BMW Group Plant Munich anniversary celebrations: 100 years young!

0
1733

Munich. BMW Group Plant Munich has had two busy days,
and that despite the fact that not a single car has been built! To
mark the 100th anniversary of the Munich parent plant, the
BMW Group invited all employees from the Munich site to the
anniversary celebrations along with their friends and family. Over the
course of Saturday and Sunday, around 70,000 people came and enjoyed
an exciting stage program, spectacular driving events and special
insights into production.

“Together we can make history! In the past, it is you who have always
kept our home plant firmly on the road to success and it is you who
will now lead it into the future together,” said Milan Nedeljković,
Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Production. Plant Munich
is currently undergoing major renovations for the start of production
for the Neue Klasse in 2026, including the construction of three new
buildings for the body shop and assembly complete with logistics
areas. The head of Production made sure to emphasize: “We are quite
literally leaving no stone unturned here, and yet you are keeping the
plant up and running smoothly. This ambidexterity is exactly what
makes the plant so special.”

Clocking up hours worked for charity donations

 Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management
of BMW AG, People and Real Estate, also took the time to highlight the
great dedication of the BMW workforce as she thanked the more than one
thousand volunteers from all BMW locations across Munich who ensured
the anniversary went off without a hitch and with such a great
atmosphere. The hours the employees put in across both days were not
remunerated but were instead donated in cash to five Munich charities.

“The dedication shown by our employees is extraordinary. After all,
we not only celebrated our plant anniversary, but also gave a helping
hand to many Munich residents in need, raising a total of 150,000
euros for social causes. This reaffirms that we are a responsible
employer that also takes responsibility for society. That’s just the
BMW way,” added Horstmeier. Representatives from the Münchner Tafel,
the Arche, Verein Zivilcourage für Alle, Horizont e.V. and the crisis
intervention team at ASB München all accepted the donation vouchers in
person from Ilka Horstmeier, Plant Manager Peter Weber and Martin
Kimmich, Chairman of the General Works Council.

To symbolize the structural and technological transformation of Plant
Munich, the Member of the Board for Production, Plant Manager and
Works Council Chair filled a time capsule that will be integrated into
the construction area of the new body shop. Construction of the new
hall is set to begin imminently. “Despite the new work underway, we
will continue to produce more than 900 premium quality BMWs every day
at Plant Munich. We all have to show great flexibility and commitment
to achieve this, but we see this challenge as an opportunity to shape
a successful future for our plant. And there’s no doubt in my mind
that, with such a motivated and highly qualified team, the plant’s
transformation to e-mobility and the iFACTORY can only succeed,” said
plant manager Peter Weber.

By employees for employees

 BMW employees not only handled most of the
organization of the BMW anniversary celebrations themselves, but they
also designed a diverse program over more than 25 different stations.
Whether blues, rock, pop, cabaret or classical music – talent from
various BMW locations performed on the two event stages. Plant Munich
employees also gave tours of the production halls, presented their
workplaces, introduced innovations, and informed guests about ongoing
structural changes at the plant.

A former Plant Munich employee treated guests to another highlight:
comedian and composer Willy Astor, who in his youth completed his
training as a toolmaker at the plant, took to the BMW anniversary
stage to delight visitors with his latest show.

Also popular were the shows from the “RedBull Driftbrothers”, the
children’s motorcycle course and the driving sessions from the BMW
Driving Academy. Plus, guests were able to tuck into a variety of
culinary delights at around 30 food trucks as well as in the plant’s
very own restaurant.

“It’s just incredible what the workforce has put together for these
two days,” says Martin Kimmich, Chairman of the BMW General Works
Council. “This reflects the one-of-a-kind BMW team spirit as well as
our colleagues’ keen interest in social responsibility. As an
important employer for the city located right in the heart of Munich,
we were delighted to provide an insight into the transformation of our
main plant for the future.”

A good neighbor

As a production site right at the heart of the Bavarian state capital
of Munich, the plant also plays an important role as a neighbor.
Alongside supporting local associations and organizations in the north
of Munich, the company places a great deal of value on maintaining
personal dialogue with the plant’s immediate neighborhood. Around 80
neighbors accepted the invitation to attend the BMW anniversary
celebrations and were given a guided tour of the plant site.

The “BMW Munich – Urban Production” architectural competition, which
was successfully completed last year, also serves to promote good
relations and a livable environment. The designs from the two winning
firms take the plant’s unique location at the heart of the city into
account and aim to make the entire complex visibly more accessible and
open to the neighborhood. This vision for the future of the Munich
production site lays the groundwork for the development of a
big-picture plan beyond 2026.

Both the big-picture plan and the structural optimizations already
planned to produce the Neue Klasse help align Plant Munich with the
principles of the BMW iFactory for the future: “LEAN. GREEN. DIGITAL.”
Together, they guarantee maximum flexibility, outstanding processes,
and top integration potential over the coming decades for this special
location – the BMW Group’s 100-year-old parent plant.

(Editorial note: The BMW anniversary celebrations were actually held
in Plant Munich’s 101st year. When planning started back in
2021, the organizational team were unable to predict whether an event
for the originally planned date of fall 2022 would be possible due to
potential Covid restrictions.)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here