Enters 2013 with planned expansion and new model growth.
Spartanburg, S.C. – January 10, 2013...BMW
Manufacturing achieved another record production year. Annual
production of 301,519 vehicles marks 2012 as the highest production
volume in the South Carolina plant’s 19-year history. This represents
a 9% increase over the production volume for 2011 (276,065). Since
2010, the plant’s production output has increased by 90% (159,284).
“Our Associates are very committed to building quality products for
the world. Our customers recognize that and are responding
positively,” said Josef Kerscher, President of BMW Manufacturing Co.
“In order to sustain our success, we must continue to be flexible and
competitive.”
In January 2012, the company announced a $900 million investment to
expand the plant's manufacturing footprint by 1.6 million square feet,
add another vehicle model and increase the plant's overall annual
volume to 350,000 units.
Construction projects related to the plant expansion include:
- A 170,000 square foot body shop expansion
- A new 300,000 square foot body shop
- A 650,000 square foot paint shop
- Approximately 400,000 square feet of new logistics and warehouse
space
- Several on-site modifications to existing facilities
All construction projects are underway. In addition to the X3 and X5
Sports Activity Vehicle and the X6 Sports Activity Coupe, the factory
is preparing to add the new BMW X4 to its current vehicle lineup. The
plant produces more than 1,000 vehicles per day and exports 70% of its
production to over 130 global markets.
“The expansion and improvements being made to the plant site
represent nearly 500 construction jobs,” said Kerscher. “The work
being done today ensures the continued success of this plant well into
the future.”
Through 2012, BMW Group has invested nearly $5.8 Billion in the
Spartanburg plant. Earlier this month, BMW of North America reported
the best sales year ever with 347,583 vehicles (BMW and MINI combined)
sold in 2012. The BMW vehicle models produced in South Carolina
contributed significantly to the company’s U.S. sales success,
accounting for 30.7% of all BMW brand U.S. sales (281,460). The X5 led
with 44,445 units followed by the X3 (35,173) and the X6 (6,749).
BMW Manufacturing Co.
BMW Manufacturing Co. is a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich, Germany
and is the global producer of the BMW X3 and X5 Sports Activity
Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupe. In addition to the South
Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW North American subsidiaries
include sales, marketing and financial services operations in the
United States, Canada and throughout Latin America; and a design firm
and technology office in California. For more information on BMW
Manufacturing, visit www.bmwusfactory.com.
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BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since
1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in
2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include
marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW
brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and
the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic
design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon
Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW
Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global
manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all
X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The
BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through
networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
centers, 139 BMW motorcycle retailers, 115 MINI passenger car dealers,
and 34 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW
Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff
Lake, New Jersey.
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Journalist note: Information about BMW Group and its
products in the USA is available to journalists on-line at www.bmwusanews.com and www.press.bmwna.com.
