The brand new locally produced BMW X3, which is manufactured locally at BMW’s Plant Rosslyn in Pretoria for the export as well as the local market proves to be very popular.
Since its start of production in October 2024, the new BMW X3 has strongly resonated with South African customers, with all available stock sold or on order. Approximately 10% of sales are for the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) BMW X3 30e xDrive model.
The BMW X3 30e xDrive has driven a 45% increase in the monthly retail rate of PHEVs.
This coincides with BMW Group Plant Rosslyn’s reintroduction of a third production shift and expansion of its production line to include internal combustion engine (ICE) variants, projected to build 110 units per shift.
“The new BMW X3 embodies our commitment to both innovation and customer choice,” says Ernst Kohlmeyer, General Manager of Quality at BMW Group South Africa. “Producing both PHEV and ICE models on the same line demonstrates the flexibility of Plant Rosslyn, enabling us to effectively respond to global market demands.”
“These production milestones represent the culmination of years of planning and investment in Plant Rosslyn,” adds Anuk Maharaj, Project Lead for the new BMW X3 at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn. “We are immensely proud to see the new BMW X3 come to life here, securing jobs and contributing to the South African economy.”
In addition to the previously launched BMW X3 30e xDrive, BMW Group Plant Rosslyn will now also produce the BMW X3 20 petrol and 20d diesel variants, (started in January 2025), followed by the BMW X3 40d xDrive in May 2025. Significantly, both the BMW X3 30e xDrive and the BMW X3 40d xDrive will be exclusively produced at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn for global markets.
This expansion follows a R4.2 billion investment in the electrification and digitisation of the production facility and future-proofing the Rosslyn plant within its global production network.
The production of the BMW X3, including the PHEV and ICE variants, secures jobs not only at BMW Group South Africa but also within its supply chain and retail network across the country, the manufacturer states.
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A dispute over the payload ratings of Jetour’s T1 and T2 SUVs has developed further following weighbridge testing in Gauteng, with the Automobile Association (AA) questioning some of the results and Jetour South Africa maintaining that its revised figures have been independently verified.
Chinese vehicle manufacturers continued to record significantly stronger growth than established OEM brands in South Africa during the second quarter of 2026, according to TransUnion's Q2 2026 Mobility Report.
South African consumers face growing pressure on household finances after the South African Reserve Bank raises interest rates, adding to a range of rising costs that are already influencing vehicle purchasing decisions.
