German Car Zone

Brief History.

1968: A Pretoria-based concern, Praetor Monteerders begins assembling BMWs at its factory in Rosslyn.

1973: BMW acquires Praetor Monteerders and establishes BMW South Africa. The South African plant is the first to be established outside Germany.

1986: Unique to South Africa, the BMW 333i, with its sport suspension, low profile tyres, aerodynamic styling and 6-cylinder 3.2 litre engine, quickly becomes known as South Africa's most agile streetwise performer.

1994: BMW South Africa becomes the only local motor manufacturer to achieve ISO 9002 certification. The certification proves that BMW South Africa is capable of producing cars and components within a quality management system that meets the highest international standards.

1996: BMW AG invests R1 billion on the upgrade of the Rosslyn production facility, bringing the plant in line with motor manufactoring facilities worldwide and earning it the title of "BMW World Plant, Rosslyn".

1998: BMW celebrates 25 years in South Africa.

1998: Then Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki, visited the upgraded World Plant Rosslyn.

1998: BMW South Africa launches the new 3 Series built at the Rosslyn Plant.

1999: BMW South Africa's Vehicle Distribution Centre - the central holding and distribution area for all BMW vehicles - opens in May.

1999: BMW South Africa becomes the first motor manufacturer in the world to achieve certification for its integrated (Quality, Health and Safety and Environmental) management system. (ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and BS 8800).

1999: BMW South Africa introduces a second shift and embarks on an export programme that will see some 170 cars produced per day and thousands of South African-manufactured 3 Series vehicles being shipped to markets in the UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, North America, South America, Singapore, Taiwan and 13 sub-Saharan markets.

2000: The first South African-manufactured 3 Series vehicles are shipped to the United States.

2000: Former President, Nelson Mandela, visits BMW South Africa's head office in Midrand and inscribes a South African-manufactured 3 Series with the following words: "BMW is an organisation that has attracted tributes far beyond our borders."

2001: The 100 000th 3 Series was produced at Rosslyn

2001: Further investment in South Africa is announced by BMW AG
Plant Rosslyn won the JD Power Gold Award for the best plant in Europe

2002: Plant Rosslyn produced 55 555 units for the first time

2003: A new state-of-the-art paint preparation plant is opened

2004:
Plant Rosslyn won the JD Power Quality Award for the best automobile manufacturer in South Africa.


2005: Last E46 - 269 810th unit is produced at Plant Rosslyn.

2005: Production of the fifth generation of 3 Series starts at Plant Rosslyn.

2004: Warot's first internship at Rosslyn
2005: Warot's second internship
2007: Warot's third internship and bids farewell to SA

Haha, sorry, just had to add my story too

Wow warot, didnt know you were this side of the world..How did you enjoy your internship..? Tell us more...Do you have any pics of the plant from inside?

Yea my parents were there for 5 years and I went back there to visit them during the summer. SA is definitely one of my favorite places in the world and I miss it badly. I was lucky because my neighbor was very high up at the plant and was able to get me the internships. First one was very general, nothing too specific, helping out around with the cars. Second one was in the acoustic lab and third one was in metrology.

One of the best times of my life and got me started with quality assurance. I'm now working at the South Carolina plant doing quality assurance again, but that would have never been possible with these internships. Learned a great deal and had a blast, doesn't get better.

I do have a few pics from inside the plant, but I can't really show them. But I'll show you guys some pics from when we went to the track. They have tours that you can take, it's pretty interesting.







While I love Rosslyn to death, I have to say that the Spartanburg plant is just another level. I think Rosslyn now makes about 200 cars a day, while here it is more like 650...

Awesome Stuff Bro, Thanks fro sharing...Im glad you enjoyed africa...When you coming back this side of the world..? Wish you all the best.......


Who knows, Mayb Plant Manager Soon, then you can organise your GCZ Brothers some Discounted Factory tours.....



Farouk

Plant managers usually German so I'm kind of at a disadvantage. Plus, when you get to that stage, you are doing all the managing which to me is boring. I want to work with the cars and have a very hands on experience... which is exactly what these internships and my job currently have been. Plus the tours are very very reasonable. I know here in the States, it's only 5 dollars. These are meant to be for the enthusiasts, rather than for making a profit.

I might be coming back in Feb for my friends wedding... or maybe the world cup in 2010! Either way, I can't wait. SA is just a fantastic country.

Nice pics of Gerotek, warot. That aquaplaning skidpan is a gas.