The Extended wheelbase 3-Series is going to be built at the new Chinese plant. The question now that arises is whether ‘long wheelbase variants turning into a big trend in China?’

Substantially, at any rate for the section in which the 3-Series contends in China, BMW finds the motivation to extend a long-wheelbase version to rise up against the fortunate Audi A4L which is the broadened wheelbase variant of the A4 model.

BMW will be working up on the extended version of the 3-Series at a new plant in the Shengyang economic region with its Chinese collaborator the Brilliance Auto. The plant, planned to be constructed in 2012, will have a capability of 100,000 units and will also be utilized to construct the X1, according to Brilliance chairman Qi Yu Min.

The new plant will provide BMW and Brilliance with a facility of 300,000 units per year with most of the components that is around 60% sourced locally. BMW/Brilliance expects to enhance sales in China to 120,000 units yearly by 2012. This only means that the additional capacity will be utilized for exporting fomites to international markets.