Getting on the bus to head out to the BMW factory, I was pretty unsure of just what to expect. I had never seen a real large-scale production line before, and I was quite interested to learn more. After our long ride, we arrived at the BMW headquarters, where we quickly heard some facts about how the company produces its vehicles and some other overarching business operations. One thing in particular that really stood out to me was learning more about how BMW produces its vehicles in several countries to avoid import costs, lowering the costs of the vehicles for end consumers. Additionally, this strategy aids in their overall goal of keeping carbon emissions as low as possible. By avoiding the fuel consumption required for mass imports of parts and exports of cars from Munich, BMW is able to better aid the environment while keeping its production as efficient as possible.
We then made our way to the BMW factory itself, which was nothing short of breathtaking. As we walked through the factory in rafters above the actual floor, we saw a constant stream of production, never missing a beat. Our tour guide showed us through several phases of the assembly line, from metal shaping and welding to the painting process, to the final step of checking to make sure that everything is working as intended, right before the car is driven off the lot. Even with all of this information coming at us quickly, everything was explained extremely thoroughly to us by our tour guide, who truly seemed like he loved his job.
After our tour concluded, we got the opportunity to look through the BMW museum, which, shockingly, was almost more impressive than the factory itself. Each room was a different snapshot into the history of BMW. From the early days of the company to the “Neue Klasse,“ the company’s new line, which is currently in development.
After a BMW-filled day, we stopped at Olympiapark, the home of the 1972 Summer Olympics. This was a great opportunity to walk around, get some fresh air, and reconnect with nature. Though BMW was extremely interesting, being inside loud factories and fact-filled conference rooms made me itch to get outside. The weather was gray, but still nice, as there was no rain or wind, capping the day off nicely.