BMW set to open large new center in Moravia, creating 500 jobs

Major German car manufacturer BMW is set to open a large, so-called BMW Park in the Ostrava region, which will create “at least” 500 jobs, the company says. This follows from recent expansions by the company in Czechia, which last year saw the creation of its largest-ever test center in Karlovy Vary.

According to developers, the large center would be used mainly for “logistics operations” and handling large shipping containers; a nearby railway track will help transport hundreds of vehicles for sale and repair. It would be based in the industrial zone of Mošnov, which lies near Ostrava Airport. 

At a city council meeting that takes place July 18, city representatives will adjudicate on whether to sell the plot of land to BMW or to a different company. The German manufacturer, along with Czech developer OAMP Holding, want to sign a 10-year lease on the site. Both offer CZK 429 million for the site, and – if approved – construction will likely start this year, with full operation slated for 2027.

BMW’s Czechia headquarters lie in Prague 6, and the company has over 20 official stores or authorized resellers nationwide.

One of Germany’s best-known firms has been making large moves in Czechia of late: in July last year, it opened its state-of-the-art test center – the largest in Europe – in Karlovy Vary. The testing facility has six tracks, 25 kilometers in total, with an elevation of 80 meters. It also has sections for rural and urban traffic simulations. BMW will use the facility for testing car technologies.

The center’s main focus is advancing autonomous driving capabilities, allowing for precise navigation and boosting driver confidence in traffic.

BMW has been doing well in Czechia, too – the company saw its car sales rise by over 30 percent in 2023, second only to manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. The company is also turning its focus to the electric vehicle (EV) market. BMW also last year had a higher share of EV sales compared to all other companies, at 17.2 percent. Despite this, BMW was only the eight-best-selling car brand in the country in 2023.

This is the second large piece of car-related news to break in Czechia this month. Electric carmaking giant Tesla will open its second full-fledged branch in Czechia later this month, the U.S. company announced in July.