BMW Group Belux, the BMW, Mini, and BMW Motorrad importer in Belgium and Luxembourg, is investing almost €30 million in the complete renovation and rethinking of its headquarters in Bornem (Antwerp province), known as the BMW campus.

When everything has been refurbished, the 400 BMW Belux employees will be joined by 180 colleagues of BMW’s leasing daughter Alphabet. The current building was inaugurated in 1985 and houses the import activities of BMW Group and the Financial Services department.

More than just importing cars

At the same location, there’s already a ‘driving center’ where potential clients can test the cars they’re interested in, and a ‘center for development’ that trains not only all the people linked with BMW Belux (all the dealer personnel, for example) but also teachers and pupils of more than 100 technical schools all over Belgium and Luxembourg.

“The complete renovation and centralization of the activities of BMW Group Belux in Bornem will enhance the role of Bornem as an attractive meeting place for all our colleagues and partners,” says Peggy Huyck, HR director of BMW Group Belux.

“The centralization will further increase efficiency in our aim to offer the mobility solutions of the future. At the same time, we decrease our environmental impact and create a state-of-the-art workplace for everybody working at BMW Group Belux.”

50th anniversary

These investments are coinciding with the 50th anniversary of BMW importing its cars in Belgium via a daughter company, one of the first to be established outside Germany. Before, the import activities for BMW were run by Moorkens, based in Kontich. It’s from there that the import facilities were moved to Bornem in 1985.

In the past, the premises in Bornem were also used as a big distribution warehouse for BMW parts, but that was reorganized more than 20 years ago and most parts are coming directly from Germany.

The original warehouse is still present and will remain because BMW Belux is using it for all kinds of events and initiatives, for example, organizing a small BMW motor show during the pandemic when there was no Brussels Motor Show.

It’s essentially the main office building (yellow color) that will be totally refurbished and the technical center (orange). Between the office building and the warehouse, a 12 m wide roof-covered street will be installed to provide more daylight for the personnel working in those part of the premises.