BMW Brilliance
BMW Brilliance (officially BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd.) is an automobile manufacturing company headquartered in Shenyang, China and a joint venture between BMW (as majority holder) and Brilliance Auto. Its principal activity is the production, distribution and sale of BMW passenger cars in mainland China.
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Company type | Joint venture | ||||||
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Industry | Automotive | ||||||
Founded | 27 March 2003 | ||||||
Headquarters | , China | ||||||
Area served | China | ||||||
Key people | Jochen Goller (Chief Executive Officer and President) Lei Xiaoyang (Chief Financial Officer and Senior Deputy President)[1] | ||||||
Products | Automobiles | ||||||
Owners |
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Number of employees | ~3,900 | ||||||
Divisions | Zinoro | ||||||
Chinese name | |||||||
Simplified Chinese | 华晨宝马汽车有限公司 | ||||||
Traditional Chinese | 華晨寶馬汽車有限公司 | ||||||
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Website | www.bmw-brilliance.cn |

The BMW Brilliance Zinoro all-electric crossover, based on the BMW X1 (E84), is the first product of BMW Brilliance's new brand and the first new energy vehicle (NEV) from a Chinese premium manufacturer. Since early 2014 the Zinoro 1E is available for leasing only in Beijing and Shanghai.
History
On 27 March 2003 BMW and Brilliance Auto agreed to form a joint venture to produce BMW cars for the Chinese market, with BMW holding a 50 per cent stake, Brilliance Auto 40.5 per cent and the Shenyang municipal government 9.5 per cent.[2][3] BMW and Brilliance agreed to invest an initial €450 million (US$483 million) in the venture.[3] The first Chinese-made BMW, a BMW 325, was sold in October 2003.[4]
In April 2009 BMW Brilliance announced that it would construct a second automobile assembly plant in China.[5] Construction of the plant began in Shenyang in June 2010, with a planned cost of US$73.53 million and a production capacity of 100,000 units.[6] Production at the plant began in May 2012.[7]
In January 2011 BMW Brilliance announced that it would begin Chinese production of a BMW 5 series electric hybrid car later that year.[8]
In 2013, BMW Brilliance opened a research and development centre. It was expanded in 2020, making it BMW's largest R&D centre outside of Germany.[9]
In October 2018, BMW announced that it would increase its stake from 50% to 75%, making BMW the first foreign carmaker to take majority control of its joint venture in China.[10]
In February 2022, BMW acquired a majority 75% stake in BMW Brilliance with Brilliance indirectly owning the remaining 25% of the company.[11]
Products
BMW Brilliance currently produces the following vehicles:[9]
- BMW 3 Series (G20/21) (1.6 litre, 2.0 litre and 3.0 litre)
- BMW 5 Series (G68) (i5, 2.0 litre and 3.0 litre)
- BMW X1 (U12)
- BMW X3 (G08) (2.0 litre and iX3)
- BMW X5 (G15)
Former products
- BMW X1 (F49) (1.5 litre, 2.0 litre and Hybrid version)(2015–2022)
- BMW X2 (F39) (2017–2023)
- BMW 1 Series (F52) (1.5 litre and 2.0 litre) (2017–2023)
- BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (F45) (1.5 litre and 2.0 litre)(2014–2021)
- BMW 3 Series (E46) (2.0 litre and 2.5 litre) (2004)
- BMW 3 Series (E90) (2.0 litre and 2.5 litre) (2005-2012)
- BMW 3 Series (F30/35) (1.6 litre 2.0 litre and 3.0 litre) (2013-2019)
- BMW 5 Series (E60) (2.2 litre to 3.0 litre) (2004-2010)
- BMW 5 Series (F18) (2.0 litre and 3.0 litre) (2011-2017)
Gallery
- BMW Brilliance 1-Series F52
- BMW Brilliance 3-Series F35 Li
- BMW Brilliance 5-Series G38 Li
- BMW Brilliance X1-Series F49 Li
- BMW Brilliance X1-Series F49 Le
Zinoro vehicles
Zinoro is a vehicle brand under BMW Brilliance specializing in electric vehicles.
- Zinoro 1E
- Zinoro 60H
- Zinoro 1E
- Zinoro 60H
- Zinoro Concept Next
Sales
Calendar year | Total sales (vehicles produced in China) |
---|---|
2005 | N/A |
2006 | 22,500[13] |
2007 | 30,600[13] |
2008 | N/A |
2009 | 44,888[14] |
2010 | N/A |
2011 | 108,189[15] |
2012 | N/A |
References
- "Company Overview of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- "BMW to manufacture cars in China". The Economic Times. 28 March 2003. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- "BMW signs China deal". BBC News. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- "First locally-built BMWs on sale this weekend - report". Just Auto. 16 October 2003. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- "BMW, Brilliance Auto to build second China plant". Reuters. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- "BMW-Brilliance starts building second plant". Gasgoo. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- "2012 milestones, next year's mission for BMW Brilliance". China Daily. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- "BMW Brilliance to begin production of 5 series electric hybrid". Gasgoo. 24 January 2011. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- "BMW Brilliance launches new factory construction". electrive.com. 2020-04-02. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
- "BMW to buy control of China venture in 'new era' for foreign carmakers". Reuters. 2018-10-10.
- "Ad-hoc: BMW AG acquires majority stake in BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. leading to full consolidation effective 11 February 2022" (Press release). BMW. 2022-02-11. Retrieved 2022-02-11 – via Automotive World.
- "BMW versorgt die kleineren Modelle mit mehr Strom".
- "BMW Brilliance sales rise by 36 per cent in China". The Economic Times. 27 January 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- "Brilliance sells 22,000 BMW cars in Jan-Apr, up 77.3%". Gasgoo. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- "Brilliance Auto's net profit grows over 24% in 2011, thanks to increase in BMW sales". Gasgoo. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.