BMW SA to start building next-generation X3 early
German parent advances production of the SUV on international demand and the sooner-than-expected conversion of its assembly plant near Pretoria
BMW South Africa expects to start building the next-generation X3 sports utility vehicle (SUV) in 2018 — a year ahead of schedule. The company had planned to halt production of the 3-Series sedan, which it has been building in South Africa since 1983, in 2019. But MD Tim Abbott said on Wednesday international demand for the X3, allied to quicker-than-expected conversion of the Rosslyn assembly plant, near Pretoria, had persuaded the company’s German parent to advance production of the SUV. "We have been asked to work faster so we are able to supply customers with the new X3 in the course of 2018," he said. Exactly when would be decided later. BMW South Africa announced in November 2015 it would spend more than R6bn turning itself into an X3 factory. Since becoming the first plant outside Germany to build the 3-Series 34 years ago, Rosslyn has built well over 1-million units. In 2016, it built about 72,000 cars, of which more than 80% were exported. It will now become only the second...
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