Berlin BMW plant produces bike number 3,000,000:

it is a BMW S 1000 RR that ran off the production line as the three millionth motorcycle

15.04.2019

Photos: BMW On Tuesday (11.4.2019) the three millionth motorcycle, a BMW S 1000 RR, from the BMW Group plant in Berlin came off the production line. Motorcycles have been manufactured in Spandau for exactly 50 years. Based on the anniversary vehicle, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team has also competed in the Superbike World Championship since this season. The riders Tom Sykes and Markus Reiterberger accompanied the ceremony as guests of honour.

For Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad, the anniversary is "the result of hard work and a clear course that companies, employees and politicians have consistently followed." Over the past 50 years, for example, extensive investments have been made in the Berlin location and the number of jobs has almost six-foldd. "For half a century, single-track mobility from Berlin has delighted our customers all over the world. We can be proud of that!" said Schramm.

The head of the motorcycle factory, Dr. Helmut Schramm, emphasized that the success is based on the commitment of the approximately 2,100 employees: "On the occasion of the three millionth BMW motorcycle from Berlin production, I would like to thank you especially for your work, your willingness to perform and your personal commitment." The site has highly efficient and flexible structures and "as a tailunit, we also play an important role in BMW Motorrad's global production network," explained Schramm.

BMW motorcycle production for 50 years in Berlin

BMW took over the Berlin location in 1939. The production of motorcycle components began early on. In 1969, the complete relocation of motorcycle production from Munich to the BMW plant in Berlin was completed. With the construction of the engine assembly and production of the legendary /5 series, the operation of the until then only production facility for BMW motorcycles in the world began. The Berlin location thus looks back on 50 years of production. It was about 400 employees who produced 30 machines a day and thus laid the foundation for success. Production figures rose rapidly: in 1975, the 100,000th motorcycle from Berlin left the assembly halls, in 1980 it was already a quarter of a million. The sound barrier of one million motorcycles broke through the plant in 2001. Ten years later, the workforce celebrated the two millionth BMW motorcycle from Berlin production. "And with today, three million BMW motorcycles have now left the assembly lines of the Berlin plant. Without question, we will continue the success story of BMW Motorrad and our plant," announced plant manager Schramm.

BMW Plant Berlin: Backbone of BMW Motorcycle Production Worldwide
Today, a motorcycle rolls off the production line every 65 seconds at peak times, a total of up to 800 units per day. To this end, the BMW Group is continuously investing in the expansion of the Berlin plant and in new technologies. In 2018, more than 130,000 vehicles were produced, including about 8,000 ready-to-ship assembly kits for BMW assembly plants in Thailand and Brazil. The Berlin plant is the BMW Group's only complete work for motorcycles, scooters and components in the world. Within the existing international network with production sites in Brazil, Thailand, China and India, the Berlin site acts as a leading plant and thus forms the backbone of BMW motorcycle production worldwide.