BMW to pump R400 million in SA to build a regional distribution centre

By Staff Writer

BMW is investing a further R400 million in South Africa to build a new regional distribution centre at the Waterfall Distribution Campus in March 2017 and revamp its headquarters.

The investment project will be multi-phased.

It will also expand its Midrand Headquarters over the next two years.

The car maker said in a statement that this customised warehouse will double in size and further refine the service to customers of the BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad brands not only in South Africa, but also to tap into the growth potential of Sub-Saharan Africa.

It added that relocation of parts warehousing to this new site in 2018 opens space on the Midrand campus to build a state-of-the-art dealer training centre, where BMW Group South Africa dealer staff will be empowered to take premium customer service to the next level.

The R400m investment is in addition to the R6 billion injection announced in November 2015, preparing the company’s Rosslyn Plant to build the next generation BMW X3.

“The revamp of our Midrand Headquarters and the new Regional Distribution Centre will allow us to remain relevant to changing customer needs by bringing together cross-functional disciplines in one centralised powerhouse,” Tim Abbott, CEO BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, said in a statement on Wednesday.

In keeping with the BMW Group’s strategic focus on technology and digitalisation, the Midrand Campus will in future also house the SAP Shared Services Centre and IT Operations.

“We are becoming a digital mobility solution provider,” said Abbott. “Information Technology has already become an essential enabler for the company. BMW Group South Africa is a key hub of IT services for the global group of companies. This service will grow further in future.”