BMW launches new body shop in Neutraubling to boost Regensburg output

BMW opens new body shop in Neutraubling to meet demand for X1 and X2 models. Regensburg plant expands capacity and prepares for NEUE KLASSE production.

BMW’s Regensburg plant, the company’s highest-volume production site in Europe in 2024, has entered a new phase of growth. A newly commissioned body shop in nearby Neutraubling now manufactures over 120 vehicle bodies per day, specifically for the highly popular BMW X1 and X2 models. With global demand rising—particularly for electrified variants—this facility is a strategic step forward.

The transformation of the 40,000-square-meter hall took less than a year, converting a former logistics space into a state-of-the-art body shop equipped with 294 robots and nearly 5,000 welding points per body. Around 150 employees currently work in single-shift operations. Once completed, the bodies are transported to the main Regensburg plant, where final assembly runs around the clock.

Regensburg plays a crucial role in BMW’s global production network. In 2024 alone, the plant manufactured over 342,000 vehicles—covering combustion engine, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric versions. More than a third of them were electrified. Among them, the all-electric iX1 stands out, produced on the same flexible line as traditional models.

Over the past two years, BMW has invested more than €550 million into its Upper Palatinate facilities in Regensburg and Wackersdorf. This includes current capacity expansion as well as preparation for the NEUE KLASSE generation—a future-focused vehicle line centered around digitalization, electrification, and sustainability. Renovation work is already underway, including during the New Year break, and a five-week production pause is scheduled for summer 2025 to implement further structural upgrades.

BMW’s iFACTORY initiative, aiming to modernize production through lean, green, and digital principles, is actively being rolled out in Regensburg. The factory’s transformation has already earned recognition: in 2024, it received the “Factory of the Year” award for outstanding large-series assembly. Judges praised its operational flexibility and workforce engagement as exemplary.

The launch of the Neutraubling body shop underscores BMW’s commitment to sustainable industrial growth in the region. For local authorities, it is a strong sign of stability and readiness for the future.

Source: bmwgroup.com