de Germany you’ll find the Schusterkapelle (Schuster Chapel) you’ll find a decorated wooden display―and in that display you’ll find a staggering collection of carefully painted skulls You've arrived at the Dingolfing Ossuary and decorative patterns inscribed on the over 60 skulls stored within this chapel. Schusterkapelle was built in the 17th century and if you look closely you can see years written across several of the skulls The skulls are displayed on several shelves in the theatrical 15th-century wooden frames they’ll come across several paintings capturing various scenes of death and resurrection while painted wooden cut-outs of souls in purgatory appear to burn in shadowy niches below All of which served to remind the visitor: you too shall join these ranks The chapel seems to go by several names depending on who you ask including "Schusterkapelle" "Erasmikapelle"and the “Dreifaltigkeitskirche." It is the smaller brick building in the side yard of the St The mystery of the Putim Ossuary involves a tricorn hat An ossuary built in 1210 to collect bones from the Ospedale Maggiore of Milan The walls and ceiling of this Polish church are decorated with thousands of skulls Under a church hides a forgotten 13th-century ossuary containing the remains of around 2,500 people The bones of some 7,000 soldiers killed in the historic Battle of Solferino are stored here Mary of Eulogies and the Dead you are left alone to ponder mortality among piles of skulls A 1,000-year-old church holds the bones of the Christian martyrs who died hiding inside it This Peruvian bone silo lined with hanging human skeletons and hundreds of skulls is topped with a remarkable Michelangelo replica Bernd Eckstein, BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Head of CommunicationsTelefon: +49 8731 76 22020, E-Mail: Bernd.Eckstein@bmw.de Benedikt Fischer BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, CommunicationsTelefon: +49 8731 76 25449, E-Mail: Benedikt.Fischer@bmw.de Website: www.press.bmwgroup.com, www.bmw-plant-dingolfing.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroupwerkdingolfing/E-mail: presse@bmw.de 7 Series Home » BMW Has Built Two Million 7 Series Sedans At Dingolfing Factory BMW has been assembling the 7 Series at the Dingolfing plant in Germany the flagship luxury sedan has been in continuous production at the German factory The two-millionth vehicle has rolled off the assembly line as a purely electric i7 xDrive60 in Carbon Black with a vegan leather interior Dingolfing initially kicked off production of the 7er back in 1977 before switching to the E32 in 1986 followed by the E65 in 2001 and the F01 in 2008 the previous-generation car hit the assembly line for the first time in 2015 While most of them were offered with an optional long wheelbase the G70 comes in only one size and it’s bigger than any of its predecessors To prepare the factory for the G70’s arrival BMW has invested more than €300 million in recent years The fullsize saloon drives itself from the moment it leaves the assembly line to the finishing area by automatically receiving guidance from external sensors mounted along the route It’s the first 7 Series to come in EV form Except for the original E23, all previous 7 Series generations have been offered with a V12 engine. However, that’s not the case anymore as the latest iteration does away with the M760i version. It has been indirectly replaced by the M760e with an electrified inline-six gasoline engine. Come 2023, another M Performance version will join the lineup as the fully electric i7 M70 To be sold exclusively with dual motors and xDrive the range-topping 7 Series promises to offer “well over 600 horsepower” and more than 1,000 Nm (737 lb-ft) The electric punch will enable the stately EV to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in less than four seconds While BMW is still offering sporty versions, ALPINA has announced it won’t come out with a new B7 based on the latest 7 Series More from 7 Series By 2020-02-24T11:34:00 BMW Group and three partner companies from the Bavarian region of Germany are expanding the use of industry 4.0 innovations in production logistics at the OEM’s Dingolfing plant The move comes as part of a three-year research project supported by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs The BMW Group and three partner companies from the Bavarian region of Germany are expanding the use of industry 4.0 innovations in production logistics at the OEM’s Dingolfing plant The Autonomous and Connected Logistics research project was officially launched in September 2019 A number of industry 4.0 production technologies which produces both high voltage batteries and electric engines for BMW’s plug-in hybrid models To continue reading this article and others like it, please SIGN-IN or REGISTER FREE today By creating your account you will be able to stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments, trends and analysis, read in-depth reports and intelligence Gain access to our exclusive content and features register free today Non-registered users are able to access one AL exclusive articles per week. You have now used your allocation.To