Where it began and how it is going. The 300 000th X3 made at Rosslyn alongside the first car made in 1973, the aptly named 2000 SA.
March 1973 signalled an important moment in South Africa’s automotive history as it saw BMW officially take over the present-day Rosslyn plant outside Pretoria from what was known until then as Protea Monteerders.
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The first factory outside of Germany to produce cars bearing the white-and-blue roundel, the facility has been a major driving force within Munich’s global portfolio as apart from celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, it also exports 95% of vehicles produced to 40 markets in Europe, Australia, the Middle East and even parts of Asia.
In addition, it has also produced made-for-South Africa icons in the shape of the 530 MLE, the 745i, the 333i and the iconic 325iS.
Five decades down the line from the very first aptly named 2000 SA rolling-out of the plant, more than 1.6-million vehicles have been made, with the most recent achievement being the 300 000th X3 that replaced the 3 Series in 2018, after a run of 35 years and 1 191 604 units.
As a way of celebrating its birthday, BMW, earlier this week, invited the media for a tour of Rosslyn in order to get a first-hand experience of the R12.6-billion invested since 1995.
Part of the crucial automotive sector, which totals seven brands assembling vehicles in the country, Rosslyn contributed 12.5% to South Africa’s overall vehicle exports in 201, while also providing employment to 2 200 people working three shifts over an eight hours period, a setup first introduced over a decade ago.
Able to produce a claimed 70 000 vehicles per annum, the tour took consisted of a visit to the body shop, the paint shop and the production line.
A huge undertaking that requires the full input from man and machine in the proverbial perfect harmony, over 300 form part of the non-human workforce in a operation that saw Rosslyn being awarded Gold status in 2002 and then Platinum in 2015 by the JD Power Initial Quality Study.
During the visit to body and paint shops, all viewed from walkways behind glass, the intricates were noted ranging from the frame of the X3 being welded together from separate sections, to the completed body being cleaned in a dipping vat before receiving its first undercoat in preparation for being painted.
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On the production line itself, the complexities boggles the mind even more as the completed body shells are married with the respective mechanical components ranging from the axles and engines, to the interior specified by each buyer abroad and in South Africa.
Once finished, a final round of cleaning takes place before a supplementary inspection in readiness for the now finished X3 departing the factory.
It was exiting the assembly line that attention centred on an electronic tracking board that confirmed total X3 production of 302 679 units. Just as the interesting is the set monthly target of 5 515 units, of which 5 407 were completed at the time of our visit.
While likely to have been surpassed by now, the success that is Rosslyn hasn’t come easy as recent challenges emanating from the energy crisis and vandalism of the country’s rail infrastructure had resulted in rumours emerging of BMW possibly running out of patience and opting to import X3 from its plants in China or from the so-called X model hub in Spartanburg, South Carolina instead of continuing with local production.
In setting the record straight, BMW South Africa Board Management Chairman, Milan Nedeljković, said the automaker is here to stay.
“Plant Rosslyn has over the past 50 years proven itself to be an essential member of our production network, consistently improving quality and productivity. The passion for the brand is clear, and the right teams with the right spirit are in place to direct its growth for the next 50 years,” he said.
Similarly, BMW South Africa CEO Peter van Binsbergen told the media that “a strong affinity and emotional connection” exists between BMW and South Africa, especially from the brand’s production of bespoke-to-market models mentioned earlier.
At a press briefing following the opening of the annual BMW M Fest last year, division boss Frank van Meel identified South Africa as one of the key markets for BMW M models and M Fest South Africa as the biggest in the world.
“Plant Rosslyn has been really at the core of what BMW does in South Africa. It is also an integrated part of BMW’s worldwide plant network and cornerstone of the local automotive industry,” van Binsbergen said.
“The long-term commitment [to South Africa] was really evident in the ‘90s as we were one of the first to embrace the government’s vision for an automotive industry in South Africa.
“As such, celebrating our 50th birthday is about looking back at our unique and glorious heritage and many achievements over the years. There is a clear passion for the brand in this country. But, the time is right to look at the future,” he said.
Van Binsbergen continued by saying that going forward, emphasis will be placed on sustainably and technology as BMW aims for carbon neutrality, which has so far included a 29% reduction in energy usage between 2014 and 2022 at Rosslyn, a 38% decrease in water reliance between 2018 and 2022 and zero waste making it onto landfills last year.
“We are not only celebrating, but coming with a serious messages, demonstrating our commitment to this country and showing what we believe the future of substantially will hold,” Van Binsbergen said.
In a subsequent briefing after the tour, he added that in spite of the country’s often volatile labour situations, BMW AG’s continual support for Rosslyn stems from its strongly forged relationship with each government that has run the country.
“South Africa’s stable industrial policy has kept us in the country regardless of the government,” he said, adding that talks have started with the Department of Trade Industry about the electric vehicle production in light of BMW moving towards an all-electric future by 2030.
Van Binsbergen concluded by saying that while a decision regarding EV assembly cannot be made until it becomes aware of governmental policy, it is working towards it and that South Africans should “watch this space” for what it will produce in the coming 50 years.
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