Whether you’re a die-hard car geek who can tell the difference between a ’65 and a ’67 engine or an auto neophyte who just likes the shiny curves of a straight-off-the-lot luxury car, Germany is the place to be. The country is home to -- and quite proud of -- four internationally known auto brands, and it has the museums, plant tours and souvenirs to prove it.
BMW, headquartered in Munich across the street from the 1972 Olympic Park, offers guided tours to walk interested visitors through the process of building one of its legendary automobiles. Tours take place Monday through Friday in English and German; you must make a reservation by phone or email ahead of time and pay a reservation fee when you arrive. You will be walking up to 2 miles for two and a half hours throughout the plant, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
You can also skip the tour or supplement it with a visit to the BMW Museum and the BMW Welt (pronounced "velt;" it means "world" in German). The museum walks visitors through the company’s history as an airplane engine producer before World War II and its forays into boat engines, motorcycles, racing and luxury automobiles. It is not open on Mondays. The Welt, which is free, has the latest BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce models along with interactive racing and a gift shop.
Feast your eyes on the making of one of the first cars that signaled wealth in America. The Mercedez-Benz plant outside of Stuttgart takes visitors through the entire process of making a car -- the making of the individual parts, the assembly line putting the pieces together, and the car eventually taking shape as a Mercedes. Groups can schedule a 90-minute tour by calling or emailing the company or, if you want to buy a Mercedes right from the factory, you can get your own tour when you pick up your car. Mercedes does have regularly scheduled English tours of its factory; you must make a reservation.
The company also offers a tour of its Untertürkheim factory, where engines are made. Visitors must be at least 16 and wear closed-toed shoes. The tour lasts 90 minutes and costs 4 euros; it can only be purchased in conjunction with a museum ticket. English tours are on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:45 a.m.
You can also go to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, which showcases the brand’s 125-year history as well as where it’s headed in the future. Take a tour through the nine levels of car exhibits for every detail on the classic car. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Porsche has factories in Leipzig and Stuttgart that tourists can see. At its Leipzig factory you can choose from a variety of programs that include not only a two-hour tour of its factory, but also an opportunity to drive a Porsche. You can make reservations on the company's website, and you should reserve your place at least two months in advance.
If you're going to Stuttgart, head to the Porsche Museum, which includes the company’s history, iconic models, the “Porsche idea” and prototypes of coming or hoped-for Porsches. It has a variety of special exhibitions as well.
Free factory tours are available but do not run on a set schedule; email [email protected] to schedule a time for an English tour. The tours begin in the museum lobby and last about two hours.
The Autostadt in Wolfsburg, home of Volkswagen, isn’t for the mildly curious. Rather, it provides an intense look into the life and times of Volkswagen, the carmaker that brought us the VW bug, the redesigned VW bug and the VW van that in the United States has developed into a culture all its own. The Zeithaus Museum at the Autostadt offers exhibitions into the company’s worldwide influences and vehicle icons as well as showcasing classic cars as contemporary art.
For the auto lovers, it also provides visitors a way to test VW’s new cars and enjoy two-hour tours through the factory Tuesday through Friday. Tours start at 9:15 a.m. and are open to the public, but you have to contact the company for reservations.
