BMW 50 Years an Icon celebrations kick off in Rosslyn

In March 1973, BMW took the first step of intertwining its history with that of the automotive industry in South Africa. 50 years down the line after millions of models were produced within our borders, we got to begin the celebrations at their Rosslyn manufacturing plant.

Rosslyn

Image: BMW

Serving as the first manufacturing facility outside of Germany, BMW South Africa took a stride into the ever-globalising world in March 1973 when the newly established Rosslyn facility started producing vehicles bearing the Bavarian badge. This then, signals the start of an annual birthday celebration to commemorate the milestone. Presenting the momentous milestone was Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of BMW AG for Production and Chairman of the Board of Management, Peter van Binsbergen, CEO of BMW Group South Africa among several other key internal figures that ensure the world-class facility continues to operate at its full potential.

Related: BMW 333i among five classics to top R1 million at CT Auction

The critical role of Plant Rosslyn and BMW has been a natural symbiosis to strengthen both the automaker and the local automotive manufacturing climate. Nedeljković stated: “As the first plant outside Germany, the emotional link to South Africa is very strong. It was our first step to internationalise BMW.” In addition, “Plant Rosslyn has over the past 50 years proven itself to be an essential member of our production network, consistently improving quality and productivity. The passion for the brand is clear, and the right teams with the right spirit are in place to direct its growth for the next 50 years.”

Image: BMW

While looking back on the 50 years was the reason behind this celebration, the local branch of the German automaker also emphasised its plans for the future, to ensure it can continue its local legacy which has come to prominence since its inception. BMW Group Plant Rosslyn’s current legacy boasts impressive statistics, with 12,5% of South Africa’s total exports in 2021 and more impressively constituted 60% of light vehicle production exports in the same year. In terms of employment, BMW claims its entire operations locally are responsible for an indirect 50 000 jobs.

Related: BMW 3 Series LCI review

The facility has naturally evolved in this vast timeframe. More than R12,6 billion has been invested into the production facility by the BMW Group since 1995 with more than 1,6 million cars being produced at the plant since its inception. Now, automated machines and state-of-the-art facilities have the ability to rival the likes of the most technologically advanced factories around the world. This constant investment has also enabled the facility to claim numerous international awards for quality and coinciding with the birthday was the milestone of the 300,000th BMW X3 rolling off the assembly line.

Peter van Binsbergen added: “Plant Rosslyn represents a cornerstone of the BMW Group’s global production network of more than 30 sites in 15 countries. We built BMW 3 Series here for more than 30 years; a period that included production of the iconic 333i and the cherished 325iS ‘Gusheshe’. BMW South Africa benefited from the successful adoption of a government-endorsed export programme from 1995 before transitioning to an “X” plant in 2018.”

Image: BMW

“Given our rich and colourful history, while we acknowledge our past, our 50th celebration is an equally good time to look ahead. I can only say thank you to the people of South Africa for allowing us to serve you for the past 50 years. We are not only a corporate citizen in South Africa, but through our people and our vehicles, we are a part of the fabric of South African society. Wait until you see what we intend for the next 50 years!”

Also read: CPS 2023: BMW M240i xDrive – A Thundernight Metallic donned missle

The post BMW 50 Years an Icon celebrations kick off in Rosslyn appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Topical tips on buying used – Chapter 1

Image
Buying a used car can be harrowing, whether privately or from a dealer. Here are some tips, as well as some things to watch out for. Beware of low mileages, especially on smaller or cheaper cars. It is always possible that the odometer has been turned back. Some things to bear in mind are:- diesels are often bought because they the driver needs to undertake long trips without consuming vast amounts of fuel. This could be a sales rep, or someone travelling large distances to work, lots of lengthy trip for family holidays, etc. So, usually higher mileages than normal. An expensive or luxury car may not see much time on the road, but very seldom a “workhorse”. This makes the executive cars likely to have a lot more life left than the overworked and abused hatchback. These also spend most of their life in a home garage or undercover parking lot at work. Related: Someone paid more for a mint BMW 325iS Evo 2 than a used M4 A vehicle without any service history is a serious disadvantage
Read more

Top 10 Best-Selling Automotive Brands Locally – April 2024

Image
Following eight consecutive months of sales decline, the milestone of celebrating a century of vehicle production locally saw a welcomed increase in the motor industry for April 2024. Have a look at the data below, which sees Toyota drop in sales but retain the top spot, with Suzuki moving into second and Nissan dropping to the bottom of the list without the NP200 rolling off of the production line. Image: Toyota Looking for your next new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag! South Africa is marking 2024 as a significant year for its automotive industry, celebrating 100 years of car manufacturing. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa , the country’s automotive business council, commented, “As the sun rises on a century of automotive innovation, South Africa proudly commemorates a century of automobile manufacturing excellence. This milestone reflects a journey of resilience, ingenuity, and passion that has shaped the nation’s automotive legacy.” Details on how the industry will commem
Read more

Could this teased Lancia sports car be a reborn Stratos?

Image
Lancia recently teased a coupe-looking model, waiting to be unveiled in their Multiverse. Could this then, signify the return of a historic moniker like the Stratos to the struggling automaker? Image: Lancia #MakeLanciaGreatAgain – a social media phrase that has been making the rounds for the better part of a decade. World Rally Championship titles, Formula 1 single-seat winners and some other gems in between. The Italian automaker litters dates in history and motorsport, with some truly revolutionary ideas and models that aided their bid to become one of the most successful motorsport manufacturers of all time. But that is all in the past. Lancia now contends sole markets with a platform-shared model but there have been ambitious plans under Stellantis ownership to kick-start the automaker and make them great again… words that delight so many enthusiasts and aficionados. Related: Automobili Amos debut Martini Racing Livery Lancia Delta and Safarista What better way to do this th
Read more