Munich. The BMW Plant Munich today launched the series production of the new BMW M4 coupe.

Hermann Bohrer, director of the factory, together with BMW DTM racing driver Martin Tomczyk drove it off the line. At the main plant of the BMW Group for the first time in 40 years there are four models being made: the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the BMW 3 Series Touring, the BMW 4-Series Coupe and the new BMW M4 coupe.

Plant manager Hermann Bohrer at the start of production: “With the BMW M4 Coupe a legend returns home. After 23 years we begin manufacturing of a BMW GmbH vehicle in the Munich Factory.” BMW M has traditionally been closely linked to the Munich site . Between 1986 to 1991 17,970 of the first generation BMW M3 were built in the BMW Munich plant, including 786 convertibles. “There remain many employees who were involved in the production of the model series BMW M3 E30 ” explained Hermann Bohrer. “That we will now build the BMW M4 Coupe here at the site, makes me personally proud. Also for our highly motivated and flexible team is a special appreciation.”

DTM driver Martin Tomczyk about the production start-up : “I am proud to be part of the BMW plant in Munich at the start of production for the BMW M4 coupe and to have driven the first car off the line. My BMW M4 Coupe is already on order in the color Austin Yellow: I can hardly wait to finally drive my personal BMW M4 Coupe.”

The previous model, the BMW M3 Coupé, the fourth generation was produced with a total number of more than 40,000 copies in the BMW plant in Regensburg . The fifth generation of the BMW M3 sedan will continue to be manufactured in Regensburg.

The BMW M4 Coupe now continues the success story at the Munich Plant. The new type name ” M4 ” provides the link to the series, which serves as the starting point for the new M models: BMW 4-Coupe. This vehicle has been manufactured exclusively at BMW’s Munich Plant since the summer of 2013. The official launch of the BMW M4 Coupe is scheduled for the summer (June).

2014: investment above the level of 2013.

Overall, the BMW plant in Munich has invested last year almost 150 million euros in the production and plant structures, including in the manufacturing infrastructure for the new BMW M4 coupe. “We have the production adjusted for lightweight components such as the CFRP roof or the aluminum front hood,” said plant manager Hermann Bohrer.” The parallel production of four models on one and the same assembly line is a testament to the high flexibility of our production structures. Especially at the Munich plant that is due to the naturally limited areas in the middle of a town-center location a particular challenge.”

In 2014, continuing to invest in production facilities and structures of different technological areas. These investments will significantly exceed the level of the previous year.

BMW Munich plant – the main plant of the BMW Group.

The BMW plant in Munich is the original plant of the BMW Group. It combines engineering excellence and innovation with the passion of its roughly 7,250 employees from over 50 nations for the BMW brand and the company. The plant is located in the north of Munich, close to the headquarters, the BMW Museum, the BMW Welt and the research and innovation center FIZ . Vehicles and engines have been produced at the BMW Munich plant since 1922.

New record for 2013: 247,330 vehicles and 464,968 engines produced in Munich.

Currently at the BMW plant in Munich around 950 cars roll off the production line each work day, including the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the BMW 3 Series Touring, the BMW 4- Coupe and in the future, the BMW M4 coupe. More than 2,000 engines are built each work day. The engine range includes BMW 3 -, 4 – , 8 – and 12 – cylinder engines , the BMW 6-cylinder diesel engines and eight-cylinder high performance engines for the BMW M vehicles (2013).

Ed. : I translated the above from a German original Press Release