BMW South Africa has announced it will spend R4.2bn over the next five years to build the next-generation X3 plug-in hybrid at its Rosslyn factory near Pretoria from 2024.
The current third-gen X3 midsize premium SUV has been built in Rosslyn since 2018 with more than 300,000 units rolling off the line. The new deal secures the future of the Rosslyn factory, which turns 50 this year, and the livelihood of more than 20,000 workers directly and indirectly employed at BMW South Africa’s facilities and its supply chain.
“Additionally, it underscores the BMW Group’s role as a key player in the South African automotive industry’s move towards a green economy”, he says. The X3 — competing against rivals like the Audi Q3, Mercedes GLC and Volvo XC60 — is BMW’s best selling vehicle in South Africa. The existing third-gen model, which was facelifted in 2021, is available in petrol and diesel guises.