BMW Motorrad Welt
Opened with 150 invited guests in attendance, outgoing head of BMW Motorrad, Dr. Markus Schramm, in the presence of the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, and Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner, opened BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin on 28th September 2023. Adjacent to the brand's Berlin-Spandau production facility - where BMW motorcycle production has been based since 1969.
The creation of this new homage to all things BMW Motorrad was timed to be exactly 100 years to the day after the first BMW motorcycle, the R 32, was presented at the Berlin Motor Show on 28th September 1923.
BMW further marked the occasion with a € 100,000 donation to UNICEF and local and regional charities in Berlin and Brandenburg.
The highlights of the opening ceremony included presentation of the best custom bikes based on the BMW R 18 model family, as part of the BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship, and the much- hyped world premiere of the new BMW R 1300 GS.
Olaf Scholz said: "When we celebrate 100 years of BMW Motorrad today, we are, of course, celebrating 100 years of German industrial history, 100 years of development and innovation, 100 years of global competition.
"The industrial country of Germany thrives on women and men who choose a career in industry. I was able to get an idea of how they work here last December. Craftsmanship meets high-tech, digitalisation in education and training, employees with a wide variety of backgrounds, all of whom are passionate about 100-year traditional crafts, that impressed me. I am happy that with today's opening of the Motorrad Welt, BMW is also enabling many curious people to discover what is being created here in Berlin thanks to your work."
Helmut Schramm, the Head of BMW Group Plant Berlin, said: "The BMW Group Plant in Berlin is one of the most steeped in tradition and at the same time most innovative industrial location in Berlin and the region. It is an essential part of the BMW Motorrad success story. Almost the entire BMW Motorrad model range is manufactured in Berlin. From here we control the manufacturing in our international production network. It fills us with pride that we are reaffirming our commitment to Berlin with the opening of BMW Motorrad Welt at the production site."
Every day, 900 motorcycles and e-scooters roll off the assembly line on almost 230,000 sq m and in partly listed buildings. BMW Motorrad Welt has been created in one of the historic, authentic, original brick buildings on the production campus. On an area of around 1,000 sq m, "it offers a holistic brand experience that connects BMW Motorrad with its community in a lively and highly emotional way."
