New Energy for a New Chapter
BMW Brilliance’s 3 Millionth Car Rolls Off the Production Line

On February 27th, BMW Brilliance rolled off the 3 millionth locally produced BMW from the production line of its Plant Dadong in Shenyang. The increase from 2 million to 3 million cars produced has been achieved in just 2 years. The surge reflects BMW Brilliance’s continued high-quality development and the success of BMW in China’s premium market. The three millionth car – a new BMW 530Le E-range Extension – also serves to launch BMW’s “The Year of NEV”. As well as a New Energy Vehicle product offensive led by the much-anticipated BMW iX3, BMW Brilliance will also extend its future mobility leadership by further developing its R&D and production capabilities in 2020.

In a video message congratulating BMW Brilliance on the milestone, Dr. Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Production, said, “The 3 millionth car rolling off the production line in Shenyang is a testament to BMW Brilliance’s commitment to deepen localization and raise its production capability. With a production volume of over 530,000 units in 2019, BMW Brilliance is contributing more and more to our global production network and has become a cornerstone of BMW Group’s sustainable growth in China. The rolling off of an NEV model as our three millionth car shows once again BMW’s strong determination to lead China’s NEV market and prepare for the future.”

The roll off of BMW Brilliance’s 3 millionth car comes in just the second week after production resumed operations, following an extended plant shutdown period due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. After securing the health and safety of its associates, and supported by the Shenyang government and its partners, BMW Brilliance has been gradually resuming production since February 17th. The joint venture is focused on supporting the economy, jobs and society by resuming work while also maintaining epidemic prevention measures.

“With the strong support of the Shenyang government and the trust and cooperation of our shareholders, BMW Brilliance has become one of the most successful premium vehicle manufactures in China. The roll off of our 3 millionth car reflects the strong market demand and customer desirability of our BMW products. We will take this milestone as a new starting point to further grow our business in China,” said Dr. Johann Wieland, President & CEO of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd.

17 Years of High-quality Development in Shenyang

Since its establishment in Shenyang 17 years ago, BMW Brilliance has remained firmly committed to deepening its localization. With 2 vehicle plants in Tiexi and Dadong and a powertrain plant, Shenyang is now home to the largest production base in BMW Group’s global production network. The locally produced BMWs include Sedan, Sports Activity Vehicle and Plug-in Hybrid models. The BMW Group finished top of China’s premium car market in 2019, with around three quarters of its sales volume attributed to models produced by BMW Brilliance. The joint venture is continuing its high-quality development by expanding its plants in Dadong and Tiexi and further enriching its product line-up, with the BMW iX3 set to start production in Shenyang later this year.

BMW Brilliance’s plants and facilities in Shenyang apply latest Industry 4.0 technologies and are recognised as pioneers of smart and green manufacturing. Having received recognition as a National Green Plant in 2017, BMW Brilliance retained its status in 2018 and 2019. Due to its flexible production system, BMW Brilliance is capable of producing Traditional Engine, Plug-in Hybrid and Fully-electric vehicles on the same production line. Besides reducing plant infrastructure investment, this high flexibility enables the company to quickly adjust its production plan to meet market demands and thereby offer customers the “Power of Choice”. In the automotive industry, high flexibility is considered to be key to managing changes brought about by future mobility trends and climate change.

NEV Development Leadership Heralds “In China, For China and for the World”

BMW Brilliance has secured a leading role in China’s NEV market. In 2019, the BMW 530Le was the best-selling premium plug-in hybrid model in the Chinese market with nearly 26,000 units delivered. The BMW 530Le E-range Extension is an upgraded version, which features innovative battery technology that increases the vehicle’s e-range to 95 kilometers, up 42% compared to the previous generation. The combined fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is further decreased to 1.5 litres. The enhanced environmental performance lifts BMW’s electric driving pleasure to a new high level.

BMW Brilliance’s product strength comes from a comprehensive approach to NEV development. The company established an R&D Centre focused on NEV technology development in 2013, and completed a large-scale expansion in 2017. The batteries for the BMW 530Le E-range Extension are being produced in BMW Brilliance’s High Voltage Battery Centre, which opened in October 2017. Later this year, BMW Brilliance will open Phase 2 of the High Voltage Battery Centre, where it will produce BMW fifth-generation power batteries for the fully-electric BMW iX3. The iX3, which is set to be launched in the second half of the year, will be the first BMW model exclusively produced in China and exported to the global market.

After 17 years of growth, BMW Brilliance remains committed to high-quality development and supporting the economic and industrial development of Northeast China. Having accumulated significant experience in NEV innovation, R&D, production, supply chain and human resources, the company is fully prepared for the launch of the BMW iX3 and the start of a new chapter: “In China, for China and for the World”.