The first car of the fourth generation of the BMW 1 Series rolled off the production line at the BMW Group Plant in Leipzig. It was an Alpine White BMW 120 built for a German customer with a combined fuel consumption of 6.0 – 5.3 l/100 km. The high-end compact car is produced exclusively at the Leipzig plant in Saxony, with a daily output of up to 500 units. Together with the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and MINI Countryman, the Leipzig plant can produce up to 1,300 vehicles per day. The new BMW 1 Series is expected to go on sale in October 2024.
The new BMW 1 Series marks a new chapter in the BMW brand’s nearly 20-year success story in the compact segment. Production of this model began in 2007 with a three-door version produced at the Leipzig plant. Since then, the plant has built more than 1.3 million vehicles in various versions. By the end of June 2024, nearly 443,000 units of the third-generation BMW 1 Series had been delivered to customers. “The new BMW 1 Series will continue to play a key role in maintaining high capacity utilization at the Leipzig plant,” Leipzig Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel said confidently.
Since 2018, the BMW Group’s Leipzig plant has undergone system upgrades and can now produce up to 350,000 vehicles per year, 100,000 more than before. Currently, the plant produces four models with three different types of drive systems on the same production line, covering both brands. Production of the MINI Countryman is ramping up further from November 2023 and is expected to increase to 500 units per day this year, in addition to around 800 BMW models.
Increased production not only secures existing jobs but also creates new employment opportunities. For vehicle production alone, around 900 new employees will be hired at the Leipzig plant by the end of 2024, bringing the total to around 7,000 people.
The new BMW 1 Series continues to consolidate its position as the sportiest vehicle in the competition with its dynamic design, new drive systems and significantly improved chassis technology. The front end of the car is significantly flatter and lower, showing that this car is more focused on sporty driving pleasure than before. The wide front grille features innovative vertical and diagonal lines. Standard LED headlights give the vehicle a striking “four-eyed face”.
The vehicle’s powerful appearance is further enhanced by a prominent rear bumper design, vertical reflectors, dual-section taillights and black diffuser-style inserts. Inside, the new BMW 1 Series comes standard with a completely leather-free interior. The redesigned cockpit features BMW Curved Display. The optional M Sport Package and special M Sport Design equipment options add to the car’s even more dynamic appearance.
The exterior of the new BMW 1 Series is available in two solid and seven metallic colours. BMW Individual will also offer unique paint options, including a variety of BMW Individual special paints. This model is also the first BMW model to be offered with an optional contrasting paint finish, with the roof in high-gloss black. Like the MINI Countryman, the roof is painted at the Leipzig factory using a new overspray-free painting process, which is more environmentally friendly and eliminates the need for excess paint mist.
The new BMW 1 Series will go on sale on October 5. Currently, the main markets for the 1 Series are Germany and Europe, especially the UK and Italy.
The new BMW 1 Series not only inherits the brand’s consistent sports genes, but also undergoes comprehensive upgrades in design and technology. For those who love driving fun, this car is definitely a good choice. Moreover, with the expansion of production scale and improvement of technology, the BMW 1 Series we see on the market in the future will be more diversified to meet the needs of different customers. We look forward to this car performing brilliantly in the Hong Kong market and allowing more fans to experience the driving passion of BMW.
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