Efficient, sustainable, digital: New BMW Group Plant Debrecen set to begin series production of the BMW iX3 in late October – AutoMart Canada

Debrecen. The BMW Group has entered the final phase
before the first Neue Klasse model rolls off the assembly line. Series
production of the new BMW iX3 will get underway in late October at the
BMW Group plant in Debrecen, Hungary, as the newest, most innovative
manufacturing facility in the company’s global production network
officially begins work.

“The start of series production for the BMW iX3 signals a new era of
automotive manufacturing. Our new plant in Debrecen has been designed
and built fully in line with our strategic vision of the iFACTORY.
Digital from the very beginning, the plant will offer a new dimension
in efficient production without fossil fuels,” says Milan Nedeljković,
member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production.

The BMW iFACTORY represents a strategic vision of production, built
on streamlined, efficient structures, responsible resource management,
economical use of cutting-edge digital innovations and a strong focus
on employees. The BMW Group has also registered new patents for a
large number of innovative systems and processes at Plant Debrecen.

“We have taken on the challenge of building a completely new vehicle
as the first job at an entirely new plant – and doing so in the
leanest, most efficient way possible. We have simplified processes,
reduced complexity, digitally validated each individual operation and
systematically leveraged expertise across our global network. The
result is this plant, with its efficient production, innovative
processes and the flexibility to integrate additional models,” says
Hans-Peter Kemser, head of BMW Group Plant Debrecen.

As with any new model, capacity for the new BMW iX3 will be gradually
ramped up in stages after the start of production. Spearheading the
arrival of the Neue Klasse, the iX3 showcases the latest design and
technology innovations that will define the brand’s entire model range
in the future. Between now and 2027, the technologies in the Neue
Klasse will be integrated into 40 new models and model updates.

From virtual factory to reality

The guiding principles of the BMW iFACTORY have been fully
implemented in the technologies employed at the new BMW Group plant in
Debrecen. For example, Plant Debrecen was planned and built digitally
from the outset, and celebrated its virtual start of production back
in March 2023 in the BMW Group’s Virtual Factory. This approach
allowed every operation to be tested virtually in advance, enabling
production lines to be installed in the buildings exactly as in the
digital twin.

Optimal processes for all plant technologies

With an optimised value stream and efficient systems, the
press shop guarantees a high level of productivity.
The BMW Group continues to follow its proven strategy of using the
same tools and presses throughout its global network. This optimises
capacity utilisation within the network by allowing press tools to be
deployed at multiple locations and enabling staff to be trained in-network.

The body shop, in particular, benefits from prior
digital planning and validation. Every process detail was digitally
simulated in advance to determine the ideal value stream and ensure
that each of the nearly 1,000 robots was optimally positioned. From
the outset, close collaboration between development and production
teams led to high production efficiency and maximum customer benefit.
For example, the number of joining methods was significantly reduced,
lowering overall complexity. Design features integrated early in
development are also evident in the details of the Neue Klasse, such
as the invisible door seal. This creates a visual connection between
the window and the door, resulting in a unique look. In addition,
maximising the space available for the battery in the body structure –
and thus the size and performance of the battery – directly benefits
the customer.

At BMW Group Plant Debrecen, the paint shop plays a
critical role in significantly reducing the CO₂e
footprint of the BMW iX3. Production of the new BMW iX3
will generate a total of about 80kg CO₂e (scope 1/2 emissions). This
figure covers CO₂e emissions from Plant Debrecen, as well as in-house
parts production at other BMW Group facilities, including components
manufactured in Landshut, for example. This represents a
reduction of approx. two-thirds compared to production of
existing BMW derivatives. For Plant Debrecen alone, this
approach will reduce CO₂e emissions from the manufacture of a
vehicle, including its high-voltage battery, by around 90%
– to about 34 kg CO₂e (when operating at full capacity, compared with
other BMW Group facilities).

