BMW Group has inaugurated its new vehicle manufacturing facility in Debrecen, Hungary.  

The plant is set to commence series production of the BMW iX3, the first vehicle from the Neue Klasse, by late October. 

BMW maintains that the iX3 showcases the latest design and technology innovations that will define the brand’s entire model range in the future. Between now and 2027, the technologies in the Neue Klasse will be integrated into 40 new models and model updates.

The Debrecen plant was designed using virtual planning methods and constructed according to the BMW iFACTORY principles.

It is the first car plant in the BMW Group to use only renewable electricity for its regular operations.

The Debrecen plant will be the initial one among the company’s global facilities to start the mass production of the company's Gen6 high-voltage batteries.

BMW board of management chairman Oliver Zipse said: “In our global production network, our new plant in Debrecen is a pioneer: It is our first fully-electric plant, the first production site to operate entirely without fossil fuels – and the first to build vehicles for the Neue Klasse.

“This makes our plant in Debrecen a decisive factor in the BMW Group's future success.”

The production processes were initially developed and tested at pilot plants. Artificial intelligence, data analytics and constant knowledge sharing within the production network also play a key role in the ramp-up of production. 

The decision to build the plant was made in 2018, triggering one of the “largest” greenfield investments in Hungary.

At the time, the company said the plant would come at an investment of approximately €1bn, offer a capacity of up to 150,000 units a year, and create over 1,000 new jobs.