BMW, Brilliance JV to invest €560 million

BMW and its partner Brilliance Automotive Holdings are set to invest around €560 million (US$838.03 million) to increase capacity at their BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture (JV) in China. The companies said in a statement that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a new plant at the JV’s existing Shenyang site. Construction work is set to begin in 2010, with production at the facility finally due to start in early 2012. The JV also confirmed that it will raise capacity at its current facility from 41,000 units per annum (upa) to 75,000 upa. Following completion of the second facility, the JV’s total production capacity in the country will rise to 100,000 upa. This additional capacity will require the creation of a further 1,000 jobs at Shenyang, lifting the JV’s overall headcount to around 4,300. (November 12, 2009)