How Next-Gen iFactory will transform SA's Rosslyn plant

WHEN BMW unveiled its brand-new iFactory in Debrecen, Hungary, much of the global attention focused on the European milestone, a ground-up site designed to build the Neue Klasse, BMW's next generation of vehicles.

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BMW's new iFactory in Debrecen, Hungary will have important lessons for its plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria.

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But for South Africa, it's important too. BMW's Rosslyn plant, just north of Pretoria, has been a cornerstone of the country's automotive sector since 1973, and the Debrecen principles could soon trickle through to Rosslyn.

South Africa's role in BMW's worldwide production network is long established. The plant was the first BMW facility outside Germany. Today, it produces the X3 for export to more than 40 markets.

Dr Milan Nedeljkovic , BMW production board member, stressed that Rosslyn's future remains central to BMW's global ambitions.

"Rosslyn is currently a 15-unit plant producing around 75000 to 80000 vehicles annually. Debrecen, by contrast, launches at 30 units, producing close to 150 000 cars.

"But the important thing is that each plant is part of one system. What we validate in Debrecen sets the template for the whole network, including South Africa."

So when can we expect Neue Klasse (BMW's new generation of vehicles) on South African roads?

"The X3 has only been on the market for a year," he said. "It wouldn't make sense to radically shift it into Neue Klasse design just yet. They are distinguished on purpose, with different content evolving over time.

"Updates such as connectivity, ADAS (advanced driver-assistance systems), and software enhancements will filter across, but that doesn't mean they will all look identical in the end."

For Rosslyn, this means a gradual transition in time, though the plant is expected to adopt the same processes and philosophies that Debrecen uses - from simplified manufacturing and flexible automation to energy independence.