Page Overview: History

MAKING HISTORY.

More than 40 years of BMW Steyr.

2020s

BMW Motor
2021 plan for the future: Programme 25.

On 20 April 2021, BMW Group Plant Steyr unveiled its Programme 25 plan for the future, aimed at securing Steyr’s position as the leading BMW Group location for drive trains – also in the context of growing electrification of individual mobility.

BMW Mitarbeiter halten die Zahl 20 Millionen in den Händen
2022 Announcement e-drive production.

The next-generation e-drive will come from BMW Group Plant Steyr! The company made the official announcement on 20 June 2022, in the presence of Austrian Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler, Governor Thomas Stelzer and BMW Group head of Production Milan Nedeljković. Production of over 600,000 electric motors per year will get underway in 2025. E-mobility is also gaining ground fast on the development side, with a new high-performance electric drive being developed in Steyr.

  • 2021
  • 2022

2010s

1 millionth engine
2011 New production record

On 14 October, the one-millionth engine of the year rolled off the assembly line: an all-time production high.

BMW engine
2014 MODULAR ENGINES.

Plant Steyr celebrated its 35-year anniversary. Together with its engine plants in Munich and Hams Hall, the BMW Group gradually ramped up production of its new generation of modular engines at Plant Steyr – making it the Group’s primary plant for the new generation of diesel engines.

BMW employees hold the number 20 million in their hands
2017 20-MILLIONTH ENGINE.

BMW Group Plant Steyr followed a record-breaking 2016 with another milestone: its 20-millionth engine, in its 35th year of production.

40 years BMW Steyr
2019 40 YEARS OF BMW IN STEYR.

For the past 40 years, the engine plant in Steyr has been a vital component of the BMW Group's global research and production network. A total of around 7.49 billion euros has been invested in the site since the plant was founded – equivalent to more than 500,000 euros every day!

  • 2011
  • 2014
  • 2017
  • 2019

2000s

BMW plant Steyr aerial view
2004 SECURING THE SITE’S FUTURE.

On 2-3 July, the BMW engine plant celebrated both its 25th anniversary and commissioning of its seventh phase of expansion, which was completed after roughly two years’ construction with a total investment of around 500 million euros. The total area of the BMW Steyr site now covers approx. 310,000 m². An innovative new six-cylinder petrol-engine generation also ramped up in July and BMW became the first manufacturer worldwide to use high-performance engines with aluminium-magnesium alloy crankshafts in its cars.

The 10 millionth engine
2007 ENGINE MILESTONE.

On 13 June 2007, the plant produced its 10-millionth engine.

The 2 working day engine
2008 TWO-DAY ENGINE.

The two-day engine was a logistical masterpiece, with a lead time, between mounting the basic engine and installation of the finished engine at one of the BMW vehicle plants in Germany, of just two working days. In 2009, BMW Group Plant Steyr won the Austrian Logistics Award and, in 2010, Fraunhofer Austria’s "Fabrik2010" Award.

  • 2004
  • 2007
  • 2008

1980s - 1990s

Black and white recording of the laying of the foundation stone
1980 FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERTISE.

After a topping out ceremony on 25 March 1980, the Diesel Engine Development Centre was opened by then Federal Chancellor Dr. Bruno Kreisky and went on-stream on 17 October 1980. The topping out ceremony for the first production hall was held on 10 October.

Series production of the 6-cylinder gasoline engine M20 begins
1982 START OF SERIES PRODUCTION.

On 29 April, BMW AG acquired the shares of SDP AG (Steyr Daimler Puch AG). BMW-STEYR was renamed BMW Motoren GmbH and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW AG. The company was responsible for production of engines, as well as research and development for diesel engines. 17 May 1982 marked a historic milestone as the start of series production of the six-cylinder M20 petrol engine.

6-cylinder diesel engine with turbocharging
1983 SIX-CYLINDER DIESEL ENGINE.

The first BMW series diesel engine – the M21 six-cylinder diesel engine with turbocharger – fundamentally changed the image of auto-ignition. With a top speed of 180 km/h and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 13.5 seconds, it set the benchmark for dynamic performance among diesels.

Jubilee atmosphere
1989 CELEBRATORY MOOD.

Ten years after ground-breaking, on 9 November, the one-millionth engine, a four-cylinder petrol engine, left the assembly halls.

4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engine
1998 DIRECT INJECTION FOR DIESEL ENGINES.

Series production of the new direct-injection BMW diesel family developed in Steyr got underway, starting with the four-cylinder variant in March and followed by the six-cylinder version in July. A year later, development of the world’s first V8 direct-injection engine was also completed.

  • 1980
  • 1982
  • 1983
  • 1989
  • 1998

1970s

Partnership agreement between BMW and Steyer Daimler Puch AG is signed
1978 KICK-START.

On 21 December 1978, the company agreement between BMW and Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG was signed in Vienna.

Ground-breaking ceremony by Austrian Federal Chancellor Dr. Bruno Kreisky
1979 A SUCCSS STORY BEGINS.

BMW-STEYR Motoren GmbH was entered into the commercial register in March. BMW Group Plant Steyr’s impressive success story began in earnest on 21 June 1979 with a ground-breaking ceremony attended by then Austrian Federal Chancellor Dr. Bruno Kreisky. In 1979, BMW-STEYR employed a total of eight people.

  • 1978
  • 1979