18 Million BMW 3 Series In 50 Years : Here Are The 13 Countries That Makes This Successful Model

18 million BMW 3 Series have been built in 50 years — Here are the 13 countries that makes this successful model.

Over 18 million BMW 3 Series have been built worldwide since manufacturing began in 1975 at the main plant in Munich – before being extended to 17 other plants across 13 countries in four continents.

Now in its seventh generation, the latest model BMW 3 Series is produced in Munich, Shenyang (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico) and at the Group’s regional plants in Chennai (India), Rayong (Thailand) and Araquari (Brazil), as well as at partner plants in further countries.

To enable local supply for their respective markets, additional production lines were established at other sites in the 1980s, including Rosslyn, South Africa (from 1984) and Spartanburg in the United States (from 1994).

Over the decades, various 3 Series derivatives – ranging from sedans and convertibles to Touring and M versions – have been produced at nearly all BMW Group plants with maximum flexibility.

Below are plants and countries where the BMW 3 Series (Generation-by-Generation) has been built since production began in 1975

1st Generation BMW 3 Series

Sedan

1975-1983

Plants : Munich, Dingolfing

2nd Generation BMW 3 Series

Sedan, Convertible, Touring, M3 (Coupé and Convertible)

1982-1994

Plants: Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg, Rosslyn (South Africa)

3rd Generation BMW 3 Series

Sedan, Coupé, Convertible, Touring, Compact, M3 (Sedan, Coupé, Convertible)

1990-2000

Plants : Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg, Spartanburg (USA), Rosslyn (South Africa)

4th Generation BMW 3 Series

Sedan, Coupé, Convertible, Touring, Compact, M3 (Coupé, Convertible)

1997-2006

Plants : Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg, Rosslyn (South Africa)

5th Generation BMW 3 Series

Sedan, Coupé, Convertible, Touring, M3 (Sedan, Coupé, Convertible)

2004-2013

Plants : Munich, Regensburg, Rosslyn (South Africa), Dadong (China), Leipzig

6th Generation BMW 3 Series

Sedan, Touring, Gran Turismo, M3 (Sedan)

2011-2021

Plants : Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg, Rosslyn (South Africa), Tiexi (China)

7th Generation BMW 3 Series

Sedan, Touring, M3 (Sedan, Touring), i3 (fully-electric, China only)

Since 2018

Plants : Munich, Tiexi (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico)

Electric BMW 3 

BMW is preparing the 8th-gen of this “successful model series”. The automaker said that a fully-electric version of the BMW 3 Series will enter production at Plant Munich from the second half of 2026 as the next vehicle of the NEUE KLASSE.

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