BMW, Brilliance to open second Chinese plant under joint venture
November 13, 2009 by Matt Brogan
BMW has announced overnight that it plans to open another assembly plant in Shenyang, China, the second under its joint-venture with local manufacturer Brilliance.
Once complete the plant will more than double BMW’s Chinese assembly capacity, which is currently sits at around 41,000 units per annum.
“Our plant has reached its capacity limit, so we are now taking the next step,” said BMW Chief Financial Officer, Mr Friedrich Eichiner in a 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 hopes the capacity will allow it to further expand in to the lucrative Chinese market by producing more vehicles domestically. BMW’s sales are up 37 per cent in China so far this year, selling 71,952 cars until the end of October.
Construction of the new plant will begin next year with the first car due to roll off the assembly line in early 2012. The plant will create jobs for more than 1,000 people.
BMW currently produces its 3 and 5 Series models in China. It remains unclear as to whether the new plant will see this range expanded or simply allow greater volume of existing models.
Print it: 
As long as they only sell them in China. I sure as hell wouldnt want my BMW coming from there.. I know that it wouldnt be any different but it just doesnt sound right :/
Can’t be any worse than the American built X5s.
i bet the computer you are typing this on is built in china or an asian country. so whats your problem?
Yes but i paid bugger all for this computer. I’m not saying that they would be of inferior quality (See: above) but its just something you pay for when you go badge-snob shopping….
Josh, you would have to stop thinking that way, as more and more cars will be built in developing countries, unless you stick to the big 3 local production. Plus, local built still have hips of parts from 3rd world.
Local built doesn’t mean it’s any better either, alot has to do with who manages the factory and quality control.
What makes you think that a bunch of German Factory workers are going to do a better job of putting a car togther than a Chinese worker who feels privilaged to have a job in a modern factory when all his friends are working in a 3rd world sweat shop.
Well said !!
For those who let they emotions run wild … I said above that there would be no difference in the end product…
exactly! My kids have toys made in UK, Germany and France and they are no more resilient or better made than the chinese ones. But we did pay more when we bought them thinking they would be superior, years down the track many of the chinese toys are still working, I’ve been ripped off by generalising.
I agree with Toxic_Horse.
Now everything is made in China.
Your TV, your Ipod, your computer.
I think the Chinese quality is ok
The Chinese built BMW are only for local Chinese market. Australia will continue source most of its BMWs from South Africa and Germany.
If the day comes where we get Chinese made BMWs, hopefully the price tag will come down not the profit margin :P
^^ mate can assure you the price wont come down as BMW dont want to sully their “premium” image. And whats so bad with Chinese quality. They make the clothes ur all probably wearing. Oh and BTW most technology doesnt come from China it comes from either Taiwan or Japan. China is good with Cloth and raw materials.One day China along with India wil overtake the US and Japan i just hope im around when it happens to watch the new world become the old world.
<troll> If a car with “Lotus engineering” can come from Malaysia, I don’t see why a BMW cannot come from China. </troll>
It’s not the country a product is built in, it’s how it’s built with parts from where and with what materials. It’s not just final assembly and plant management. An automobile is made up of a lot of different parts and materials subcontracted from other manufacturers. Especially volume models like 3 and 5 series BMW’s. You don’t have to worry about just the happy, competent worker on the floor — you have to worry about all the corners cut in everything from the steel used to the rubber to the relays and electric motors and even the quality of the plastic on the wires in the harness. All from outside contractors, most operating sweat shops.
Quality manufacturers in Japan and Korea have been burned plenty with parts from China when they try to save a buck. I’ve read several news stories about it.
You’d have to have rocks in your head to buy a car actually made in China and pay premium BMW prices. Complete product suicide if they try and sell them outside of China.