Autoblog

A look back on BMW, South Carolina and Southern manufacturing

Zach Bowman — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 13:02:00 EST

It has been 20 years since BMW broke ground on its Spartanburg, SC manufacturing facility, and while the automaker doesn't have any plans to mark the moment, economists and industry analysts have taken a closer look at the facility's impact on South Carolina, the South and global manufacturing. As of November, the Spartanburg plant's 7,000 employees cranked out 25,000 vehicles per month, and BMW has poured some $6 billion into the state since the plant opened in 1993. While that figure nearly matches the state's proposed budget for next year, some say there have been drawbacks.

To begin with, South Carolina provided BMW with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of public money and tax breaks with little public oversight, setting a precedent that would repeat itself with other corporations. The Detroit News reports that a Pew Center evaluation found 26 states didn't have a sufficient system for evaluating tax incentive performance. But BMW opened the door for a Southern manufacturing renaissance, with automakers from Mercedes-Benz to Hyundai and Volkswagen opening plants in the Deep South.

While states have raced to offer ever sweeter tax and cash incentives for big manufacturers, officials say BMW is proof the system can pay dividends. You can read the full piece here.

A look back on BMW, South Carolina and Southern manufacturing originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Dec 2012 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW reportedly pondering building 3 and 5 Series models in U.S.

Zach Bowman — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, BMW, Luxury

Automotive News Europe is reporting that BMW may be looking into expanding the number of models that the company manufactures here in the States. While the German automaker says that there are no solid plans on the table right now, it's possible that both the 3 Series and the 5 Series could join the X3, X5 and X6 on the production line at the BMW facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina (shown above). The move is being considered as the U.S. threatens to overtake Germany as the company's largest auto market. In 2010, the U.S. fell a mere 252 vehicles shy of taking the sales crown from Germany.

BMW currently holds a 2.3-percent market share in the U.S. with 266,000 vehicles sold in America in 2010. With the U.S. economy in a slow but steady state of improvement, the company fully expects to eclipse that number in 2011. As a result, the Spartanburg facility will operate at its full capacity of 240,000 units this year.

So far, it's unclear as to whether the company would eye building a new facility for the American-built 3 and 5 Series vehicles or if BMW would simply add on to its South Carolina plant.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req.]

BMW reportedly pondering building 3 and 5 Series models in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 BMW X5 comes on-line in Spartanburg, SC

Chris Shunk — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, BMW

2011 BMW X5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

In the luxury utility vehicle segment, the saying "less is more" rarely applies. And BMW promises us that the will deliver more power, more luxury and more refinement. But the X5 will also come with the "less" as well, as in 10 percent less fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

For 2011, BMW has revised the fourth-generation X5's now all-turbo engine offerings and added a standard eight-speed automatic to a vehicle that reportedly contains nearly 4,000 parts that are all new. And thanks to some pretty remarkable work at the company's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, production of the new model commenced over the course of a single weekend. In short, BMW utilized a process that it calls "digital changeover" to stop production of the 2010 X5 on March 19 without slowing production at all, and just two days later on March 22, production examples of the 2011 model were flowing down the assembly line.

Beyond the multitude of powertrain changes under the hood of the 2011 X5, Bobby Hitt, (deep breath) Department Manager for Corporate Affairs, BMW Manufacturing Co, points out that the exterior received quite a bit of rework as well. "The new model X5 features exterior design changes including new front and rear bumpers, new front fenders, new headlights and new tail lights. This adaptation significantly enhances the presence of the new X5, making it look fresher and more elegant." Hit the jump to read over the BMW press release.

Gallery: 2011 BMW X5

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading 2011 BMW X5 comes on-line in Spartanburg, SC

2011 BMW X5 comes on-line in Spartanburg, SC originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MINI Monte to be built Stateside?

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:43:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, BMW, Mini

The MINI Monte (as in "Carlo") might not be arriving on our shores in 2009. Instead, it could actually be built on our shores. Most MINIs are made at BMW's plant in Oxford, but that factory is already at capacity. It has been rumored before that Magna might be contracted to build the MINI SUV at its plant in Austria, but the latest top secret word has BMW looking at the Spartanburg, SC plant where the X5 is built.

Of course, if the MINI's fabrication costs were dollar denominated, and if the dollar/euro exchange rate continues to go where predicted, a U.S. build would make sense for BMW's coffers and could make purchasing one a little easier for U.S. buyers.

[Source: Auto Express]

MINI Monte to be built Stateside? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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