BMW starts engine production at Hams Hall

New Generation of Four-Cylinder Engines from the UK

The first engines have started to roll off the line at BMW's new engine plant
at Hams Hall, near Birmingham. At present, approximately 20 engines per day are
being produced at the brand new £400 million production facility which
presently employs 450 people. By the end of the year, daily production will
rise to over 600 engines, requiring a workforce of 650 associates.

In the first year of production, Hams Hall will build approximately 60,000
engines. The factory will play a crucial role in BMW's international production
network as the "centre of competence" for the production of all BMW 4-cylinder
petrol engines between 1,6 and 2,0 litres capacity. The engines will be
exported to the BMW vehicle assembly plants in Germany (Munich, Regensburg and
Dingolfing), South Africa (Rosslyn) and the USA (Spartanburg). At full
capacity, the Hams Hall plant, the most modern engine production facility in
the world, will be capable of producing over 400,000 engines per year and will
employ 1500 people.

Within a week of job advertisements being placed in regional newspapers and
broadcast on radio stations in the West Midlands at the end of last year,
almost 9,000 people telephoned the freephone number to express their interest
in working at Hams Hall. As part of the selection process, applicants are
currently being invited to special weekend "open days" before being formally
interviewed. In view of the large number of applications, this is a process
which will take several months to complete.

Hams Hall's Plant Director, Colin Mitchell, is delighted at the extremely
positive public response to the job opportunities being offered by BMW: "We
have been overwhelmed by the quantity of applications and extremely encouraged
by the quality of the applicants. Employing the best people is an essential
element of BMW's continuing success internationally and will be a crucial
factor in enabling Hams Hall to match the world-class standards of excellence
set by BMW's production plants in Germany and elsewhere in the world."

Official Opening on 8 February, 2001

The Hams Hall engine factory will be officially opened on 8 February at an
event hosted by BMW Board Chairman Professor Joachim Milberg. Guest of honour
will be the Rt. Hon. Andrew Smith MP (Oxford), Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Numerous other political representatives and dignitaries will also be attending
the opening ceremony.

For inquiries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Werner Rothfuss, Corporate Communications UK
Telephone: (+44) 01865 826 749 , Fax: (+44) 01865 826 750

Jason Reakes, Corporate Communications Hams Hall
Telephone: (+44) 01675 460 241, Fax: (+44) 01675 460 403

Angela Wigley, Corporate Communications UK
Telephone (+44) 01865 826 748, Fax: (+44) 01865 826 750