BMW builds Centre for Special and Individual Paintwork in Dingolfing

BMW Group to expand Dingolfing plant with a €30M centre for custom and special paint finishes, combining automation with manual work. Opening in 2027.

Over the next two years, BMW Group’s Dingolfing plant will undergo a major upgrade with the construction of a Centre for Special and Individual Paintwork. The project, valued at over 30 million euros, forms part of a southern extension to the existing paintshop. Construction will begin in September 2025, with the new facility set to go into operation in spring 2027.

The new building, covering more than 2,000 square metres across two levels, will allow a wider range of unique colour schemes and special finishes to be applied to vehicle bodies. The plant already offers up to 300 shades, including complex two-tone designs and limited editions such as the BMW 3.0 CSL and BMW M4 CS Edition VR46. A defining strength of the expanded line will be the combination of automated series painting with manual craftsmanship: the base coat will be applied by machines, while elements such as contrasting doors or decorative stripes will be added by hand before the body returns to the production line for its final clear coat.

The updated process is expected to cut throughput times by about a quarter and significantly reduce per-unit costs. Depending on demand, the centre will employ upwards of ten specialists. Another key change will be the switch from gas-powered drying furnaces to electric power-to-heat units, reducing the plant’s carbon footprint.

For BMW, this development is not only a response to growing customer demand for personalised vehicles, but also a way to strengthen its premium offering, where customisation has long been a decisive factor for buyers. As BMW’s largest production site in Europe, Dingolfing gains yet another asset to boost the brand’s competitiveness and highlight its focus on detail.