BMW Group will start collection manufacturing of its new iX3 EV in late October at its newly constructed plant in Debrecen, Hungary, marking the beginning of manufacturing for the primary mannequin within the firm’s Neue Klasse lineup.
The Debrecen facility represents BMW’s iFactory imaginative and prescient, designed as a digital-first manufacturing plant that operates with out fossil fuels. “The beginning of collection manufacturing for the BMW iX3 indicators a brand new period of automotive manufacturing,” stated Milan Nedeljković, BMW AG board member liable for manufacturing. “Our new plant in Debrecen has been designed and constructed absolutely in step with our strategic imaginative and prescient of the iFactory.”
The plant was developed utilizing digital planning from the outset, with digital manufacturing starting in March 2023 in BMW’s Digital Manufacturing facility system. This method allowed engineers to check operations digitally earlier than putting in manufacturing strains within the bodily buildings, matching their digital twin specs.
Manufacturing of the iX3 will generate roughly 80kg of CO2 emissions per car, representing a two-thirds discount in comparison with current BMW fashions. The Debrecen plant alone will produce round 90% fewer emissions per car in comparison with different BMW services, producing about 34kg of CO2 emissions when working at full capability.
“We now have taken on the problem of constructing a very new car as the primary job at a wholly new plant – and doing so within the leanest, most effective means doable,” stated Hans-Peter Kemser, head of BMW Group Plant Debrecen. “We now have simplified processes, diminished complexity, digitally validated every particular person operation and systematically leveraged experience throughout our international community. The result’s this plant, with its environment friendly manufacturing, revolutionary processes and the pliability to combine further fashions.”
The power operates solely on renewable electrical energy throughout regular manufacturing, making it BMW’s first automobile plant to keep away from fossil fuels totally. A 50-hectare on-site photo voltaic system will provide about 25% of the plant’s annual energy wants, with surplus power saved in a thermal storage system holding 1,800 cubic meters of water with 130 MWh capability.
The paint store incorporates an power restoration system that delivers further power financial savings of as much as 10% by capturing waste warmth from compressed air provide, drying ovens and cooling programs. This recovered warmth is used to preheat water circuits all through the power.
BMW has outfitted the plant with its AIQX synthetic intelligence platform, which makes use of sensors and cameras alongside manufacturing strains to automate high quality processes. The system gives real-time suggestions to staff and permits automobiles to take part as linked elements within the plant’s Web of Issues ecosystem.
The power employs greater than 2,000 staff and serves as a community plant, combining practices from BMW services worldwide moderately than replicating a single major plant design. Between now and 2027, the applied sciences developed for the Neue Klasse will probably be built-in into 40 new fashions and mannequin updates throughout BMW’s lineup.
