BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) has halted production of the third-generation X3 at its Rosslyn plant, in Pretoria, and will now gear up for production of the new-generation model.

The last vehicle in the current series, which has been shipped to a customer in Germany, was produced at the end of August, with a total of 403 114 X3s rolling off the assembly line at the local plant over a seven-year period.

Rosslyn produced the third-generation BMW X3 in a three-shift operation, with around 96% of production exported to more than 50 African and global markets.

The plant has a capacity of 76 000 units a year.

The German premium car maker in 2015 announced a R6-billion investment into its South African operations to enable the production of the X3, which started in 2018.

The Rosslyn plant was established in 1973, and is one of 30 production sites in 15 countries for BMW.

It was BMW’s first plant outside Germany, and has built more than 1.7-million cars since its inception.

“Having worked closely with the third-generation BMW X3, the last of its kind rolling off the production line was a particularly sentimental moment,” notes BMW Group Plant Rosslyn assembly GM Tshepo Khoza.

As one chapter ends, however, another begins.

BMW SA last year announced a R4.2-billion investment to equip the Rosslyn facility to assemble the next-generation X3 plug-in hybrid.

The new X3 will be built at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, in the US, as well as Plant Rosslyn, using a production process that prioritises the conservation of resources and circularity.

Production will begin with the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle model, exclusively manufactured in Rosslyn for the world, starting in October.

“The continuation of the BMW X3 story in South Africa demonstrates the BMW Group’s commitment to South Africa – its people and communities – after 50 years of operation,” says BMW Group Plant Rosslyn director Dr Niklas Fichtmueller.

“Our achievements are attributed to our workforce who have been dedicated to and persistent in building a world-class product, as well as servicing customers globally.”