BMW Group have plans to invest R6 billion into its Rosslyn plant in Pretoria to initiate the production of the new X3 for local and international distribution.
The X3 will replace the local production of the current BMW 3-Series Sedan which will be sourced to other global plants.
R3 billion will be allocated towards the development of facilities that will produce the X3 while the other R3 billion will be reserved for suppliers, launch costs and training of associates.
Oliver Zipse, Chairman of BMW Group South Africa says that the decision to produce the new X3 in South Africa is based on strengthening South Africa in its production network.
Dr Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG adds that models such as the X3 have become very desirable over the years and that the X models now account for 28% of BMW’s global sales.
Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry, claims that this venture is a significant partnership of business and government and that the production of the X3 will provide a comfortable boost in South Africa’s industrial policy.