Paint shops typically rely on gas to reach the high temperatures (up
to 180 degrees Celsius) required. Plant Debrecen will be the BMW
Group’s first car plant supplied exclusively with electricity
from renewable energy sources during normal operation, i.e.
without using fossil fuels such as oil or gas. Because of its high
energy demands, the paint shop is the most important factor in
significantly lowering Plant Debrecen’s CO₂e
emissions. In the paint shop alone, using electricity from
renewable sources reduces annual CO₂e emissions by up to
12,000 tonnes. About a quarter of the plant’s annual power
needs will be supplied by the 50‑hectare on-site photovoltaic
system. Surplus solar energy, such as that generated on
non‑working days, is stored in a 1,800 m³ thermal storage
system with a capacity of 130 MWh.

The paint shop also uses an energy recovery system. A heat
grid was successfully implemented in the design of the new
paint shop, delivering additional energy savings of up to 10%. This
innovative concept combines multiple measures for efficient
energy recovery from the compressed air supply,
drying ovens and cooling systems. The recovered waste heat is then
used to preheat the water circuit.

In addition, a thermal storage system – holding
1,800 m³ of water, with a capacity of 130 MWh – stores surplus energy
from the photovoltaic system during off-peak periods and supplies it
as heat during peak demand.

Full digitalisation of production processes further boosts
assembly efficiency. The AIQX (Artificial
Intelligence Quality Next) IT platform developed in-house at the BMW
Group is a key component of the BMW iFACTORY. AIQX uses sensors and
camera systems along the production line to automate quality
processes. AI evaluates the data and provides real-time feedback to
employees on the line. Looking ahead, vehicles on the line will also
become active, connected participants in the industrial IoT (Internet
of Things) ecosystem. They will conduct self-analysis, interact with
plant employees in real time and automatically share and document
relevant messages, using tools such as on-board cameras and IT
systems. The equipment, tools, components and every BMW in the
assembly halls are already digitally connected to the BMW production system.

The building’s “finger structure” – an optimised version of the
design employed at BMW Group Plant Leipzig – allows 80% of parts to be
delivered directly to the correct point of assembly on the line.
All-electric in-house logistics also benefit from
autonomous tugger trains, which transport high-voltage batteries
directly from production to installation points, as well as Smart
Transport Robots that autonomously deliver smaller components to the
assembly line. By linking all internal and external databases, the
entire logistics process achieves unprecedented digital depth,
automating many previously manual, interconnected analysis tasks.
Well-structured information is therefore available at any time and can
be analysed instantly “at the push of a button”.

The BMW Group has created highly intelligent production processes for
its new high-voltage batteries developed in-house.
Plant Debrecen will be the first of five plants worldwide to begin
series production of Gen6 high-voltage batteries. The production
processes were initially developed and tested at pilot plants.
Artificial intelligence, data analytics and constant knowledge sharing
within the production network also play a key role in the ramp-up of
production. Digital twins of production and comprehensive AI databases
ensure optimisation of processes and employee training. A consistent
zero-defect approach enables seamless in-line quality inspections and
100% end‑of-line monitoring. In line keeping with the “local for
local” principle, high‑voltage battery assembly takes place directly
on site, allowing the production teams to take advantage of
infrastructure efficiencies and short distances.

Best of the best:
Plant Debrecen benefits from expertise
at all production sites worldwide

BMW Group Plant Debrecen is the first production site in the
company’s network not tied to a specific primary plant. Instead, it
serves as a network plant, combining best practices from various
locations worldwide. A major advantage of this approach is that the
plant’s current workforce of more than 2,000
employees can be trained within the network, allowing
employee know-how from different locations, such as China, South
Africa, Mexico, the US and, of course, Germany, to be shared. At the
same time, employees throughout the global network gain the
opportunity to share their technology insights in Debrecen and bring
expertise in production of the Neue Klasse models back to their own
location – creating a win-win situation for all the plants.

A long version with further details on all technologies is
available as a PDF file in the downloads section.