German luxury car manufacturer BMW announced this morning that it plans to open its second assembly plant in Shenyang, China, in a joint-venture with local automaker Brilliance Automotive.
The plant will more than double BMW’s Chinese assembly capacity, which is currently at about 41,000 annually.
“Our plant has reached its capacity limit, so we are now taking the next step,” said BMW Chief Financial Officer Friedrich Eichiner in a prepared statement. “The decision to build a second plant demonstrates that we are investing in our future in China and that we intend to participate in the strong growth in the Chinese market.”
BMW is hoping to further tap into the lucrative Chinese market by producing more vehicles domestically. The automaker’s sales are up 37 percent in China so far this year, to 71,952 cars in the first 10 months.
Construction on the new plant will break ground next year and the automaker hopes to have it up and running by early 2012. BMW plans to hire about 1,000 more workers to help assemble its vehicles. Currently, it produces its 3-Series and 5-Series models in China, although it’s unclear if production of those will simply be expanded or if BMW will begin building a third variant.
11/12, 9:56 AM
posted by:
Smegley Wanxalot
Makes sense. As ugly as Bimmers are these days they may as well design them in China too.
11/12, 10:07 AM
posted by:
04focus
BS5? lol. I think this announcement is so full of BS I give it 0 out of 5 stars.
11/12, 10:10 AM
posted by:
vicdub85
Another sign the red dragon is growing larger.
11/12, 10:17 AM
posted by:
Uncover
I will take a Made in China automatic transmission anyday! Of course, this is after my horrible experience with the GM6 transmission in my 07 X3.
11/12, 10:30 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
So now it’s okay Brilliance steals design cues from BMW – obviously instead of suing them, they just said eff it, let’s join them!
11/12, 10:47 AM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Here’s an idea. Assemble the BS6 sedans at this plant and use leftover BMW airbags and steel lieing around, and then sell them in Europe and possible garner a 1-2 star crash rating…..
11/12, 10:55 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
Here’s another question – BMW doesn’t have a lower end make, excluding the niche Mini, so what if – this is a big WAHT IF – Brilliance would be this low end model line for BMW to compete with the likes of VW and Opel???
11/12, 11:23 AM
posted by:
excrement_between_my_toes
I sure hope we don’t start getting Chinese made BMW’s. Its bad enough we get American made X5 and Z3 models, even worse they are built in the redneck ultra conservative state of south carolina. Real BMW’s are built in Munich Germany, not China and south carolina!
11/12, 11:50 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Herr Smegley… I’m starting to get the distinct impression you’re not exactly enamored with what’s coming out of the fatherland lately. Clearly a case of schnitzel envy I’d say.
China… whatever, just do the math. They only recently overtook the US in sales despite having almost 4 times the population. They’re going to be so busy keeping up with their own increasing demand they won’t have time to fling their crap at us. Well… at least not as much as many seem to fear.
11/12, 2:35 PM
posted by:
Smegley Wanxalot
In my case, Johnny, it’s schlitzel envy. Them there jermins got some good schlitzels.
YOU, Johnny, on the other hand, may suffer from bratwurst envy.
.
11/12, 3:12 PM
posted by:
ml350pc
Hey is that a Honda Accord in that photo?
11/12, 6:03 PM
posted by:
sterfry71
excrement_between_my_toes,
If import manufacturers are going to build cars in the US, they will be built in “redneck ultra conservative states”. They are not going to deal with the UAW issues the domestic auto manufacturers are stuck with – they don’t have to.
11/13, 12:21 AM
posted by:
Jubb
Is it just me or did anyone else read “Brillance” and mistake that 5 for the BS6 that was used as the image for one of yesterday’s posts?
11/19, 6:43 AM
posted by:
n2k
Makes no difference where you make them as long as they stick to the formula: Sheer driving pleasure. The colonels secret recipe chicken tastes pretty much the same on Times Square as it does in Beirut. In this day & age BM’S are no different.