BMW has had a local presence since 1968 and BMW South Africa became the BMW Group’s first production facility outside of Germany in 1975.
The company was the very first automotive company to export cars from South Africa to markets around the world. And BMW has, over the years, invested more than R10-billion in its production facility in Rosslyn. South Africa is now as much a part of BMW as BMW is a part of South Africa.
The length of time that BMW has been engaged in South Africa is one of the factors contributing to the success of the BMW and MINI brands in this market. However, this ongoing commitment of the BMW Group to this country is another reason why BMW is an integral part of the social fibre of South Africa.
BMW is, first and foremost, a committed and engaged corporate citizen and supports more than 100 individual Corporate Social Investment projects across the country. These projects are rooted in 3 key areas: HIV and AIDS, Local Community Development and Education (in Maths, Science and Technology and the Environment).
Each year, BMW invests millions of Rands into empowering groups in need through upliftment and partnership programmes. From its world class manufacturing facility in Rosslyn, Pretoria to its leather upholstery plant in Ga-Rrankua, BMW continues to dedicate significant time and resources towards its contribution of building a brighter future in South Africa.
Importantly, we place the emphasis on social investment; not charity. BMW South Africa does not adopt a cheque book approach. Instead we contribute to sustainable development, working with employees, their families, the local community and society at large to improve the quality of life resulting in meaningful and sustainable upliftment of communities.
By giving communities the tools required to promote long-term, sustainable development, the company is ensuring that this investment is felt for decades to come.
This philosophy is among the reasons why the BMW Group has been rated as the World’s Most Sustainable Automobile Manufacturer on the Dow Jones Sustainability index for the past 8 years.
The following projects, amongst others, form part of BMW’s Corporate Social Investment in South Africa. Our pillars for social engagement are: HIV/Aids, Community Development, Education and Sport Development.
