The BMW group’s Rosslyn plant in June received the Platinum Plant Quality Award in the JD Power 2015 Initial Quality Study (IQS) for producing vehicles – on a global scale – with the fewest defects or malfunctions of models for the US market.
The plant assembles the BMW 3 Series for the local and export markets.
The plant’s IQS score was 15 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) surveyed. (The German Dingolfing 01 plant, which also produces the BMW 3 Series, notched up 21 PP100 in the survey.)
In the North America/South America region, Toyota Motor Corporation’s Cambridge North, Ontario, Canada plant, which produces the Toyota Corolla, received the Gold Plant Quality Award, with 17 PP100.
Kia Motors Corporation’s Kwangju Plant 1, in Korea, which produces the Kia Soul, received the Gold Plant Quality Award in the Asia Pacific region, also with 17 PP100.
The 2015 JD Power US IQS is based on responses from more than 84 000 buyers and lessees of new 2015-model vehicles surveyed after 90 days of ownership.
The study was undertaken between February and May 2015.
“We are delighted about Plant Rosslyn being awarded this prestigious international award,” says BMW Group South Africa MD Tim Abbott.
“It is a true testament to the quality, craftsmanship and excellence we strive for in the production of each of our BMW 3 Series sedan vehicles.”
Rosslyn, situated north of Pretoria, was the location of BMW Group’s first foreign plant in 1973. The group’s global production network today spans 30 sites in 14 countries.
In 2014, BMW 3 Series sedan exports from Plant Rosslyn increased by more than 17%, compared with 2013, to 68 771 units.
In February, Rosslyn reached the milestone of its one-millionth vehicle rolling off the assembly line.