BMW Group announces construction of new proving ground in the Czech Republic

Jason · 12-15-2017, 11:44 AM

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Group announces construction of new proving ground in the Czech Republic

13
COMMENTS

Name: P90288519_highRes_rendering-of-the-new.jpg
Views: 4573
Size: 599.7 KB

December 15, 2017

Munich/Prague. Representatives of the BMW Group, the Czech government and the Karlovary Vary region announced construction of a new proving ground today in Prague. The roughly 500-hectare property will be developed in Sokolov in the Karlovary Vary region, close to the German border town of Waldsassen and about two-and-a-half hours’ drive from the BMW Group’s main development site, the Research and Development Centre (FIZ), in Munich. The new BMW Group proving ground, which will create several hundred jobs, is slated to go into operation early in the next decade. Total investment will be in the three-digit million-euro range.

Dr. Herbert Grebenc, BMW AG, Human Resources, Senior Vice President Real Estate Management, Corporate Security, stated at the announcement in Prague: “The BMW Group is at the vanguard of technology. As an innovation driver, we aim to offer customers the best, most emotional mobility experience and create digital connections between people, vehicles and services. At the planned proving facility in Sokolov, we will continue to advance ground-breaking topics, such as electrification, digitalisation and automated driving – for example, through safety-testing for assistance systems.”

The BMW Group’s existing facilities in Aschheim, near Munich, Miramas (France) and Arjeplog (Sweden) no longer have sufficient capacity to meet testing requirements. The company has therefore spent the past months exploring possible strategic locations in Germany and neighbouring countries. Dr. Herbert Grebenc explained the decision to locate in the Czech Republic, as follows: “We found the ideal conditions and grounds we need for vehicle testing in Sokolov. Opening our first development location in Eastern Europe will create new opportunities and marks a milestone in the history of our company. Working with the property owner Sokolovská uhelná and all political representatives has been extremely positive so far and is based on mutual trust.”

Tomáš Hüner, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, said at the announcement in Prague: “The government of the Czech Republic and the BMW Group are preparing a joint cooperation agreement on the investment announced today by the BMW Group in construction of a new proving ground for future vehicle technologies in the Karlovy Vary region. The government will deal with the draft of the specialized aspects of that declaration soon. The Ministry of Industry and Trade welcomes investments of this kind, which create highly-skilled and specialised jobs and bring high added value for the Czech economy.”

Jana Vildumetzová, President of the Karlovary Vary region, underlined the importance of the new BMW Group proving ground for her region: “The plans of such a major investor as the German automobile manufacturer, the BMW Group, are very important to the Karlovary Vary region. Our region is one of three in the Czech Republic undergoing structural change. There is a lack of research, development and innovation and we are struggling with a shortage of jobs. The district of Sokolov will see a gradual decline in mining in the future and people there will be looking for new challenges. By creating several hundred jobs through construction of a proving ground for automated driving, we are opening a new chapter in the continued development of our region. This will open up attractive new employment opportunities in development and related areas for the people of Sokolov and the entire region. This project comes at exactly the right time and we will do everything we can to ensure that the Karlovary Vary region is a strong partner for the company and provides full support throughout its implementation.”

Karel Kučera, CEO of CzechInvest, highlighted the significance of the investment for the Czech Republic: “Today marks the successful conclusion of two-and-a-half years of negotiations, involving more than 200 people from various departments and institutions at national and regional level on the Czech side. The new BMW Group proving ground is a showcase for investments with high added value, which the Czech Republic now represents and which have been a goal of CzechInvest in recent years.”

jstnstr · 12-15-2017, 12:22 PM

Love me some Prague! Gonna have to go check this out.

2kaccordocoupe · 12-15-2017, 01:00 PM

Looks like a fun place to boot around some cars

JustChris · 12-15-2017, 01:27 PM

Prague.
Goldfingers.

MrBeranek · 12-15-2017, 01:43 PM

It´s "Karlovy Vary region", not "Karlovary Vary region".

uniqueMR · 12-15-2017, 04:50 PM

Sounds good!!!

Dackelone · 12-16-2017, 04:14 AM

Strange choice. Normally you want your test track near your R&D center(in Munich, FIZ)

Can a new Czech factory be that far off?

JustChris · 12-16-2017, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Strange choice. Normally you want your test track near your R&D center(in Munich, FIZ)

Can a new Czech factory be that far off?

Agree, seems highly likely Dack. Unless the motorway between them is part of then new test regime.

