The BMW Group introduces BMW iFACTORY. This is an innovative strategy for future car production. BMW iFACTORY will be installed at all BMW Group plants around the world.

This visionary master plan will permanently change the BMW Group’s automotive production: a compelling answer to the challenges of automotive transformation for BMW iFACTORY-e-mobility.

With the global implementation of the BMW iFACTORY, the BMW Group does more than just redefine the future direction of the factory. In addition, flexible, efficient and sustainable digital manufacturing technologies set new standards in terms of climate protection and competitiveness. A groundbreaking project is a new all-electric class rolling off the production line from 2025 at a new plant in Debrecen, Hungary. “BMW iFACTORY DNA can be experienced at all factories, not only in Hungary’s future factories, but also in Munich’s 100-year-old major factories,” explains Milan Nedeljković, BMW’s production director. AG: “This is our master plan to create the future.”

The future will be Lean. Green. Digital.

The approach is clear: redefining car production. Milan Nedeljković: “Future car production requires a new holistic way of thinking. With BMW iFACTORY, we are leading the way in the areas of flexibility, efficiency, sustainability and digitalization, setting new standards.

The BMW Group focuses on three areas: Lean. Green. Digital. These bring the strategic goal image of the global production network to the point. It is integrated and as scalable as possible, depending on future challenges.

LEAN: New, efficient, accurate and flexible production.

With the LEAN, the BMW Group defines a new driving force in its production system. LEAN means efficient and flexible production. This makes all processes more integrated and variable. Allows you to produce different drive types and vehicle models on one line. The result is increased agility, a slimmer process and a more competitive structure.

GREEN: Latest Technology-Resource Saving and Circulation.

With the BMW iFACTORY, the BMW Group is focusing on more sustainable production. All BMW Group locations around the world already use only green power and produce according to the principles of the circular economy. The new BMW Group’s plant in Debrecen, Hungary, has already taken the next step towards a sustainable future. “Milan Nedeljković explains:” This will be our first CO2-free vehicle factory. This will make us a clear pioneer. “

DIGITAL: In data transparency. A new dimension.

With the BMW iFACTORY, the BMW Group can make consistent progress in the field of digitalization. By targeted use of cutting-edge innovations from the areas of virtualization, artificial intelligence and data science, the BMW Group will network all relevant aspects of automotive production in new ways for maximum data transparency. It can be realized. The result is a highly effective form of digital process design. “BMWiFACTORY drives digitalization by taking data consistency to a whole new level across the value chain and across all process chains. We use digital innovation to be effective in production. We create use cases because, for us, innovation and efficiency are inextricably linked” emphasizes Milan Nedeljković.

The heart of BMW iFACTORY: the personnel.

At the coronary heart of the BMW iFACTORY is the human designer. To be capable of put in force the whole transformation technique inside the organization in a forward-looking, long-time period and professional way, BMW Group personnel layout their getting to know techniques independently with the assist of e-getting to know. Extensive qualification programmes also are constantly being initiated and abilties increased to improve the subject of BMW iFACTORY and electromobility in any respect levels.

Focus on a holistic approach.

The BMW Group`s BMW iFACTORY marks the following formidable step in responding to international weather alternate with a holistic, environmentally pleasant and future-orientated approach – and in addition using the fulfillment of electrical automobiles. A specific possibility for Milan Nedeljković: “The BMW iFACTORY supplies now no longer most effective at the growing patron call for for electric powered automobiles however additionally on our desire, as a member of society, to guide weather safety and sustainability. We are the usage of digitalisation to make this happen – even as closing actually competitive.”

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

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BMW had a good run last years, with new models to break cover, new factories to build, billions of dollars to spend on investments and millions of vehicles to sell worldwide. And it seems that the carmaker has entered this year in big style, managing to come up with the best sales so far.

According to press.bmwgroup, the carmaker already managed to deliver 163,288 worldwide, representing a 6.8 percent growth as opposed to the same period last year. As for the Group`s sales, there were also impressive growth as well. Please find below the official figures released by the aforementioned BMW magazine.

BMW`s Sales for January 2017, compared with previous year:

BMW Group Automotive sales up 6.8%, to 163,288 vehicles delivered worldwide.
BMW sales up 7.2%, to 143,553.
MINI sales up 3.7% to 19,563.
BMW Mottorad sales up 0.2%, to 7,503.
BMW electrified models double sales in January.
Sales growth achieved in all world regions.

Speaking about the company`s impressive sales figures for this year`s start, Dr. Ian Robertson, Member of the BMW AG Board of Management, has also declared:

“We’ve started the year well, building on the success of 2016. We’re confident that the new models we’re bringing to market this year, especially the new generation BMW 5 Series which is about to arrive in dealerships, will ensure further momentum as the year goes on. We continue to focus on profitability and sustainable levels of growth distributed around the world.”

Withing the BMW Group, most sales were achieved thanks to the high-demands for models like BMW X1, BMW 3-Series, 5-Series and 7-Series, while BMW`s electrified segment included the BMW i range, BMW iPerformance vehicles, as well as the new BMW 530e iPerformance.

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While the BMW brand has only just introduced its first front wheel drive, the BMW Group as a whole already has plenty of them.

A recent report states that by 2020, up to 40% of the whole sales in the group will be made up by said FWD vehicles.

These figures will come mainly thanks to the UKL platform, which is rumored to underpin up to 12 Bimmers and 10 MINI vehicles. Now this raises a series of other questions, and the most important one has to be: “how many more BMWs will adopt a front wheel drive configuration?”

While that is unknown for now, BMW official did feel it was important to stress the fact that from the 3 Series upwards, front wheel will definitely not be applied. He also stated that the M variants and the M Performance goodies will also be exclusive to the traditional rear wheel drive BMWs.

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The MINI five-door Hatch is already on the production line, with the company`s plant at Oxford and Swindon to deliver the car on the market starting this November.

The MINI 5-door Hatch will complete the company`s lineup, opening a “new market segment” at the same time, the model promising to offer great performance and high-tech advancements.

Vince Cable, the Business Secretary at MINI, stated that the official launch of the MINI hatch will also be a good opportunity for the company to ensure jobs in Oxford and Swindon, being an important investment on the BMW`s behalf.

“Through the UK Government’s industrial strategy we are backing the auto sector as it goes from strength to strength,” Cable also said.

More than that, the MINI five-door Hatch is the company`s second version to ride on a new platform which provides the car with a more efficient aerodynamics and performance.

Other representatives from the MINI British based automaker have also stated that the BMW Group invested significantly in bringing technology at Oxford and Swindon for the next generation of MINI.

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The BMW Group`s subsidiary MINI launched the JCW model on some tests a couple of days ago, test that were carried out at Nurburgring Nordschleife.

The MINI automaker is on a role, as it was recently seen at Concorso d`Eleganza Villa d`Este automotive event, with its hot ride Superleggera Vision Concept.

But the real deal with the MINI, is its JCW prototype that is ready to hit the production line, after carrying out some tests first.

As seen in the spy shots, the MINI JCW prototype can reveal its larger front intakes, bigger brakes with the famous red calipers front and rear and the wheels with the JCW distinctive style.

The JCW wheels resemble to those worn by the John Cooper Works Concept, unveiled at Detroit a couple of months ago, looking more “like five-spoke versions of the GP model`s four-spoke units.”

If things are going according as planned we might expect the fresh new JCW prototype at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, along details with the model`s performance under the hood.

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The BMW Group`s subsidiary Mini has profited the Concorso d`Eleganza Villa d`Este event to come up with its latest creation, which is the Superleggera Vision Concept.

The Mini British based automaker has set the name for this two-seater convertible in collaboration with the famous design house Touring Superleggera, from Milan, Italy.

Anders Warming, the Chief Design at Mini, has stated that the Mini Superleggera Vision concept is a reiteration of the old time`s “reduction to the essentials”, as the car is now more energetic and with a more minimalists design, just as it used to be.

