Since BMW’s San Luis Potosí plant opened its doorways in 2019, the high-tech manufacturing facility has turn into a number one instance of sustainable automotive manufacturing and deep-rooted neighborhood engagement. Positioned in jap and central Mexico, and bordered by seven different Mexican states, this pretty new BMW plant produces the three Sequence for North and South America, and now additionally builds the M2 and a couple of Sequence Coupe—two fashions solely manufactured in Mexico and exported globally.
In alignment with BMW’s formidable environmental objectives and company social duty, the plant operates with the very best requirements of vitality effectivity, water conservation, and social duty. The BMW Group’s determination to take a position over $1.5 billion right here has not solely bolstered its manufacturing community but in addition reworked lives within the surrounding area. We’d been which means to go to the plant for a few years now, so we had been genuinely excited to hitch BMW for 2 days throughout what they known as “Duty Days.”
One of many Largest Investments in a Manufacturing facility
The San Luis Potosí plant is one among BMW’s most important investments in North America, masking 300 hectares and using over 3,700 folks, 36% of whom are ladies—a determine that stands as a benchmark for workforce variety inside BMW’s international community. With a manufacturing capability of greater than 450 items day by day and over 400,000 automobiles produced as of September 2024, the plant has turn into a key contributor to BMW’s international provide chain. The plan serves over 80 markets.
Led by CEO and President Harrald Gottsche, the ability helps the area by means of job creation, native provider partnerships, and neighborhood funding. Underneath Gottsche’s management, the plant is now increasing to incorporate high-voltage battery manufacturing, making the plant the primary in Mexico to assemble batteries. So it comes as no shock that BMW’s San Luis Potosí plant is making ready to play a central position within the manufacturing of the upcoming Neue Klasse.
The new growth, spanning 80,000 sq. meters, will add essential capability to its international community of EV battery crops. Initially, there can be one shift engaged on the battery meeting line, however a second shift can be added sooner or later bringing the whole capability to 140,000 battery packs.
Vitality Effectivity and Clear Vitality
The plant operates on 100% renewable vitality, with an enormous 71,000-square-meter photo voltaic panel set up offering 30% of its electrical energy wants. This photo voltaic setup performs a serious position in supporting BMW’s goal to chop CO₂ emissions per automobile produced by 80% from 2019 ranges by 2030. Moreover, the plant makes use of a digital twin know-how to optimize vitality consumption and useful resource administration throughout its 300-hectare web site, additional enhancing effectivity.
Positioned in a water-scarce area, the plant has carried out a “waterless” manufacturing system that recycles water and requires no freshwater for its industrial processes, decreasing conventional water consumption by 40%. Moreover, to cut back waste, BMW has established a packaging recycling system that reuses 100% of its packaging supplies. Moreover, optimized logistics processes contribute to BMW’s goal of halving CO₂ emissions in logistics by 2030.
First attention-grabbing tidbit of the day: The Paint Store makes use of a residual warmth system to save lots of pure gasoline.
Investing in Group: Workforce Range, Schooling, and Native Engagement
The plant’s dedication to sustainability is mirrored in its funding in neighborhood improvement and workforce variety. Ladies signify 36% of the three,700 workers, and the variety of ladies in management roles is steadily rising, with ladies holding 23% of management positions. The plant’s workforce additionally spans 15 nationalities, with Millennials making up 62% of the staff.
Throughout a number of workshops, we met a lot of engineering college students enrolled within the BMW Group Expertise Campus apprenticeship program. Loads of these college students joined the coaching program with no prior automotive expertise, however the intensive and high-tech program prepares them for his or her subsequent journey. Amongst many automotive matters, the scholars study 3D printing, AI and Digital Actuality environments, and even learn how to prepare robots for the meeting line.
Subsequent on our go to record is the BMW Group’s Twin Program which helps workforce improvement by offering technical coaching to younger folks. For the reason that program started practically 5 years in the past, 51.5% of its individuals have been ladies—above the trade common in Mexico. This program is instrumental in making ready native expertise for high-skill jobs in superior manufacturing, with greater than 500 college students benefitting to this point. There are 15 coaching rooms and labs with a capability of 400 concurrent folks.
