BMW Group South Africa has reached an incredible production milestone at its Rosslyn plant with the completion of its 100,000th fourth-generation X3 SUV.
The premium carmaker announced that it recently completed its 100,000th X3 – a Fire Red plug-in hybrid (PHEV) unit destined for a customer in Australia.
BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, located in Gauteng, is the only BMW factory in the world that assembles a PHEV version of the popular SUV, making it a strategic asset for the company’s global production network.
“Located north of Pretoria, BMW Group Plant Rosslyn continues to play an important role in South Africa’s automotive industry,” said the automaker.
“Since the plant’s inception, more than 1.8 million vehicles have been produced at the facility, including the previous third-generation BMW X3.”
The company stated that the milestone reflects the collective efforts of its employees and the broader South African supply and logistics ecosystem that support vehicle production.
“Producing 100,000 fourth-generation BMW X3 vehicles is a significant milestone for BMW Group Plant Rosslyn and a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our associates,” said Danny Bester, Director of BMW Group Plant Rosslyn.
“Every vehicle that leaves this plant represents the skill, commitment and pride of the people who build it. It also reflects the trust that customers place in the BMW brand and in the quality delivered here in South Africa.”
BMW noted that the plant is a major asset for skills development and talent cultivation.
It stated that apprentices, trainees, and graduate engineers get hands-on experience in a real manufacturing environment, helping to develop the next generation of technical and engineering professionals in South Africa.
“Each vehicle produced at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn moves through multiple production stations where associates focus on precision, teamwork and continuous improvement.”
“For many employees, the milestone represents years of dedication and a shared commitment on the production floor.”
BMW’s long history in South Africa
BMW’s presence in South Africa dates back more than 50 years to 1973.
Rosslyn was the very first BMW factory to be established outside of Germany, and the site has been working around the clock ever since to produce a variety of iconic models.
It is most famous for assembling the 3 Series sedan, as a staggering 1,191,604 units were made over the course of 30 years before the company shifted to a new model in 2018.
The automaker ultimately decided to switch from the 3 Series to the third-generation X3 in 2018 due to the growing global demand for SUVs.
The third-gen X3 was produced from 2018 to 2024, during which time the company operated on a 24-hour loop with workers coming and going on eight-hour shifts.
It averaged a total of 76,000 models per year, most of which were exported to right- and left-hand-drive markets overseas.
Production of the third-gen X3 ended in August 2024 with a grand total of 403,114 units, at which point BMW shifted to the new fourth-gen models.
The transition required a R4.2 billion investment from BMW, as the site required new facilities and equipment to assemble the X3’s first-ever plug-in hybrid units.
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