BMW announced yesterday that work in underway for a new production plant in Brazilian town of Araquari, Santa Catarina. The new site is a vital part of BMW’s growth strategy, with focus on emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and Korea. It also supports the automaker’s ambitious expansion plans, which asks for 29 production and assembly sites in 13 countries on four continents.
BMW’s Brazilian plant, comprising a body shop, a paint shop and an assembly facility, is set to become operational in fall 2014. Over the course of the next few years, more than 200 million euros will be invested in the plant, resulting in a productive capacity of up to 30,000 vehicles annually. The plant will create up to 1,300 jobs.
Models to be produced in Brazil include MINI Countryman, BMW 1 Series 5-door model, BMW 3 Series Sedan, BMW X1, and BMW X3. In future the plant could also, potentially, make electric cars as well, including the new i3, recently introduced in Brazil. The BMW Group’s first fully electric vehicle, which has recently been launched in Europe, will be available in Brazil from summer 2014 on.
Harald Krüger, Member of the Management Board of BMW AG, responsible for Production, commented in Munich: ‘Today, we are laying the cornerstone for the BMW Group’s first automotive plant in South America. The new plant in Brazil will be an important element in our international production network and will make a significant contribution to the BMW Group’s profitable and globally balanced growth. Our strategic principle of “production follows the market” has previously proven effective in markets such as the US and China and will also ensure our success in Brazil as an important future market.’