“At the same time it creates unique emotional beauty in combining the past and future of the automotive industry, i.e. traditional coachwork craftsmanship and modern design styling,” Warming also said.

But the Mini Superleggera Vision concept doesn’t lack technology or modern features, like the hand-crafted body-styling wrapped in carbon fiber, especially at the front splitter, as well as at the side sills.

More than that, the bespoke Como Blue finish is in perfect balance with the Superleggera`s interior, where it received a premium leather upholstery and modern technologies like the digital instrument cluster, as well as the touch sensitive controls.

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Nobody is debating the leading position that the BMW Group has also taken for the 2014 year, but the German based luxury maker doesn’t rest on its laurels and still thinks big ahead, for the second quarter 2014.

Thus, CEO Norbert Reithofer stated in a shareholders meeting the other days, that the 2014 up ahead would also bring other fruitful opportunities for the group.

“Investment secures our future. Our economic success, innovation and financial strength provide us with the latitude we need to make those investments,” Reithofer also added.

Speaking of the shareholders meeting the BMW Group had a couple of days ago, all members voted for raising dividends, with a record value of 2,60 euros per share, while 2,62 was set for each preferred share.

Thus, the BMW Groups aims at launching an extra 2 million units worldwide for the second quarter of 2014, with the target that would have been reached two years up-ahead.

The BMW Group`s growth plans in Europe as well, might push the European market to an earlier recovery, with also an increase in demand in the company`s other major markets, like China and North America.

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The BMW Group is planning to change marketing plans and wants to be more successful by taking the Mini vehicles to Mexico, where would increase production for the high demands in the US.

The BMW German based luxury automaker is already building the 1- and the 2-Series in Mexico, and seems this process has already been proven successful, the company is also thinking of building the Mini there as well.

The report of the company`s intention of bringing the Mini in the region has already been confirmed by BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer.

More than that, the report also indicates that the executives from BMW also favor Mexico, as “circumventing the import scenario would boost earnings margins”.

The BMW German based automaker is already ahead schedule and production at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

At Spartanburg, the BMW car maker has also increased annual capacity, in order to build the SUVs, targeting around 450,000 units to be annually sold in the US.

And since BMW is already preparing the launch of the first-gen X7, it would also be a good idea for the company to deal with the Mini in Mexico.

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The BMW Group has been a top constant presence on the premium market worldwide, providing the best vehicles and it seems that 2014 is also a lucky number for the German automaker, as it still keeps the first place.

The BMW German based luxury automaker has just announced that last month the company managed to have record sales, with an overall 85% over the same period last year.

Thus, for the first quarter of 2014, the BMW manufacturer was ahead its competitors with around 11%, over the same period in 2013, reaching a total production of 569,100 units to be manufactured.

BMW managed the record sales due to the boost of the SUV lineup worldwide, like the X1, X3 and also the X5 range.

Ian Robertson, the sales chief at BMW stated in a press release that the German Group managed to have record sales in April, heading towards its plans of selling more than 2 million units for 2014.

With all that, the BMW Group must keep its head up, since the menace from the heavy competitors like Audi and Mercedes-Benz is still going on fast paces.

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The Germans at BMW seem to have a quite good fall in terms of sales. To be more specific, BMW Group managed to sell a total of 158,029 vehicles which makes the last month the best September ever for the company.

Compared to the same month of 2012, BMW’s sales saw an increase of 7,6% with the new BMW 3 Series recording the biggest improvement of nearly 14%.

Other brands of the group such as MINI reported improvements of 2,5% last month for a total of 31,313 vehicles. Lastly, the Bavarians report a total of 1,209,598 cars sold from the beginning of the year.

Best-selling models were the BMW X1, X3 and also the new-generation 5 Series. Even the BMW Motorrad recorded a slight increase in sales together with Rolls Royce which sold only 2,300 vehicles this year, an improvement of 0,5%.

“Despite initial signs of stabilisation in the European automobile market, conditions in many countries remain challenging,” says BMW.

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