Kr0m3assass1n · 12-16-2017, 02:45 PM

Is that the actual track? They been watching too much NASCAR or what?

Cuz5150 · 12-16-2017, 06:13 PM

C Republic is not in the EU, so everything is cheaper, aka bang for your buck.
Love how companies are wiggling out of EU every change they get

To my Czech Republic people.......CZ-75 PCR

Thank you

MrBeranek · 12-17-2017, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuz5150

C Republic is not in the EU, so everything is cheaper, aka bang for your buck.
Love how companies are wiggling out of EU every change they get

To my Czech Republic people.......CZ-75 PCR

Thank you

We´ve been a member of EU since 2004, so I don´t get your point. We just don´t use euro as a currency.

GuidoK · 12-17-2017, 03:39 AM

He has no point, he just want to trash the european union

Matski · 12-18-2017, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Strange choice. Normally you want your test track near your R&D center(in Munich, FIZ)

Can a new Czech factory be that far off?

It's closer to München than either the Nordschleife or their facility at Mirimas in the south of France, so it makes some sense.

Crematoriant · 12-20-2017, 05:58 PM

I'd say two opinions on that:
1. Czech landowners had to sell it really cheaply below the price of the land price otherwise BMW would build it in Germany.
2. Many russian oligarchs live in Karlovy Vary region. There must be some great profit in it for them.

But if they really want to build it there I wish them best of luck and no problems with it.

12-15-2017, 11:44 AM	#1
Jason Administrator 43614 Rep 21,325 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	BMW Group announces construction of new proving ground in the Czech Republic BIMMERPOST NEWS BMW Group announces construction of new proving ground in the Czech Republic 13 COMMENTS Tweet December 15, 2017 Munich/Prague. Representatives of the BMW Group, the Czech government and the Karlovary Vary region announced construction of a new proving ground today in Prague. The roughly 500-hectare property will be developed in Sokolov in the Karlovary Vary region, close to the German border town of Waldsassen and about two-and-a-half hours’ drive from the BMW Group’s main development site, the Research and Development Centre (FIZ), in Munich. The new BMW Group proving ground, which will create several hundred jobs, is slated to go into operation early in the next decade. Total investment will be in the three-digit million-euro range. Dr. Herbert Grebenc, BMW AG, Human Resources, Senior Vice President Real Estate Management, Corporate Security, stated at the announcement in Prague: “The BMW Group is at the vanguard of technology. As an innovation driver, we aim to offer customers the best, most emotional mobility experience and create digital connections between people, vehicles and services. At the planned proving facility in Sokolov, we will continue to advance ground-breaking topics, such as electrification, digitalisation and automated driving – for example, through safety-testing for assistance systems.” The BMW Group’s existing facilities in Aschheim, near Munich, Miramas (France) and Arjeplog (Sweden) no longer have sufficient capacity to meet testing requirements. The company has therefore spent the past months exploring possible strategic locations in Germany and neighbouring countries. Dr. Herbert Grebenc explained the decision to locate in the Czech Republic, as follows: “We found the ideal conditions and grounds we need for vehicle testing in Sokolov. Opening our first development location in Eastern Europe will create new opportunities and marks a milestone in the history of our company. Working with the property owner Sokolovská uhelná and all political representatives has been extremely positive so far and is based on mutual trust.” Tomáš Hüner, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, said at the announcement in Prague: “The government of the Czech Republic and the BMW Group are preparing a joint cooperation agreement on the investment announced today by the BMW Group in construction of a new proving ground for future vehicle technologies in the Karlovy Vary region. The government will deal with the draft of the specialized aspects of that declaration soon. The Ministry of Industry and Trade welcomes investments of this kind, which create highly-skilled and specialised jobs and bring high added value for the Czech economy.” Jana Vildumetzová, President of the Karlovary Vary region, underlined the importance of the new BMW Group proving ground for her region: “The plans of such a major investor as the German automobile manufacturer, the BMW Group, are very important to the Karlovary Vary region. Our region is one of three in the Czech Republic undergoing structural change. There is a lack of research, development and innovation and we are struggling with a shortage of jobs. The district of Sokolov will see a gradual decline in mining in the future and people there will be looking for new challenges. By creating several hundred jobs through construction of a proving ground for automated driving, we are opening a new chapter in the continued development of our region. This will open up attractive new employment opportunities in development and related areas for the people of Sokolov and the entire region. This project comes at exactly the right time and we will do everything we can to ensure that the Karlovary Vary region is a strong partner for the company and provides full support throughout its implementation.” Karel Kučera, CEO of CzechInvest, highlighted the significance of the investment for the Czech Republic: “Today marks the successful conclusion of two-and-a-half years of negotiations, involving more than 200 people from various departments and institutions at national and regional level on the Czech side. The new BMW Group proving ground is a showcase for investments with high added value, which the Czech Republic now represents and which have been a goal of CzechInvest in recent years.” __________________ Check on the Latest BMW News Become a fan of Bimmerpost Facebook Follow us on Bimmerpost Twitter Subscribe to Bimmerpost Youtube Channel
	Appreciate 3 INDVDL///M810.50 JustChris17674.00 ando2258.50 Tweet Quote

