BMW South Africa will create 600 jobs later in 2012, once production of the new 3 Series sedan at the Rosslyn plant moves to a three-shift system.
The suburban Pretoria plant, which was the company’s first outside Germany when it opened in 1973, was officially reopened on 20 February 2012 to start production of the new-generation 3 Series. This followed a refit, during which time an investment of R2.2bn (US$285m) was made, the aim of which is to double BMW’s exports from South Africa during 2013.
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BMW South Africa has made fresh efforts to lower its exchange rate risk by buying key components for the Rosslyn-built 3 Series from local suppliers. For example, the front axle carrier, the dashboard carrier and the door trim panel are each now sourced from within the country.
Other savings will flow through from the decision taken to lift automation at the plant from 84 percent to 93 percent. In the body shop, there are now 149 robots instead of the previous 99. BMW stresses that there have been no job losses.
According to BMW, some 85 percent of all 3 Series build from Rosslyn will be exported. After the car is launched locally in March, the first models will be shipped to the US, Australia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
While BMW has not publicised its production target for the new model, it believes that build at Rosslyn should top the production record of 342 000 units for the outgoing sedan.
Author: Glenn Brooks
