At a ceremony to mark the two millionth vehicle to roll off the assembly line at its plant in South Carolina since the company began US production in 1994, BMW announced it would invest almost $900 Million in the facility. This would also add 300 new jobs to the plant.
Frank-Peter Arndt from BMW explained the company's intention to expand its X-model family. He revealed that the new BMW X4 will be built at the plant in Spartanburg, SC, spurring the investment and job creation. He also explained that the expansion was in recognition of the rising global demand for our BMW X Models.
Governor Nikki Haley spoke at the ceremony saying, “BMW has once again provided tremendous evidence that South Carolina is a blueprint for significant economic development success. The partnership between this company and our State is an enduring example of how to attract, retain and grow business to stimulate perpetual job creation."
With the addition of 300 new jobs, the plant will raise production capacity to 300,000 units. By the end of the year, the plant will employ around 7500 people at its 4.0 million sqft facility.
Since the original 1992 decision to build BMW’s only U. plant in South Carolina, this announcement brings BMW Group’s total investment in the state to nearly $6 billion and represents its largest, single investment to date in the plant.
In 2011, the plant produced 276,065 vehicles for more than 130 markets around the world, representing a 73% increase versus 2010. Seventy percent of the vehicles (192,813) were exported, making BMW the largest automotive exporter to the non-NAFTA countries.
The two-millionth vehicle to roll off the line in Spartanburg was a Vermillion red X3 xDrive35i driven by Terry Gardner, a 16-year BMW veteran. The vehicle featured Oyster Nevada interior and an M Sport Package. While all vehicles are custom ordered prior to production, this symbolic X3 will remain on display at the Spartanburg Plant to commemorate the milestone.