BMW Z4 moving back to Germany
Since their introduction in the mid-nineties the BMW Z3 and its Z4 successor, along with their M and coupe derivatives, have always been built at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina manufacturing facility. That all looks set to change with the next-generation model. Given that the biggest market for BMW's SUV models is in North America the company has already previously announced plans to shift X3 production from MagnaSteyr's plant to Austria to Spartanburg, BMW will consolidate all SUV and CUV production there. Capacity in Spartanburg is being bumped from 140,000 to 200,000 units a year to accommodate this, and production of the next Z4 will shift to Regensburg, Germany. The upcoming X6 will be added to Spartanburg's output as well.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
besian 9:06AM (8/17/2007)
bmw z4 best car(design) only with HARDTOP not cabrio
what do you think
Reply
Kev 9:53AM (8/17/2007)
AMEN!
Mike 10:10AM (8/17/2007)
Z4 Coupe is HOT HOT HOT. Not a big fan of that car topless.
And thank GOD for the move. I don't care who owns the name, I don't want any auto made in the USA in my garage. Sorry my fellow Americans...the unions and upper management at the big 3 have ruined my taste for American auto's.
Buick is on its way to fixing that reputation though, so good for them. Until then, I'll stick with my 3 series.
BartMack 2:32PM (8/17/2007)
I strongly agree the Z4 coupe is an extraordinary design- but I for one like the roadster as well. I was shopping the hartop, last fall, but for whatever reason BMW made it very tough to get a reasonable deal on one, and I did much better ordering a 335 coupe instead. That said, I have this half-baked-semi-plan of selling my second car (a MCS vert) and looking to get a decent deal on the last year Z4 roadster- It might just happen actually! I would possibly go for the hardtop instead if BMW would chill a bit and offer some dealage.
I expect the next Z4 will be priced a notch or two higher, as the news reports have said, to make room for a Z2. So it's either an 08, or wait until the Z2 is in it's second year... or just keep my MINI and be content. So many choices, so little millions lol =(
simianspeedster 11:49PM (8/17/2007)
Agree COMPLETELY. I was walking around with my wife last night and I saw the 4th Z4 convertible of the day. They are all over SoCal and I just never warmed up to them.
The Z coupe, on the other hand, is one of my favorite cars right now. I'm seriously considering one when my current lease is up next year. I NEVER see coupes around here, even though this is BMW-land. I don't recall seeing a coupe in 3 months.
It's amazing that I can feel that differently about two cars that are 2/3 or more the same, but it is what it is.
-SimianSpeedster
tbyron 9:49AM (8/17/2007)
That probably will mean a currency-driven price increase for the Z4.
Reply
YouFaceTheTick 10:28AM (8/17/2007)
Actually, that'll mean you can get into a Z4 for about 4-5k less than sticker via euro delivery.
Cypher09 10:34AM (8/17/2007)
It also means European Delivery.
YouFaceTheTick 10:27AM (8/17/2007)
That sucks on one front - no more X3 via european delivery. Bummer as that was a great way to get into an X3 for about 400 a month on a lease.
Reply
borderguy 11:00AM (8/17/2007)
MagnaSteyr has been looking for an "in" to a production facility in North America. Look to see if BMW will sell the Spartanburg facility to MagnaSteyr (part of Magna International, former suitor for the remains of Chrysler). It would make sense. The Spartanburg facility is multi-platform capable, has room to expand in size, in the non-unionized Southern US, and has relatively new assembly technologies already implemented. The BMW 'X' platform is kind of an odd fish in the BMW product portfolio; one that I can't imagine the Europeans want anything to do especially with those dirty polluting XUVs.
Reply
Icheb 1:08PM (8/17/2007)
"The BMW 'X' platform is kind of an odd fish in the BMW product portfolio; one that I can't imagine the Europeans want anything to do especially with those dirty polluting XUVs."
HAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Good one.
Oh, wait, you were being serious?
BWAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA