BMW Group Plant Munich is ready for the production of the next vehicle generation. The manufacturing equipment has been installed in the new body shop and assembly line, and functional checks have been successfully completed. During this so-called "Common Function Test," every system undergoes dry runs, in which production planners and plant technicians put the machinery through its paces. All production steps are executed without any parts in the system. Cycle by cycle, an invisible vehicle takes shape. Although no actual car is produced, this process provides the certainty that everything operates seamlessly and as planned.

Design explanation of the MINI Paul Smith Edition

Video: MINI and Paul Smith at the Japan Mobility Show 2025.

Video: MINI and Paul Smith at the Japan Mobility Show 2025.

The BMW Group is industrialising its Virtual Factory, with production planners continuously scaling applications in the digital twins of over 30 production sites to accelerate production planning worldwide. What once required several weeks of real-world modifications and testing can now be precisely simulated in the BMW Group's Virtual Factory.

For every launch, it is essential to verify that the new product fits on the production line and does not collide with its surroundings at any point. In the BMW Group's Virtual Factory, the collision check is digital, automated and fast, using construction data combined with 3D scans. The movement and rotation of a vehicle through the production lines are precisely simulated, allowing the system to automatically check for possible collisions. What now takes just three days to simulate virtually previously required almost four weeks of real testing.

Designprocess and Behind the Scenes of the BMW Concept Speedtops. Locations in Dingolfing, FIZ and Studio.

Short documentary about the creation of the vehicle sounds of the "Neue Klasse"

The film showcases the rapid transformation of the automotive industry and poses the question: How fast will the transition to electromobility progress? It first highlights the increasing demand for electric vehicles, accompanied by dynamic production imagery. The growing BEV share in the production network is illustrated through key milestones. The film emphasises production flexibility, demonstrating BMW's ability to adapt quickly to market developments with its ICE, hybrid, and BEV plants. The global expansion of electromobility is highlighted by the establishment of new fully electric production sites in Debrecen (2025) and Munich (2027). The film concludes with BMW Group's vision: "We don't predict the future - we build it." The future of electromobility is not just anticipated - it is actively shaped.

The new Aeroacoustic and E-Engine Center (AEZ) starts operations at the BMW Group's Research and Innovation Center (FIZ). The building consists of two halves: In addition to a multifunctional part with workshop, testing and measurement equipment as well as a prototype for high-voltage batteries and inverters, the AEZ is home to a technically unique wind tunnel. With a length of almost 100 m, a height of 45 m and a width of 25 m, it is the world's largest vertical acoustic wind tunnel and at the same time the quietest.