Final 18 BMW i8 cars leave Plant Leipzig

Austin Yellow. British Racing Green. Le Mans Blue. The last 18 BMW i8 vehicles left BMW Group Plant Leipzig today as their future owners looked on.

Each car was a one-off created in close collaboration with the customer. “The degree of customisation in these vehicles threw up some major logistical and process challenges,” said Plant Director Hans-Peter Kemser. “But our i production unit has proved yet again that nothing is impossible.”

Manufacturing a BMW i8 is a feat of modern automotive construction, owing to the complex vehicle concept, advanced hybrid drive technology, and unique mix of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and aluminium.

But these final 18 special models presented the i8 production team with additional challenges on top: paint colours untested to the outer skin components of a BMW i8. Painting such a large number of exterior parts in the specified colour made production and logistics far more complex.

Manufactured and painted virtually by hand by a range of suppliers and at BMW Group Plant Landshut, the challenge lay in getting the components to the production line in full premium quality.

With each part being the only one of this colour in existence, making them highly complex to reproduce, utmost care and precision were required with the logistics and assembly during series vehicle production.

The final vehicles also have customised components in their interiors, such as Alcantara covers for seats and steering wheels, and special trim strips and fascia panels.

“Yet again, we have proved our ability to meet the highly discerning standards and personal specifications of our customers with unique solutions and unparalleled skill,” said Plant Director Hans-Peter Kemser. “For BMW i8 production to end with a finale like this is something we can all be very proud of.”