Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (or BMW, as it is most commonly known) is a German luxury vehicle manufacturer. It is owned by the BMW Group, which builds and sells vehicles under the BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brands.
In Q2 of 2022, the BMW Group recorded pre-tax profits of over 3.9 billion euros. It’s pretty safe to say that the BMW brand has a global reputation for producing reliable, high-quality vehicles.
There is a long-standing myth that all BMW cars are made in Germany – but this isn’t actually the case. Let’s take a deep dive into why that is.
Where BMW cars are made
BMW builds complete vehicles in Germany, Austria, the United States, Mexico, South Africa, India, China and Brazil. The majority of BMW vehicles are manufactured in Germany.
Most BMW vehicles that you see on the road today are produced in its network of plants in Dingolfing, Germany. According to the BMW Group, the Dingolfing plant is its largest production site in Europe, producing nearly 245,000 vehicles in 2021.
BMW also uses a strategy called complete knock-down (CKD) manufacturing. This involves sending ready-to-assemble kits of parts to factories in Russia, Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Indonesia.
This type of manufacturing is incredibly efficient and allows BMW to reach more markets than ever before.
The country of Germany has a reputation for leading the way in machinery and engineering innovation. BMW’s vehicles are closely linked with this – and the benefits of German-engineered cars continue to be a strong selling point for the brand.
Which BMW cars are made in Germany?
Currently, BMW’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 series vehicles are assembled in Germany. BMW’s M Sport models, X series and the electric iX SUV range are also assembled in German production facilities.
BMW owns four different production plants in Germany: they are located in Dingolfing, Munich, Regensburg and Leipzig. The majority of its vehicles are produced here. After all, Germany is the spiritual home of BMW.
But the demand for BMW vehicles across the world is very high. To meet this demand, the brand makes use of several international facilities to bolster the output of its German plants.
For example, BMW’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina (US) produces over 1,500 vehicles per day: the highest amount of any single BMW production factory.
The Spartanburg facility is responsible for assembling the majority of BMW’s sports utility vehicles: the X3, X4, X6 and X7 models.
As long as people keep buying ‘em, the brand will continue to prosper and build new facilities in territories across the globe.
How to tell where your BMW was made
The most accurate way of identifying where your BMW vehicle was made is to check the first two or three letters of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Use our table below to identify where your model was manufactured.
The first three digits of a VIN number are known as a World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). For most production vehicles, this allows you to trace the car back to its country of origin.
You can find your VIN number on the title or registration documents for your car. It can also be found on the cowl panel, or on a metal plate in the inner driver’s door sill.
| WIM Number | Country of Origin |
| WBA | Munich, Germany |
| WBS | Munich, Germany |
| WB1 | Munich, Germany |
| 4US | Spartanburg, SC, United States |
FAQs
Are BMW cars made in the USA?
BMW’s production plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina is responsible for producing 1,500 BMW SUVs every day. This is the only BMW production plant on American soil, and it exclusively produces vehicles in the brand’s X series (X4, X6, X7 etc.).
Are BMW cars made in China?
Yes, some of BMW’s vehicles are built in China. Before 2021, BMW vehicles produced within China were only sold to the Chinese market. However, in October of 2021, BMW announced that the production of its X5 model would be moving from the US to China, where it would be shipped and sold globally.
Are BMWs made in Germany better?
Not at all. Wherever your BMW model has been assembled, you’ll be receiving the same quality parts and build processes that the German plants use. If it has a BMW badge, you’re receiving a good quality and reliable vehicle.
Conclusion
If you’re into cars, you can’t help but be in awe of the Bavarian Motor Works and its vehicles. BMW has built a strong reputation for forward-thinking vehicles that place the driver at the heart of the driving experience.
It’s not uncommon to think that all BMW vehicles come from Germany. Sure, the brand has bundles of German heritage – but supplying all of its vehicles from within Germany would be too costly and time-consuming. To be a global brand, it needs global production facilities.
Which BMW do you own? What’s the best thing about it? Let us know below!
