60 Years of BMW Motorrad Plant Berlin – From the R 60/2 to Lead Plant.

Sep 28

3 min read

If you ride a BMW GS, an R 1300 RT or an S 1000 RR, chances are you're sitting on a piece of Berlin. BMW motorcycles have been assembled in Spandau for 60 years. What began in September 1966 with a single model is today the heart of BMW's global motorcycle production.

The Beginning: An R 60/2 in Spandau

In September 1966, assembly of the BMW R 60/2 started at the Berlin plant, initially in parallel with motorcycle production in Munich. Over the following years, BMW moved production to Berlin step by step. The relocation was completed in 1969, which is why that year is regarded as the actual birth year of the BMW Motorrad plant Berlin.

The scale back then: around 400 employees built about 30 motorcycles per day. Today, more than 2,600 people work at the plant, and around 900 motorcycles and e-scooters leave the lines every day. By 2026, that adds up to 4 million vehicles produced.

Models That Made History

Berlin was never just an assembly hall; it was also where new segments were born. The BMW R 90 S is part of that story, as is the 1980 R 80 G/S, the forefather of all adventure bikes and the start of the GS success story that still carries BMW Motorrad today.

Spandau also set technical benchmarks: this is where the world's first series-production motorcycle ABS was fitted, along with early flexible manufacturing systems.

From Assembly Site to Lead Plant

Today, Berlin is the lead plant in BMW Motorrad's international production network. This includes its own sites in Thailand (since 2014) and Brazil (since 2016), as well as production partners Loncin in Chongqing (China) and TVS Motor Company in Hosur (India). Product launches across the network are steered from Berlin, and new technologies and production concepts are developed here.

The depth of production is remarkable. Spandau produces not only finished motorcycles but also:

Machined components: cylinder heads, crankshafts, crankcases, connecting rods and cardan shafts
Welded assemblies: including frames and fuel tanks
Surface coating: electroplating, cathodic dip coating, powder coating and wet paint
Engine assembly and vehicle assembly

On top of that, the plant manufactures more than three million car brake discs per year. The portfolio comprises 30 motorcycle variants across Sport, Tour, Roadster, Heritage, Adventure and Urban Mobility, available in over 40 colours and with more than 300 optional extras, sold in over 130 countries.

Investment and Technology on the Line

BMW Motorrad invests around 60 to 80 million euros in the site every year. This includes capacity expansion, a new logistics centre and the new paint shop commissioned in 2026.

Much of the assembly remains manual work; technology is used specifically where it supports employees. An AI-based camera system (AIQX) assists with quality control, automated data analysis enables predictive maintenance, and advanced sensors monitor the screwdriving processes (IPS-I).

Helmut Schramm, Head of Production BMW Motorrad and Head of Plant Berlin, describes the site on its anniversary as the heart of BMW Motorrad's global production and sees the 60 years as motivation to shape the future of manufacturing digitally and together with the workforce.

Anniversary Exhibition Until Mid-November

If you want to visit: an exhibition on the Spandau premises showcases the history of the past six decades until mid-November. Plant tours can be booked via the BMW Group iFACTORY Experience, and since 2023 the BMW Motorrad Welt right next to the plant has offered a brand and event experience across around 1,000 square metres.

60 years, 4 million vehicles, and 30 motorcycles a day have become 900. For BMW Motorrad, Berlin-Spandau is what Munich is for the cars: origin, identity and pacesetter all at once. With a new paint shop and AI in quality assurance, the plant is ready for the decades ahead.