After a loooooong ride through traffic to Munich, we finally arrived at the BMW headquarters. There, we attended a lecture on corporate strategy and the current challenges and opportunities in the automotive industry. It was interesting to compare the differences and similarities between the strategies discussed at Audi and BMW.
After the lecture, we took a short drive to the BMW Museum and factory for our tour. We started in the factory, which was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Our guide walked us through the entire production process, from small pieces of metal forming the body of the car to the finished vehicles rolling onto the test track. At the beginning of production, robots handled nearly all the work while humans monitored the process. Each robot performed a specific repetitive task before passing the car to the next station. It was shocking to see how quickly everything moved. Production never stopped during the entire tour, and we learned that a car is completed every 24–30 hours, with a new car rolling off the line every minute. Watching pieces of metal transform into fully built cars made me realize how much detail, coordination, and planning go into the entire system. I would love to learn more about how these manufacturing systems will evolve with the implementation of new EV and automotive technologies in future models.
After the factory tour, we returned to BMW headquarters to explore the museum. We saw vehicles from throughout BMW’s history, including concept models for the future. The museum highlighted BMW’s evolution from producing aircraft engines to becoming a leader in automotive and motorcycle design. There were also interactive exhibits where we could take pictures with the cars, including Elvis Presley’s BMW 507.
Since the Olympic Park from the 1972 Summer Olympics was right next to BMW, we were able to explore it after the tours. The park is still used for recreational activities today, and we even saw the swimming pool in use. However, construction was happening near the main field and track area. It was still amazing to imagine athletes competing there during such a historic event. After taking some cool pictures, we headed back to Augsburg to finish the day and celebrate Erin’s birthday.
