The premium compact is manufactured exclusively at Plant Leipzig, in Saxony, where up to 500 of the cars can be made per day. Combined with the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and MINI Countryman, this puts daily output from Plant Leipzig at up to 1,300 vehicles. The new BMW 1 Series is due for market launch in October 2024.
Production of the model first began with the three-door at Plant Leipzig in 2007. Since then the plant has manufactured more than 1.3 million in a range of variants. As at the end of June 2024, nearly 443,000 third-generation BMW 1 Series have been delivered to customers.
BMW 1 Series production launch at BMW Group Plant Leipzig
“The new BMW 1 Series will remain a key factor in maintaining high capacity utilisation here at plant Leipzig,” said a confident Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director.
BMW Group Plant Leipzig
Since 2018 BMW Group Plant Leipzig has undergone systematic upgrades. It can now produce up to 350,000 units a year – 100,000 more than previously. It currently manufactures four models with three different types of drive by two different brands – all on the same production line. Since November 2023 output has been boosted by the MINI Countryman. Production of that will rise during the course of this year to 500 units a day, in addition to the 800 or so BMW vehicles.
The increase in production volumes is securing existing jobs as well as creating new ones. An additional 900 people are set to join vehicle production alone, by the end of 2024 Plant Leipzig will employ around 7,000 people.
The new BMW 1 Series
The new BMW 1 Series arrived with a radically refreshed design and will initially be launched in 118d, 120d, 120 and M135 xDrive versions.
The body of the new BMW 1 Series is available in a choice of two solid-colour and seven metallic finishes. BMW Individual paintwork will also be on offer, along with a wide range of BMW Individual Special Paints. The new BMW 1 Series is also the first BMW to feature the optional contrast paintwork, with a roof in high-gloss black. As with the MINI Countryman, the roof will be painted at Plant Leipzig using a new, overspray-free painting process that is easier on resources. Known as overspray-free painting, the method is currently being piloted and works without producing the mist of excess paint that usually occurs.
The new BMW 1 Series is due for market launch on 5 October. The strongest markets for the 1 Series so far have been Germany and Europe, and the UK and Italy especially.
Source: BMW