One other attention-grabbing tidbit: Mexico is the eight nation with most STEM graduates, forward of France and Germany, for instance.
The BMW Group’s Group Partnerships
BMW’s dedication to neighborhood improvement goes past workforce coaching. In partnership with UNICEF, BMW helps initiatives that improve the standard of life and alternatives for youngsters and younger adults within the area. Moreover, underneath Gottsche’s management, BMW reworked one among its unique development websites right into a department of the Membership de Niños y Niñas (Boys and Women Membership). This facility, serving over 250 kids from low-income households, offers instructional and leisure actions that construct expertise and open pathways for future careers, probably even at BMW.
Gottsche was joined on stage by Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Administration of BMW AG, Folks and Actual Property, Labour Relations Director, who spoke at size in regards to the success of this program. To this point, over 200 kids have benefited from scientific actions, leisure actions, vitamin, arithmetic, artwork and music programs, amongst different issues.
“You possibly can’t come right into a market and take what we have to function and never do something for the market or make investments in the neighborhood,” Gottsche stated. “So when it got here time to determine what to do with that facility, as a substitute of closing it, we renovated it and gave it to the Boys and Women Membership to help this neighborhood in one other manner.”
Strengthening Native Provider Partnerships and World Networks
Working with over 100 Mexican suppliers, the San Luis Potosí prioritizes native sourcing to cut back transportation emissions and stimulate the regional financial system, in line with Oliver Haase, SVP Buying, High quality and Provider Community BMW Group Americas. To additional help provider improvement, BMW established the Rising Markets Expertise Fund (EMTF), which helps native suppliers undertake superior manufacturing methods and encourages innovation in sustainability. This fund ensures a resilient, sustainable provide chain whereas enhancing Mexico’s manufacturing capabilities.
BMW says 85 Mexican suppliers are at the moment delivering elements to the plant. This provider base, primarily positioned in Mexico’s Bajío area, enhances BMW’s provide chain stability whereas supporting native financial progress. A brand new attention-grabbing tidbit: 31 of those suppliers are positioned in San Luis Potosí.
The plant’s connection to BMW’s international manufacturing community can also be evident in its expertise alternate initiatives. Presently, 165 associates from San Luis Potosí are sharing their experience in BMW amenities in Leipzig and Regensburg, Germany, in addition to Debrecen, Hungary, and crops in China.
Cubing
The final cease within the Duty Days tour is a high quality management one. CUBING is BMW’s dedication to a “zero defects” method, serving as an ultra-precise software to evaluate the standard of every element. Even the smallest deviations in dimensions or drill positions of physique elements fall in need of the strict requirements that CUBING enforces.
Basically, earlier than beginning full-scale manufacturing or implementing updates, BMW receives pattern elements from its suppliers to check their compatibility with the construction of a brand new mannequin. These elements are rigorously put in to guage their match and general end. Utilizing a 3D scanner, BMW conducts detailed measurements to substantiate alignment with the physique, taking paint thickness into consideration the place essential. If any half doesn’t meet strict tolerance necessities, BMW works instantly with the provider to refine and modify it to fulfill exacting requirements. We may have extra particulars on CUBING in a separate article.
Subsequent Milestone
The subsequent milestone for the BMW San Luis Potosí plant is in 2027 when the Mexico-based manufacturing facility will start producing their first Neue Klasse mannequin. The electrical crossover (its title has not been confirmed by BMW) will hit the meeting line about two years after it enters manufacturing in Debrecen. Initially, the mannequin (which we consider is named iX3 with codename NA5) goes to be solely constructed at BMW’s new manufacturing facility in Hungary.
San Luis Potosí just isn’t the one BMW manufacturing facility in North America that can construct electrical automobiles. The Spartanburg plant will make six EVs by the top of the last decade.
