The proverbial nod of approval was given after a long and rigorous inspection process carried out by the China Quality Certification showed that the factory's quality management system was up to par with world standards.
Exporting the 3-Series to China is the first step in the Rosslyn plant's ambitious expansion plan. Bodo Donauer, BMW South Africa's managing director, said that the annual output of the plant will eventually reach a peak of 90,000 vehicles.
The green light to export the cars is seen as a step in the right direction for BMW's South African division.
"The China certification is a great vote of confidence in our plant and our people. It bodes well not only for our sustainability as a company, but also for the broader motoring industry in South Africa," affirmed Donauer.
At the time of writing about 50 percent of the recently-renovated Rosslyn plant's production is exported towards the United States.
Photo by Mark Elias.
