The BMW manufacturing unit located in Araquari, northern Santa Catarina, has completed 12 years of operation, accumulating the production of 125 thousand automobiles.
Inaugurated on September 30, 2014, this factory has been responsible for assembling 12 different models. Currently, it manufactures the X1 SUV, the 320i sedan (part of the 3 Series), and the plug-in hybrid X5 SUV, which features charging capability from an outlet.
These three specific models were responsible for representing 60.5% of BMW's total sales in Brazil during 2026, according to data provided by the automaker itself.
The first vehicle to leave the production line was a 3 Series. A little over a month later, the X1 was introduced. In 2015, the factory expanded its production to include the 1 Series hatchback, the X3 SUV, and the Mini Countryman, the latter being a model from the British brand that is part of the group.
Subsequently, the assembly line also received the X4 model. The industrial plant covers a total area of 1.5 million square meters and has already exported approximately 10 thousand units of the X1 to the United States.
In 2024, Araquari began manufacturing the plug-in hybrid X5, which BMW highlights as the most technologically advanced vehicle produced in the national territory.
Otávio Rodacoswiski, who serves as the factory's general director, attributes this success to the unit's ability to adapt to market demands. He emphasizes that Araquari plays a strategic role in the operations of the BMW Group, ensuring the local production of important models for the Brazilian market.
In addition to vehicle assembly, which includes body welding, painting, and final assembly processes, Araquari actively contributes to BMW's global engineering activities. The factory, along with the company's office in São Paulo, constitutes one of BMW's five worldwide engineering development centers, being the only one located in Latin America.
At this center, Brazilian professionals participate in tests, validations, and projects that are used both in the domestic market and in other countries where the brand is present.