First BMW X3 Rolls Off Production Line in Rosslyn
BMW Group SA made waves back in 2015 when they announced a colossal R6-billion investment into their Rosslyn plant. This investment was to redirect the plant from the production of the BMW 3-Series to a completely different model – the BMW X3. The first model rolled off the production line this week after three years of difficult planning and organising.
The investment into developing the Rosslyn plant for X3 production was based on BMW’s worldwide demand, where their X-Model’s grew to claim more than 30% of international sales. Rosslyn’s plant can accommodate production of the BMW X3 in order to satisfy global demand, whereas the previous X3 plant in South Carolina couldn’t.
Tim Abbott, CEO of BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, says the successful up-scaling of facilities and timely production of the BMW X3 in Rosslyn highlights the confidence that lies in South Africa and BMW Group SA’s associates.
“The allocation of production of such a crucial model to our plant is about as big a vote of confidence as it gets,” Abbott says. “The demand for the BMW X3 globally is powerful and ramping up on time and to the right standards is vital to the model’s success.”
“I have full confidence in our associates and plant management at Rosslyn. This is the team that won the coveted JD Power Platinum award in 2015, showing that a South African plant can lead the world in terms of quality,” Abbott says.
The BMW X3’s that are produced in South Africa will be the most “local” vehicles ever built at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn thanks to the fact that a majority of the manufacturing components are locally produced. BMW Group is also a major player in a proposed venture to develop more black-owned suppliers in the local automotive supply chain.
