20 years of driving the future: Representatives from politics, business and society congratulate BMW Group Plant Leipzig on two decades of series production

Leipzig. As BMW Group Plant Leipzig celebrates its 20^th anniversary, a stream of high-ranking representatives from politics, business and civil society today came to the plant to offer their congratulations on its two-decade success story. Among them were Barbara Meyer, Secretary of State for the Free State of Saxony, and the Lord Mayor of Leipzig Burkhard Jung. Both highlighted the plant’s importance for the economic development of the Leipzig/Halle region, but also for Saxony more generally. Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production, emphasised Leipzig’s pioneering spirit and extreme flexibility as factors in its success.

Since 2005 Plant Leipzig has produced almost 4,000,000 vehicles and received over €5.6 billion so far in investment from the BMW Group, creating 6,680 jobs with BMW. More than 11,600 people in total currently work at the site, which has undergone constant improvement over the years to enhance efficiency, flexibility and innovation, and prepare for the future. Today Leipzig is the only BMW Group plant to produce BMW and MINI vehicles side by side on the same production line – to customer specification and with the full range of drive options, from combustion engine to hybrid or electric drive.

Capacity utilisation is currently high at Plant Leipzig, with round-the-clock production in three shifts. This year the plant is expecting to achieve a new production record, its last being in 2024, when output totalled 246,195 vehicles. In 2025 Plant Leipzig will once again be a key contributor to the over 1,000,000 vehicles made at BMW Group plants in Germany. These account for roughly one in every four of all vehicles made in this country by the various manufacturers operating here.

Milan Nedeljkovic, Member of the Board of Management for Production, sees Leipzig truly ready for the future: “Leipzig is synonymous with innovation and digitalisation – and has proved it time and again over the last 20 years. Because of its flexibility and efficiency, it is a key cornerstone in what we do, as we believe in Germany’s strength within our global production network.”

Alongside flexibility and efficiency, Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel emphasised another key factor in Leipzig’s success: its capacity for innovation. “Here in Leipzig, we have paved the way for many innovations. One was the first electric BMW – the BMW i3. Another is the use of hydrogen, which we are already applying in intralogistics and will soon utilise in the paint shop too.” Looking ahead, Peterhänsel commented: “We are currently investing hundreds of millions in extending and modernising our systems and structures to prepare our plant for forthcoming vehicle generations. This will set the course for our future and keep Leipzig competitive.”

Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer emphazises: “BMW in Leipzig has completely reshaped our economic history. BMW has always been focused on technical progress and people’s real needs, on the cars they truly want to drive. If it continues on this path, it will remain at the forefront in the future as well.”

Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung highlighted the plant’s importance for the city of Leipzig: “We are very pleased indeed that the largest industrial employer in our city is looking back on 20 years of success. while also looking forward to a bright future. It will benefit not just employees, but our city as a whole, of course. Congratulations! And here’s to another 20 years of successful collaboration.”

For more detailed information on the Plant Leipzig success story, click HERE to view our press release from 1 March 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact: 

Kai Lichte, Head of Communications for BMW Group Plants Leipzig, Berlin and Eisenach

Telephone: +49-(0)341-445-38000

Mobile: +49-(0)176-601-51240

Email: Kai.Lichte@bmwgroup.com

BMW Group Plant Leipzig

BMW Group Plant Leipzig first started series production in March 2025. Today it manufactures up to 1,300 vehicles a day, which currently comprise the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and the MINI Countryman. The BMW Group has invested a total of more than €5,6 billion in its Leipzig site, where the regular workforce currently totals more than 6,600 employees.

Internet: www.bmw-werk-leipzig.de

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The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life.

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