BMW South Africa

As early as 1929, the first BMW motorcycle was imported to South Africa by a private individual.[1] The first cars of the brand in 1952 was a BMW 501.[2]

However, the assembly of BMW automobiles did not begin until 1968 by Praetor Monteerders in Rosslyn.[1] The company also assembled Jeep models.[3] In 1970, BMW bought shares in Praetor Monteerders to completely take it over in 1975, thus establishing BMW South Africa, and was also the first BMW plant outside of Germany.[1]

After an investment of 3.5 billion rand at the beginning of the new millennium, the Rosslyn plant was regarded as the most modern automobile plant in the southern hemisphere.[4]

The first models produced were the BMW 1800 SA (from 1968) or 2000 SA (from 1969) derived from the Glas 1700.[5] First, the assembly took place from CKD -Bausätzen, were sent to the production facilities to South Africa.[6] In 1973, the optically revised models followed in 1804 and 2004, but only a year were built.[7]

From 1974, the BMW 5 Series was produced in South Africa from CKD kits.[8] This series there until 1985, after the interior and the engines of the new series 1982 E28 had received.[8] The new series E28 was also later replaced by the series E34, which was the last 5 Series produced in South Africa.[8]

Production of the BMW 745i began in 1983.[1] The vehicle was driven with the 3.5-liter engine of the BMW M1 and the time was the fastest BMW 7 of the world.[9] By 1986, to have been produced 192 vehicles of this type.[10]

The BMW 333i with 6 cylinders and 3.2 l displacement produced from 1986 (according to another source 1985 to 1987[11]) was also only produced in South Africa.[11] It emerged in this type with 204-215 vehicles.[11]

South African BMW 3 Series models have also been exported to Australia since 1994 and to other countries since 1999.[1] At the same time began after taking over Rover Group, they marketed and produced of vehicles of the Land Rover brand.[1]

With 7.8% (2006), the BMW Group has the largest market share worldwide outside of Germany in South Africa.[4] In 2011, around three quarters of production was exported.[12] The production was limited to the 3 series.[13]

Since 2018, the X3 (G01) series has been manufactured in Rosslyn (in addition to the production in Spartanburg). At the same time, the production of the 3 series ended after 1,191,604 copies and five model generations.[13]

BMW models have already been named Car of the Year by the South African Motor Journalists Association (SAGMJ) seven times.[1]

• 1988: BMW 735i
• 1990: BMW 525i
• 1993: BMW 316i
• 1997: BMW 528i
• 2001: BMW 320d
• 2006: BMW 3 Series
• 2011: BMW 530d

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