BMW has transitioned its Debrecen plant in Hungary to a three-shift, round-the-clock production schedule for the iX3 electric SUV. This expansion follows a rapid ramp-up period of approximately eight months since series production began at the site in early 2025. The company reports that European customers have already placed 100,000 orders for the model, with the 50,000th vehicle recently completed.
The Debrecen facility, which spans over 400 hectares, represents an investment of more than €2 billion. Currently, the plant employs around 5,000 people. The site operates under the BMW iFACTORY principle, focusing on high levels of digitalization and flexible manufacturing to handle various vehicle configurations, including the iX3 50 xDrive and iX3 40 variants.
Looking ahead, BMW plans to diversify its manufacturing footprint for the iX3. Starting in 2027, the company will begin parallel production in Mexico, while a long-wheelbase version is scheduled for launch in China. Additionally, the Debrecen plant is preparing to start production of a second Neue Klasse model this autumn, which is expected to be an electric SUV coupé.
The Neue Klasse platform is central to BMW’s electrification strategy, with the company aiming to launch six models based on this architecture within a 24-month window. Currently, two models are in production: the iX3 in Debrecen and the i3, which entered series production at the main Munich plant in August.
