Economy 26 September 2025, 1:47pm

Historic moment: BMW plant in Debrecen officially opened

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Following an examination of several European cities as potential manufacturing locations, BMW announced in 2018 that its newest European plant would be built in Debrecen, Hungary. Following the laying of the foundation stone in 2022, construction of the facility is now complete, and it will produce the all-electric iX3 on a new platform. The Hungarian plant and the new model are both of key importance to BMW. Those in attendance at the opening ceremony included Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Construction and Transport Minister János Lázár, BMW Board Chairman Oliver Zipse, and Plant Director Hans-Peter Kemser.

The BMW plant in Debrecen was officially opened today in a ceremonial event attended by hundreds of invited guests.

Plant Director Hans-Peter Kemser stated that they have created a factory of the future in Debrecen, setting new benchmarks in efficiency and sustainability. The selection of the location was influenced by reliable suppliers and excellent infrastructure. The facility was created alongside a

digital twin factory, and will employ over 2,000 people directly, while creating thousands more jobs in the region.

László Papp, Mayor of Debrecen, called the BMW plant the world's most modern and sustainable car factory, emphasizing that 'a new era of European automotive industry begins in Debrecen.'

Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the BMW Board of Management, highlighted that they are opening a new chapter in BMW's history. According to Zipse, the Debrecen plant is not just a new factory but BMW's masterplan for future car manufacturing. The project represents three milestones:

a new plant,
a completely new BMW model never produced before, and
a brand new architecture.

Zipse also emphasised the sustainability of the plant, noting that its emissions are so low that they set a world record.

The Debrecen plant will set an example for the entire automotive industry.

The BMW plant, announced in July 2018, represents an investment of EUR 2 billion, including battery assembly integration. The facility has a nominal capacity of up to 150,000 vehicles annually and will employ more than 2,000 people. The plant includes a press shop, body shop, paint shop, and assembly facilities.

What does it mean to manufacture 150,000 cars per year?

Last year, Audi in Győr produced 180,000 cars (it is also the world's largest engine factory).
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz in Kecskemét produced 146,000 cars, and from 2026 the new plant will significantly increase its capacity, potentially doubling the annual production volume.
Suzuki in Esztergom produced 111,000 cars (and 156,000 in 2023).
BYD in Szeged has a planned total capacity of 300,000 cars.

While not the largest in terms of volume,

the BMW plant in Debrecen is the most modern purely electric-focused domestic plant,

setting new industry standards in technology and energy architecture.

It is one of 30 BMW manufacturing facilities which produce almost 2.5 million cars (including BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce models) and over 200,000 motorcycles each year. The BMW Group's factories employ over 150,000 people.

Production will gradually ramp up starting from late October 2025. The plant operates without fossil fuels during normal operation, with most of its electricity supplied by a 50-hectare solar park. The facility will produce the new BMW iX3, the first series-production vehicle of the Neue Klasse, which will launch in European markets in spring 2026.

The iX3 50 xDrive, an all-electric SUV, will offer a range of 678-805 kilometers. The vehicle measures 4.78 meters in length, 1.9 meters in width, and 1.64 meters in height, achieving a Cd value of 0.24 with the aerodynamic package. The powertrain delivers 345 kW of power and 645 Nm of torque, enabling acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 210 km/h.