The iconic heart of Bavaria is preparing for its biggest metamorphosis since the first engine left the assembly line. BMW's historic plant in Munich - the birthplace of dozens of legendary models - is officially counting down the days of internal combustion. The company has confirmed that by 2027, not a single sound of pistons and cylinders will be heard here, turning the site into a bastion of 100 percent electric mobility.
The big turning point will come in August 2026, when the first series-produced copy of the new generation BMW i3 will roll off the assembly line. This is not just another premiere, but the start of the Neue Klasse era, which promises to rewrite the brand's DNA. Plant director Peter Weber has already hinted that the i3 is just the "first bird" and will soon be joined by the practical i3 Touring station wagon, along with several other secret models from the innovative family.
To prepare the Munich veteran for this digital future, the Bavarians have opened up their pockets, investing a staggering 650 million euros in modernization. The result? The plant is now smarter, faster and more efficient. Thanks to the large-scale digitalization, production costs are expected to fall by 10%, which is critically important in today's price war. Logistics are also organized with German precision: the batteries will arrive from Irlbach-Strasskirchen, and the drive units - from the high-tech facilities in Steyr, Austria.
The plant currently still lives in two worlds, churning out 1,000 traditional 3rd and 4th series cars every day. But the clock is ticking inexorably. In just three years, this industrial monument will close its head with gasoline and diesel to become the flagship of the quiet revolution, combining centuries-old traditions with the electric pulse of tomorrow.