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The Welding and Painting Areas of the Araquari (SC) Plant Will Be Restructured to Start Production of the New X1
The new X1 will begin production in Brazil in 2023 by BMW, and the Araquari (SC) plant is already preparing the lines to receive the new version of the SUV. Starting in mid-September, production will be halted for ten days to allow the welding and painting areas to undergo their first updates. Additionally, a new in-house supplier will be integrated.
The plant director, Otavio Rodacoswiski, explains that the company will adapt the lines to facilitate the assembly of the new BMW X1, as it has different proportions compared to the previous model. This will mostly happen in the width of the layout, along with an increase in the painting line through which the bodies will pass.
BMW Announces News About the New X1
The new BMW X1 measures 4.50 meters in length, 1.84 meters in width, and 1.62 m or 1.64 m in height, depending on the version. Additionally, the wheelbase is 2.69 meters, allowing for more cabin space for legs and heads, and the trunk can accommodate up to 540 liters. The interior of the new X1 is also full of innovations, such as the addition of the Live Cockpit Professional – a new curved display that combines two large screens, measuring 12.3” and 14.8”. It also features a console between the seats and floating armrests with some controls, such as the electronic selector for the automatic transmission.
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The Araquari (SC) plant will also receive suppliers. The company responsible for providing the mechanical assembly of the vehicles at the plant, Benteler, will also have its own facility, and Magna, a manufacturer of structural vehicle components, maintains production in Joinville (SC). This city is located 25 km away from the BMW plant.
New X1 Undergoes Painting Tests by BMW
Painting tests on the new X1 have already begun by BMW at the same time as they make modifications to the structure of the Araquari (SC) plant. The first layers of paint of the new colors that will be part of the SUV range, one of which is Cape York Green, have been applied to at least two units that were assembled in Germany and imported to the Brazilian plant.
The Araquari plant (SC), inaugurated in 2014, currently produces four combustion models for the Brazilian market, including the current version of the X1, the X3 and X4 SUVs, and the Series 3 sedan. The confirmation of the production of these models is part of the R$500 million investment announced by BMW in November 2021.
From Monday to Friday, between 7 AM and 4 PM, approximately 40 units are produced per day in a single shift. Even with the structural modifications of the line to accommodate the new X1, the Araquari (SC) plant will continue to have 600 employees, as explained by the general director of BMW, Rodacoswiski. The plant, which celebrates eight years in 2022, occupies 1.5 million square meters, has assembled more than 60,000 vehicles, and received an investment of R$1 billion between 2014 and 2018.
According to Aksel Krieger, CEO of BMW Group Brazil, the Series 3 and X1 models account for over 25% of the premium automobile market in the country and are very well received in the market. With this, BMW will continue local production, as the strategy model is working.
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