Today’s activities changed my understanding of the scale and identity of the BMW Group. We started at the BMW Forschungs- und Innovationszentrum (FIZ), which is their center for research and innovation. There, we learned more about the history, strategy, and future outlook of the company from an employee in the purchasing department. Two things that stood out to me in the presentation were the idea of “local for local” and backward integration. BMW emphasized building products where they sell them by having many direct suppliers close to production sites. This helps them respond to risks and opportunities quickly. The idea of backward integration was implemented in the “Neue Klasse” of vehicles. Cars released in the beginning of this next generation will have the technological capabilities to adopt any updates that come with later models, almost like an iPhone software update.
We proceeded to the BMW Museum for a factory tour. I have never seen anything like it before. About 90% of the factory was automated with robot workers, and the tour guide even referred to the robots as his “colleagues.” This made me consider the growing role of automation and the number of manufacturing jobs being replaced by robots. At the same time, human workers still performed precise tasks that machines could not.
BMW strongly emphasized its commitment to sustainability and an electric future, but I also noticed tension between those goals and current realities. The factory was still producing electric, hybrid, petrol, and diesel vehicles, showing that BMW is keeping its options open in the market. The company also discussed challenges caused by geopolitical issues and increasing competition from China and the United States. At the same time, BMW seemed to view itself as more than just a car company. Through its museum, branding, and history, it presented itself as a symbol of Bavarian and German engineering, innovation, and craftsmanship. Despite the turbulence in the current market, BMW appears to have a strong path forward. Its conservative transition toward electric vehicles has given the company the flexibility to respond to the rapid changes in the automotive industry.
After a day spent indoors, we drove across the street to Olympiapark. This site hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics, and it was built under a tent roof structure that mimicked the Alps. A cool aspect of Olympiapark is that many of its facilities are still in use today. We were able to observe swim lessons, check out the rock climbing wall, and take a picture by a statue of the Olympic rings.
Our night ended with a celebration dinner for Erin’s birthday. I am looking forward to tomorrow’s factory tour of KUKA, and seeing how the robots that make the cars are made.
