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BMW Manufacturing said today that it was the leading automotive exporter by value in the United States in calendar year 2024, according to data released this month by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Plant Spartanburg exported~225,000 BMW Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes last year with an export value of more than $10 billion. Since 2014, the South Carolina plant has exported more than 2.7 million BMWs – about 63% of total production – with an export value of more than $104 billion.*
“Plant Spartanburg has been an important location in our production network for over 30 years and is now the largest BMW Group plant globally,” explained Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Production. “The strong export share of our plant underlines the importance of free trade for the USA. Not only does this benefit our plant, but also the strong supplier network in the region.”
BMW Manufacturing is the largest BMW Group plant in the world, assembling more than 1500 vehicles each day. Nearly 57% of its vehicles are shipped to ~120 global markets, making BMW the largest automotive exporter by value in the United States for more than a decade. The BMWs assembled at the South Carolina plant were exported primarily through the Port of Charleston, SC, as well as through four additional ports on the East Coast. The top export markets from Plant Spartanburg were Germany, South Korea, China, Canada, and Great Britain.
2024 Milestones
BMW Manufacturing assembled 396,117 Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes last year. As part of that total, more than 57,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were assembled, more than 14% of the plant’s total volume. Nearly 50% of all BMWs sold in the U.S. were assembled at Plant Spartanburg.
- Associates successfully launched the fourth-generation BMW X3, one of the best-selling BMWs in America.
- While celebrating the 30th anniversary of Plant Spartanburg, BMW opened its first press shop in North America. The state-of-the-art press shop stamps parts for the BMW X3, including hang-on parts such as the vehicle’s four doors, fenders, lift gate, and exterior body sides.
- The expansion of the X3/X4 assembly hall continued as Plant Spartanburg prepares to assemble fully electric vehicles. Construction is complete, and most tooling and equipment has been installed. The first electric vehicle will be shipped in late 2026, and by 2030, the BMW Group will assemble at least six fully electric models in the U.S.
- Construction at Plant Woodruff, BMW’s new $700 million high-voltage battery assembly plant: Tooling and equipment is being installed with all work substantially completed by the end of March 2025. Associates at the one million square foot facility will assemble the sixth-generation batteries to supply fully electric vehicles at Plant Spartanburg.
- Construction on an expansion to the main body shop was completed, and an additional 300+ robots have been installed.
- Construction on a new eight-story body shop stacker for vehicle storage was completed.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
BMW Manufacturing Top U.S. Exporter Again
Click for more.
BMW Manufacturing said today that it was the leading automotive exporter by value in the United States in calendar year 2024, according to data released this month by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Plant Spartanburg exported~225,000 BMW Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes last year with an export value of more than $10 billion. Since 2014, the South Carolina plant has exported more than 2.7 million BMWs – about 63% of total production – with an export value of more than $104 billion.*
“Plant Spartanburg has been an important location in our production network for over 30 years and is now the largest BMW Group plant globally,” explained Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Production. “The strong export share of our plant underlines the importance of free trade for the USA. Not only does this benefit our plant, but also the strong supplier network in the region.”
BMW Manufacturing is the largest BMW Group plant in the world, assembling more than 1500 vehicles each day. Nearly 57% of its vehicles are shipped to ~120 global markets, making BMW the largest automotive exporter by value in the United States for more than a decade. The BMWs assembled at the South Carolina plant were exported primarily through the Port of Charleston, SC, as well as through four additional ports on the East Coast. The top export markets from Plant Spartanburg were Germany, South Korea, China, Canada, and Great Britain.
2024 Milestones
BMW Manufacturing assembled 396,117 Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes last year. As part of that total, more than 57,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were assembled, more than 14% of the plant’s total volume. Nearly 50% of all BMWs sold in the U.S. were assembled at Plant Spartanburg.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.