BMW Manufacturing is Largest US Automotive Exporter

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BMW Manufacturing led the nation in automotive exports by value, according to data released by the US Department of Commerce. The South Carolina plant exported 227,029 BMW Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes during 2022 with an export value of ~$9.6 billion, BMW said this morning in Spartanburg, SC.

The BMWs produced at what is called Plant Spartanburg were exported through the Port of Charleston, SC (more than 182,000 units), and through five other southeastern ports: Savannah, GA; Brunswick, GA; Jacksonville, FL; Miami, FL; and Everglades, FL. More than 17,000 BMWs were exported via rail. During 2022, Germany became the top export market from BMW Manufacturing (15.5% of export volume), followed by China (13.5%), South Korea (12.8%), Canada (7.5%), and Great Britain (5.6%).

“Customers around the world continue to seek out premium quality BMWs made in South Carolina, and we are proud to be the largest automotive exporter by value for the past nine years” said Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “Our success is due to the highly-skilled and dedicated workforce at Plant Spartanburg. These achievements are significant and clearly reinforce BMW’s ongoing commitment to South Carolina and the United States.”

2022 Production

Plant Spartanburg produced 416,301 Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes during 2022, the second-highest production total in the plant’s history. Four highlights:

• Launch of the new BMW X7 that included extensive exterior and interior design refinements and an expanded range of standard equipment.
• Launch of the all-new BMW XM, the first ever high-performance car with an electrified drive system from BMW M.
• Production of 69,200 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, making up 16.6% of the plant’s total volume (BMW X3 xDrive30e, BMW X5 xDrive45e, and BMW XM).
• Plant Spartanburg X models made up slightly more than 60% of all BMW vehicles sold in the US last year.

In October, BMW Group Chairman of the Board of Management, Oliver Zipse, announced a $1.7 billion investment, including $1 billion to prepare the plant for the production of fully-electric vehicles and $700 million to build a high-voltage battery assembly facility in Woodruff, SC. By 2030, the BMW Group will build at least six fully-electric models in the United States.

Beginning in April 2023, the plant will start production of the 2024 BMW X5 and BMW X6. These updated models include more standard equipment, and advancements in digital technology. The plug-in hybrid drive in the 2024 BMW X5 xDrive50e has significantly more power and a greater purely electric range than its predecessor.

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