The ring°werk at the Nürburgring is being reoriented and will in future be operated as a multifunctional building. Alongside the existing ring°kino, a newly designed museum area is to be created. At the same time, the majority of the building’s floor space will be transformed into a modern technology and development area for the automotive industry. Xiaomi has now been confirmed as the first company to adopt this new concept. The international technology and automotive group is the Nürburgring’s official automotive partner and will now establish its own premises within the ring°werk. A second space is earmarked for another company from the automotive sector.
The Nürburgring is thus pursuing a hybrid usage concept for the ring°werk: around two-thirds of the building’s floor space will be used for industrial purposes in future, whilst the ring°werk will remain open to the public with its range of experiences. Depending on the tenant’s usage concept, visitors will be able to access exhibition spaces and showrooms and gain a glimpse into development areas through glass fronts.
“We are deliberately transforming the ring°werk into a multifunctional building and creating a platform that combines industry, innovation and the visitor experience,” explains Nürburgring Managing Director Christian Stephani. “Situated directly on the start-and-finish straight and in the immediate vicinity of the ring°boulevard, it remains a venue for visitors and motorsport fans – whilst at the same time taking on a new role as a forward-looking location for companies in the automotive industry. With Xiaomi as our first tenant, we are consistently building on a relationship that has grown over recent months through intensive test and development runs, record-breaking laps on the Nordschleife and a promotional presence at the circuit. At the same time, this ensures that the ring°werk concept is sustainably underpinned by several pillars, in line with our overall strategy.”
“The Nürburgring is an important development and communications hub for us. The intensive testing and development work over recent months has led to successful record-breaking laps on the Nordschleife, thereby helping to attract international attention to our products,” says Rudolf Dittrich, General Manager of the Xiaomi Europe R&D and Design Centre at Xiaomi Auto. “With our location right next to the Grand Prix circuit, we are bringing together development, technology and brand presence in a venue steeped in tradition. The Nürburgring is therefore a valuable location for us and strengthens our presence in the heart of Europe.”
Direct access to the circuit and customisable spaces
With Xiaomi’s move-in, the first of the two planned industrial areas at ring°werk has been allocated. This leaves the opportunity for another company from the automotive sector to move into the second area at the Nürburgring. The spaces earmarked for this purpose can – as with Xiaomi – be designed to meet the individual requirements of the future tenant, ranging from workshop and development areas to offices, presentation rooms or functional spaces. Direct access to the Grand Prix circuit is already in place. This was created by the Nürburgring operators as part of the reorganisation of ring°werk through extensive external works along the building. Consequently, the second rental area also offers short distances and a direct connection to the circuit – particularly for companies wishing to use the Nürburgring for testing, development and presentation purposes.
Construction work on Xiaomi’s premises has already begun and is being completed in stages. At the same time, the Nürburgring is holding talks with other prospective tenants for the second let-out area within the technology and development section of the ring°werk.