12-15-2017, 12:22 PM	#2
jstnstr Lieutenant Colonel 969 Rep 1,496 Posts Drives: G20 M340xi Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SWFL iTrader: (2)	Love me some Prague! Gonna have to go check this out. __________________ \| M-Performance Exhaust \| JB4 Map 4 on E35 \| BMC Red Panel Filter \| \| Previous: 18 M3 ZCP \| 17 M3 6MT \| 15 M235i \|
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-15-2017, 01:00 PM	#3
2kaccordocoupe Brigadier General 1286 Rep 4,703 Posts Drives: Former ///M Driver Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The 6ix iTrader: (2)	Looks like a fun place to boot around some cars
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-15-2017, 01:27 PM	#4
JustChris General 17674 Rep 25,240 Posts Drives: Tesla MYRWD Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Prague. Goldfingers. __________________ My car made front page of Bimmerpost
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-15-2017, 01:43 PM	#5
MrBeranek Private First Class 33 Rep 108 Posts Drives: BMW 1M, BMW M5 (2018) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Czech Republic iTrader: (0)	It´s "Karlovy Vary region", not "Karlovary Vary region".
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-15-2017, 04:50 PM	#6
uniqueMR Colonel 1897 Rep 2,927 Posts Drives: ... Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Sounds good!!! __________________ Currently: '22 Ferrari F8 \| '24 Mercedes G63 \| '24 Porsche GT3RS \| '24 Volkswagen GTI Previous BMWs: 340i, 740i, 745Li, M3, M4 Previous Others: Audi, Ducati, Honda, Infiniti, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-16-2017, 04:14 AM	#7
Dackelone European Editor 10805 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Strange choice. Normally you want your test track near your R&D center(in Munich, FIZ) Can a new Czech factory be that far off? __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-16-2017, 02:45 PM	#9
Kr0m3assass1n kr0m3assass1n 1112 Rep 862 Posts Drives: 22 X7 M50i Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 BMW X7 M50i [0.00]	Is that the actual track? They been watching too much NASCAR or what?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-16-2017, 06:13 PM	#10
Cuz5150 Major 224 Rep 1,489 Posts Drives: 06-M3ZHP/04-M3 Vert/02Duc998 Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	C Republic is not in the EU, so everything is cheaper, aka bang for your buck. Love how companies are wiggling out of EU every change they get To my Czech Republic people.......CZ-75 PCR Thank you __________________ -Diplomacy is saying, "nice doggie while trying to find a rock"- 07-Z4 coupe-Black/Black/6MT/sport/premium/X 04-M3 vert-Black/Imolla/6MT/Cold/Xenon/HK/ 06-M3 Coupe-Mystic/Black/6MT/ZCP/Xenon/HK/ 09-135i- AW/Bk-Lette/6MT/M-pac/Nav/Hi-Fi/Usb-Ipod/SOLD
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-17-2017, 03:39 AM	#12
GuidoK #buildnotbought 13494 Rep 5,436 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tinkering in the garage iTrader: (0)	He has no point, he just want to trash the european union __________________ Z4 3.0i \| ESS TS2+ supercharger \| Quaife ATB LSD \| Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear \| Schrick FI cams \| Schmiedmann headers+cats \| Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings \| Vibra-technics engine mounts \| H&R anti rollbars \| KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates \| Sachs race engineering clutch \| tons of custom sh#t
	Appreciate 1 Dackelone10805.00 Quote

12-20-2017, 05:58 PM	#14
Crematoriant Thane 75 Rep 123 Posts Drives: BMW 135i E82 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Czechia iTrader: (0)	I'd say two opinions on that: 1. Czech landowners had to sell it really cheaply below the price of the land price otherwise BMW would build it in Germany. 2. Many russian oligarchs live in Karlovy Vary region. There must be some great profit in it for them. But if they really want to build it there I wish them best of luck and no problems with it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote