BMW Manufacturing Reaches Another Milestone

Celebrates Production of One Millionth BMW X5

BMW's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina recorded another milestone in their 15 year history as the onemillionth BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle® rolled off the production line today at BMW Manufacturing Co.  The Black Sapphire X5 xDrive 35i with Cinnamon Brown Nevada Leather interior is bound for a customer in China.

This is a significant achievement for the BMW Group’s only U.S. manufacturing facility at a time when the manufacturer is just months away from completing a $750 million expansion to prepare for production of the next generation BMW X3.

The BMW X5, which was originally launched in Spartanburg in 1999 as the first vehicle in the Sports Activity segment, has laid the cornerstone for BMW as the most successful premium vehicle manufacturer in the SAV/SUV segment during its 11-year history. During this timeframe, approximately 60% of all X5s produced at the Spartanburg facility have been exported to over 120 markets around the world. 

BMW Manufacturing represents a significant aspect of the BMW Group commitment to America.  The factory began production in 1994 as the first European manufacturer to successfully build and operate a plant in the U.S. The factory celebrated its 15th anniversary in South Carolina last September and has produced approximately 1.6 million vehicles since the start of production. Recently, plant officialsalso acknowledged that it has exported over 1 million vehicles from its Greer campus during this time span.

Josef Kerscher, President of BMW Manufacturing (Center Left), is joined by Lutz Roemer, BMW Group’s X3 Project Leader, South Carolina State Ports Authority Board member Richard Hagins and South Carolina Secretary Joseph Taylor (Right) as they welcome the 1 millionth BMW X5 off the Assembly Line at BMW’s Spartanburg Factory.

BMW Associates gather around the 1 millionth BMW X5. The vehicle rolled off the Assembly Line at BMW’s Spartanburg Factory on June 8, 2010.

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BMW of North America, LLC