The expansion in sales and model variety for the BMW Group over the past two decades has led to significantly higher demand in the aftermarket, with increasing complexity in the service parts supply chain. Around the turn of the 21st century, for example, BMW and Mini brands had around 165,000 different part numbers. By 2005 – the year the company opened a new central parts warehouse in Dingolfing, in the German state of Bavaria – the number had reached 240,000.

Today, the carmaker manages around 400,000 part numbers, with demand rising particularly in Asia and North America. BMW Group typically stores part types for 15 years or more, so the demands for space and transport across many regions are evident.