continue reading this article and others like it, please SIGN-IN or REGISTER FREE today The US will prohibit the sale and import of connected vehicle hardware and software systems Hyundai and Nvidia will collaborate on virtual simulation environments for autonomous driving technology and robotics systems Car buyers looking for a Hyundai can now buy their preferred model through the Amazon Autos website Germany) largest manufacturing site in Europe — in area (2.8 million m2) and volume (360,000 cars in 2015) — is situated in Dingolfing More than 17,000 employees — 12,000 in the plant and another 5,000 in surrounding support facilities — turn out 1,600 cars per day but also one model each of the 3 and 4 Series It also turns out components for BMW’s electric vehicles and as the company’s Center of Competence for aluminum it builds car bodies for Rolls-Royce (Manchester “We’ve learned how to handle complexity,” emphasizes Plant Dingolfing managing director Josef Kerscher “We are the only automotive manufacturing facility worldwide to handle not only this many different models but also engines from three to 12 cylinders The Dingolfing complex began as the Hans Glas GmbH auto factory BMW has produced almost 10 million vehicles there Dingolfing has undergone an upgrade valued at more than a half billion euros for the new 7 Series production alone including increased automation and aluminum die casting along with a new carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) production hall and a new state-of-the-art facility to produce the first body-in-white (BIW) combining steel The multi-material BIW is a big reason why the 7 Series is breaking new ground in top-of-the-line vehicle performance and luxury (for more on the latter see Learn More located under Editor's Picks on the top right) The BMW 7 Series is 130 kg lighter than its predecessor and its principal competitor Although only 3% of the BIW parts are CFRP It contributes to what BMW calls Efficient Dynamics which reduces fuel consumption and emissions while enhancing the driver experience “I get 100 km from 4.5 liters of gas,” says Kerscher “This is what you would expect from a very small car The key to this is lightweight construction.” Sixteen CFRP parts make up the Carbon Core each manufactured using one of four technologies (Fig with each chosen to meet specific part shape and property requirements BMW head of Process Chain Body-In-White and Exterior points out the Carbon Core parts on a 7 Series BIW displayed at the entrance to the plant’s 11,000m2 CFRP production/logistics area “It uses CF prepreg covered with a film of epoxy adhesive Both are hardened to the formed steel B-pillar in one press step.” High-pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM) is used in the roof rail while wet compression molding (or wet pressing short-duration cycle times for parts such as the tunnel Ahlers explains that for rear cross member/upper trunk cover (Fig adhesive is used to isolate the CFRP from the aluminum There are no through-hole fasteners to act as a corrosion bridge the aluminum is painted (black) to prevent corrosion from environmental factors “The key is to have the right materials and to have them support each other,” says Ahlers The cross member/trunk cover is molded from epoxy sheet molding compound (SMC) reinforced with recycled carbon fiber derived from 7 Series waste as well as waste from cutting dry fabrics for BMW’s i3 and i8 moldings These leavings are carded and formed into nonwoven mat the knowledge is where to put the resin in and how to press it all to avoid dry areas which happens if you have too much fiber,” says Ahlers you have too much resin and not enough mechanical properties.” The recycled carbon fiber SMC parts are not made by BMW, but instead are delivered from a supplier and use epoxy resin. The type of epoxy used, however, is optimized per process. For example, Hexion's (Columbus US) quick-curing EP TRAC 0600/EK TRAC 06130 epoxy is used in the 7 Series’ HP-RTM roof bows and the wet compression molded tunnel BMW continues to work closely with its resin suppliers “We have developed faster resins since the i3 and i8,” Ahlers notes starting with coupon testing to feed the simulations and then moving up through components to qualify each material for each part.” “We have a good relationship with them and we also build some tools in-house.” The sills that run along the lower sides of the BIW are assembled from two CFRP parts, also wet compression molded. A sill manufacturing cell equipped with two Kuka Robotics Corp. (Augsburg Germany) robotic arms applies epoxy resin simultaneously to two dry textile preforms The non-crimp fabric (NCF) for the preforms is made at BMW’s joint venture plant SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers The resin is mixed and injected via a dual-head system supplied by Krauss-Maffei Corporation (Munich with an integrated volume flowmeter that records the quantity applied to each stack The resin forms a pool in the center of the stacks leaving about an inch or so around the edges then the needle grippers we use to pick up the preforms would get covered in resin and no longer work,” explains Wolferseder (Figs “The resin application is programmed to fully impregnate to the edges during the pressing.”  “Because both preforms should be the same,” Wolferseder responds “with the resin sitting on them for the same amount of time one preform would have resin sitting for some seconds more than the other Two molded stacks are produced with one stroke (Fig “We will cut these in half so that we end up with four parts from one cycle,” says Wolferseder “We mostly use tools with four cavities to increase the overall output capacity of our machines.” The prepreg used to reinforce the B pillars is delivered from Hexcel Austria (Neumarkt) using epoxy resin from an undisclosed supplier and carbon fiber from SGL Carbon SE (Wiesbaden) which are stacked onto trolleys and rolled into the workcell’s feed station “The solid green layer on top is the epoxy adhesive which will bond the CFRP to the hot-formed steel B-pillar,” says Wolferseder “but also provide isolation against galvanic corrosion.” A robot picks up two of the adhesive-coated prepreg preforms and places them on a light table to enable an automated stack orientation check which is completed in a few seconds by a Vision Machine Technic (Mannheim The robot then picks up the preforms again and after returning to the workcell’s periphery swivels to the other side of the robot transit aisle and places the prewforms into one of several drawers in a convection oven the CFRP preforms and the steel B-pillars are preheated before pressing The preforms are then transferred from the heating drawer to a forming station where they are placed onto and shaped by a set of pins that essentially form an articulated tool the two shaped preforms are mated to two preheated steel B pillars and then fed into the press molds a complete set of left and right B-pillars in one stroke Wolferseder explains that the presses used here are the same as those employed in wet pressing but the pre-and post-press equipment is completely different A short drive from the CFRP Shop is the 40,000m2 Body Shop where CFRP parts and metal parts from the Press Shop are joined into modules which then are assembled into the 7 Series BIW CW’s tour here is led by Christoph Roth head of production for the BMW 7 Series Body-in-White Scanning the floor from an overhead viewing bay the high degree of automation is obvious — 460 robotic arms are used in the shop’s 7 Series section alone overseen by 130 technicians per shift.  Roth explains that CFRP parts come into this building through an exterior washing area where dust from machining is removed “All of the parts do this except for the B-pillars because they are not machined and they are also not bonded during BIW production “This washing and then drying is necessary because all of these parts will be bonded so the surfaces must be very clean.” The CFRP parts are fed into the Body Shop on a just-in-time (JIT) basis directed from the overall production control system the parts are sent to one of the 20 automated production cells that join the CFRP parts to metal These cells produce parts for all 7 Series derivatives including left and right hand drives and extra-length version.  “Figuring out how to join all of these parts and the production cells needed was the challenge,” says Roth “Every joining method already existed somewhere in the automotive industry but the challenge was how to bring it all together with these new materials and make it all work for our production cycles.” The roof frames and lower sill reinforcements are glued and riveted but the rivets are used only to hold the glued surfaces in contact until the epoxy adhesive cures “We decide on what fasteners to use depending on where the part is in the car the material and also the access,” he explains for which we have also developed very innovative new technology.” The latter require no pilot hole feature an undercut beneath the heads and very fast installation which heats up the surrounding material and “welds” the fasteners in to a degree “We use 150 flow-drill-screws per each 7 Series BIW If the machine can gain access to top and bottom Trolleys with CFRP and metal parts are loaded into the auto- mated production cell A Kuka robotic arm picks up a CFRP tunnel and rotates it beneath a mix meter and dispense (MMD) nozzle for application of epoxy adhesive (Fig The part is then placed under a set of cameras for a quick QA check of adhesive placement vs “There must be no interruptions in the length and it also checks the width of the adhesive bead,” explains Roth “It doesn’t worry about the thickness because we apply more adhesive than necessary and also use spacers which maintain the distance between the parts for uniform bondline thickness.”  “We use roughly 150m of glue per 7 Series BIW,” says Roth There are drums of adhesive from Sika AG (Baar Switzerland) and also MMD machines at each production cell “We have used SIKA and bonding for metal parts for years,” says Roth “but the adhesive we use for the CFRP stations is a specialty adhesive for CFRP-to-sheet-metal bonding.” The tunnel is then mated to the steel components of this subassembly Rivets are applied to affix the CFRP and steel pieces together until the epoxy hardens five hours later The tunnel production cell produces 17 units per hour Other cells that join CFRP and metal parts include those for sills Most of the completed subassemblies that contain CFRP are used to form the BIW’s mid-section The C pillar reinforcement and upper trunk cover are on the rear section (Fig Completed BIWs are painted before proceeding through Hall 52 An adjacent Hall 50 produces BMW 3,4 and 5 Series cars A car rolls off the line every 83 seconds in Hall 52 Each hall contains 350-400 stations on three levels: Pre-assembly modules are on the ground floor (level 0) and transported up to level 2 where vehicle assembly is completed and then back down to level 1 for the finishing line so this presents a challenge,” notes CW’s guide for Hall 52 head of assembly at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing Robert Küssel “There is no other auto manufacturing center that has this much complexity.” Stopping at one position in the line an instrument panel is fed up from the ground floor through an elevator This station’s technician walks over and attaches a robot to the completed IP module He then guides it to a car moving slowly through the line where he places it inside The whole process is controlled and documented by the equipment “Parts are sequenced in Logistics in what we call Lineside Supply,” says Küssel “this builds in a lot of flexibility to our assembly lines We can easily adapt to new parts and new models.” He notes the whole building is fed by 200 multi-car material supply train cars per hour cars are tested again for functionality of each subsystem they are driven through a short test track to check noise And that is the real story of this plant: Efficiency in manufacturing despite myriad individually specified components Carbon parts may be made in their own shop joined and painted with all of the other BIW parts into a coherent well-designed and high-performance platform another functionality rolled into what BMW already does so well but only because the company recognized and addressed challenges early on in areas as diverse as the carbon fiber supply chain “We use CFRP not just here and there in a visual part to be flashy,” says Küssel “but in a way that adds functionality and performance to the car.” Articles in the industry press suggest that BMW will extend CFRP use into new Motorrad motorcycle models and an all-electric i5 crossover SUV expected to be revealed next year and in production by 2019 pre-production vehicles undergoing tests CW’s question is: “which Dingolfing model will be next?”  The page you’re on features premium CW editorial content videos and podcasts from the CW editorial team we ask all new website users to provide some information about themselves before they are provided free access to the content We thank you for your continued interest in and support of CW BMW celebrates the two millionth 7 Series model produced at the company’s Dingolfing plant in Germany The jubilee car is a black i7 xDrive60 with a cognac-painted interior made of a vegan leather alternative The new generation 7 Series in combustion and electric forms has been on sale since the beginning of December this year and the manufacturer is now advancing with the production and customer deliveries The Bavarian manufacturer has been producing the 7 Series in Dingolfing since the launch of the first generation of the luxury sedan in 1977 The original 7 was launched with some revolutionary features in the segment automatic transmission with two pre-programmed driving modes the premium sedan received goodies such as ABS In preparations for the start of production of the seventh-generation 7 Series BMW has invested more than €300 million (about $318.8 million with the current exchange rates) in its vehicle plant in Lower Bavaria The automaker is revolutionizing the segment again with a process in which the vehicles drive themselves autonomously from the production line to the area where the final inspections are made BMW proudly says it also produces electric motors and high-voltage batteries for the i7 in Dingolfing “The BMW 7 Series is our top model,” Dingolfing plant manager Christoph Schroder comments we combine progressive luxury and the latest technologies it stands for automotive innovations and now also for our electric offensive in the luxury segment What makes me particularly proud is that we have been producing it here since it was introduced 45 years ago.” BMW’s plant in Bavaria is one of the company’s more than 30 production sites around the world that are currently assembling vehicles for the global markets It is the brand’s largest factory in Europe and it is also responsible for the production of the 4 Series The annual output of the factory is close to 250,000 units Tuner gives BMW 7 Series carbon body kit and hubcaps 2026 Jeep Compass Unveiled: Hybrid or EV With Up to 375 HP 1994-2001): The most beautiful of all 7 Series Lotus Emira With Yellow Exhaust Tips Pays Tribute to an F1 GOAT Spied: 7 Series Prototype Gives Us Hope for BMW's Design The Cadillac Celestiq Will Be as Rare as a Bugatti The BMW 7 Series Plug-In Hybrid Can't Beat The EV