Last BMW i8 models roll off Leipzig production line

The BMW Group Leipzig plant hosted the 18 owners of the last i8 vehicles in production as the cars rolled off the assembly line.

Each car was a one-off created in close collaboration with the customer.

Plant director Hans-Peter Kemser says the degree of customisation in these vehicles threw up some challenges but it was nothing the production unit couldn’t handle.

Manufacturing a BMW i8 is a complex process due to the hybrid drive technology and mix of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and aluminium.

The final 18 models presented the i8 production team with additional challenges, because the paint colours had not been previously tested before on the vehicles outer skin components.

Therefore, the components had to be hand painted by suppliers and the BMW Group Landshut plant, which presented a challenge to get these body parts to the production line in the premium quality it required.

Because each part was the only one of this colour in existence, making them highly complex to reproduce, utmost care and precision were required with the logistics and assembly during series vehicle production says BMW Group.

The final vehicles also have customised components in their interiors, such as Alcantara covers for seats and steering wheels, and special trim strips and fascia panels.