Lack of immediate production capacity for a potentially large volume seller? BMW should have sufficient production capacity for 1er coupe and cabrio but when you add on X6, X4?, X1/2 plus V/F5 they may not have sufficient capacity at existing plants. We might see the first generation X1 built by Magna Styer and the second generation built at a BMW plant if it's cheaper for them to expand capacity at an existing plant instead of continuing to outsource.
Magna has released a press release making it official: Magna confirms loss of BMW X3 sport utility production contract in Austria - Yahoo! Canada News
But here we are not talking about an immediate production, X1 if it's approved will make its time before hitting the street, So why don't they create a new factory or expand one to prduce it ?
We will have to wait to see if X3 is more reliable than the new X5 and don't forget that X5 quality standards are much higher than X3's.
It just occured to me... the new X6 will be built in the US (at least for NA market)... and they want to build the next X3 there too?!! This will mean a serious expansion of the plant! I just hope quality will not be compromised. The X3's have been uber reliable, while the X5 has a tarnished record (at least pre-facelift models). I hope you're right about the new X5.
On Wikipedia it says: They are specialized in 4WD and low-volume specialty vehicles. I think one reason is that they still have much more know-how in off-road vehicles than BMW.
Why? Are you afraid of lower reliability & quality of new X3? I asure you that will not be the case. E53 was not very reliable due two main reasons: It was first BMW's take on SUV / SAV segment - with BMW having no previous experience. It was developed during Rover debacle - when R&D resources were very limited. It has nothing to do with Spartanburg factory. Mind Z4 - it is very well built & reliable car. So it is (even more) E70 X5. And so was Z3.
Current capacity is 140k units per year, and in mid-term (eg. till 2010) the capacity will be expanded to - like BMW CEO Herr Reithofer said - "way over 200k units per year". There are rumours going on BMW will relocate next E89 Z4 production to Germany - to make space for X6, new X3, X4 etc production in Spartanburg plant. That makes sense since X6 uses X5 platform, and X4 will use X3 platform. I guess "way over 200k" is closer to 300k than 200k. Mind BMW sell more then 100k of X5, and more than 100k of X3 per year. Add another few 10k of X6, and another 10k of X4 - and we get very close to 300k number.
Yes I am afraid of the reliability and the overall quality of the finished product. For some reason, there is a difference in perception of what quality is- for me, I am a firm believer in the Total Quality Management(TQM) system. TQM is something that is widely accepted in some parts of the world and lagging in others. Acceptance of such a philosophy is cultural due to the fact that it heavily relies on the individuals to embrace it. It is a lifestyle changing philosophy in my opinion. So why am I worried? Same reason why I worry the quality of finished products from GM/Ford in the US. Note that both GM and Ford good products overseas- the problem is what happens when they are manufactured here. The workforce at the assembly level.
which makes spartanburg BMW SAV/SAC land leaving all regular cars and derivatives to germany which makes me wonder concerning the V5, is it built on the F10 platform or the E70 platform? which makes it a spartanburg candidate or a germany candidate?
