BMW is taking autonomous technology beyond the highway and into its factories. The company has been refining its Automated Driving In-Plant (AFW) system since 2022, starting with a pilot project in its Dingolfing, Germany plant—the automaker’s largest production facility. This groundbreaking system has now received CE certification, paving the way for wider adoption across the European Union.
Revolutionising In-Plant Logistics
At the Dingolfing plant, which employs over 17,000 people and produces a range of BMW models (including the 5 Series, 7 Series, and Rolls-Royce bodies), AFW enables newly assembled vehicles to drive autonomously for nearly a mile. The vehicles navigate from the assembly line through a test course and onto the finishing area, all without a driver.
The system relies on a sophisticated LIDAR infrastructure, Europe’s largest, which tracks vehicles along their route. Unlike traditional semi-autonomous systems, the AFW process does not depend on the vehicle’s built-in autonomy features. Instead, the cars are guided by external LIDAR sensors and a cutting-edge cloud-based architecture, ensuring precision and safety throughout the plant.
