BMW reaches milestone of 1 million driverless vehicle movements in factories

BMW Group has announced that its Automated Driving In-Plant (AFW) technology has successfully completed one million autonomous vehicle movements within its production and logistics areas. This milestone marks a significant step in the company’s transition toward smart factory operations.

The technology utilizes a combination of cloud architecture, advanced motion planning software, and external infrastructure, such as LiDAR sensors installed along transit routes. This approach allows even base-model vehicles without built-in autonomous driving features to be navigated safely and precisely. The system is designed to dynamically react to pedestrians, other vehicles, and temporary obstacles.

Currently, the technology is implemented across four production sites: Dingolfing, Leipzig, Regensburg, and the MINI plant in Oxford, UK. The group averages approximately 3,500 automated movements per day. BMW plans to expand this technology to its Spartanburg plant in the United States starting in 2027 as part of its broader iFACTORY smart manufacturing initiative.