BMW has unveiled plans to construct a new state-of-the-art “Talent Campus” at its Riesenfeldstraße plant in Munich – home to BMW’s production of electric vehicles.
The campus, which will train BMW’s 40,000 plus employees in Munich, will be constructed from almost entirely wood “to extend its lifespan” and will open in the summer of 2025.
Significantly, the shovel-ready project will help BMW train 9,000 plus trainees, a vital investment “given the lack of skilled workers,” according to Martin Kimmich, Chairman of the General Works Council at BMW AG.
It comes as BMW is working with Madrid start-up Strong by Form to explore whether its future car chassis, body parts, and seats could be manufactured from mass timber products rather than steel.
According to Ilka Horstmeier, the development is part of BMW’s strategy to supercharge the automotive giant’s push to make electric, digital, and circular cars.
“With the new Talent Campus, we are investing in a flexible, needs-based education infrastructure for our Munich site and adding another crucial component in the global training and education campaign that will make the BMW Group fit for the future,” said Ms Horstmeier, BMW Group’s Director of Labour Relations.
The campus is located on the grounds of one of the oldest car manufacturing plants in the world – from producing motorcycles in the 1930s to the Isetta production in the 1950s and, most recently, the i4 – BMW’s answer to the electric vehicle.
Wood Central understands the new 5-storey building will use a mass timber construction system, with exposed glue-laminated timber beams and posts, which will be visible on the facade of the building.
Using mass timber “will lend warmth to the interior and a natural look to the outside,” with lightweight construction materials ensuring that the building can be “adapted to meet the changing needs without major building works,” according to a BMW statement.
“The generous windows will let plenty of daylight into every part of the building for the optimum learning atmosphere. The spaces will be open and usable in various ways, with layouts that can be modified and upgraded anytime.”
Creating an inviting space is critical, with BMW keen to help trainees and employees develop new skills to adapt to the increasing automation in constructing future vehicles.
“The BMW Group Plant Munich is preparing to produce the Neue Klasse, and our employees will be crucial to its success,” Peter Weber, Director at BMW Group Plant Munich, said.
“I am very proud that our main plant will be home to a cutting-edge training centre that will benefit the whole of the BMW Group.”
“With the new centre, we are creating the infrastructure needed to ready specialists in every area of car production for the future.”
The new campus will also make selected spaces available for public training courses and incorporate a new staff canteen and a public café.
