The BMW Group has announced it is investing approximately €2 billion in vehicle manufacturing and battery production in Germany for the SA-bound new 3 Series.
Confirmed for South Africa in 2027, BMW whipped the wraps off the new 3 Series in September 2026, with the eighth-generation lineup joined by the i3, the first all-electric 3 Series, which was revealed six months before, in March 2026. To enhance production of the G50 iteration and its EV sibling, the Bavarian marque has announced it has invested “around” €2 billion (R37 429 820 000) across two of its German production facilities, namely Plant Dingolfing and Plant Irlbach-Straßkirchen.
While the internal combustion engine (ICE) 3 Series, of which BMW’s local arm has confirmed the initial local model lineup, will be manufactured at Plant Dingolfing, the i3 is built at the firm’s parent plant in Munich. Plant Irlbach-Straßkirchen will provide batteries for the i3 from October 2026.
Said Raymond Wittmann, Member of the Board of Management of BMW Group, Production, “We are making our contribution. Conditions that enable investment, innovation and competitiveness are essential if industrial value creation is to enjoy continued success in Germany.”
Since the ‘3 Series’ nameplate’s debut in 1975, it’s been produced at the Plant Munich assembly line, with German manufacturing taking place at Plant Dingolfing since 1980. Of the approximately 18 million units built since initial production kicked off, 15 million were produced in Germany. As a reminder, the 3 Series was also produced in South Africa, at BMW’s Plant Rosslyn near Pretoria, the automaker’s first manufacturing facility outside of Germany, for 35 years – from 1983 to 2018.
2027 BMW 3 Series South Africa launch date and models
The G50 and i3 will launch in South Africa in the first quarter of 2027. The models confirmed for our market are the 318, 320, and M350 xDrive – the latter spearheading the lineup…until the full-fat M model arrives. The ICE range will be joined by the i3 50 xDrive.
