LEIPZIG: BMW's plant here has begun production of the MINI Countryman, marking the first time a MINI model is being made in Germany on the same production line as BMW models.
The plant's flexible structures and development have made this integration possible, allowing the MINI to be produced alongside the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer.
Over the past five years, the BMW Group has invested €700m (RM3.5bil) to prepare Leipzig for increased vehicle volumes and MINI-specific requirements.
By the end of 2024, the production workforce will increase by over 900.
The new Countryman is also driving innovations in sustainable production.
The plant has the capability to produce two brands with three different drives – combustion, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric – on the same production line.
The Countryman will be available with a petrol, diesel, or fully electric powertrain, with the high-voltage batteries for the electric version also being made in Leipzig.
The plant has undergone extensive additions and upgrades to increase production volume, with capacity now reaching up to 350,000 units per year.
The production lines will initially roll out 100 Countryman cars per day, increasing to 500 next year – in addition to the almost 1,000 BMW cars already coming out of the factory every day.
The Leipzig plant is also transitioning to electromobility, with plans to produce high-voltage batteries for BMW vehicles.
The plant will run the entire production process for the current generation of high-voltage batteries, including cell coating, module production, and battery assembly.
Additionally, the plant is focused on sustainable materials and production methods.
The Countryman Electric features a reduced environmental footprint, with recycled textiles used in the interior and a new, resource-friendly painting method for the contrast roof.
The plant is also run sustainably, with wind turbines generating electricity for the plant and there are plans to decarbonise production by replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen.
