[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW South Carolina Plant Achieves Record Production Year

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SOUTH CAROLINA PLANT PRODUCES 411,171 X MODELS.

Spartanburg, S.C. - January 9, 2017... For the third consecutive year, BMW Manufacturing recorded its largest annual production, producing 411,171 X models during 2016. This production record confirms the South Carolina plant will remain the largest plant by volume in the BMW Group global production network. In addition, the plant exported 287,700 vehicles last year – 70 percent of its total production.

“Last year was a very successful year for Plant Spartanburg,” said Knudt Flor, President and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “Our X models continue to be extremely popular worldwide, and I’m proud of the commitment shown by our team of dedicated associates to deliver premium quality vehicles for our customers.”

2016 marked the second time the South Carolina plant has topped 400,000 units. In 2015, production totaled 400,904 units. A breakdown of production by model is seen below:

X3 – 151,298
X4 – 56,404
X5 – 165,377
X6 – 38,092

Plant Spartanburg welcomes new leader
Last month, Knudt Flor became the seventh president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. Flor has served 28 years with the BMW Group. He has worked in a variety of roles within the company and worldwide locations, including four years at Plant Spartanburg as Senior Manager Supplier and Assembly Quality Management. Most recently, Flor served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Quality for the BMW Group.

“This is a homecoming for me,” Flor said. “I enjoyed my four years in Spartanburg in the late 1990s, and I have been waiting for this opportunity to return. I’m eager to work with this dedicated team, and I’m excited about the future of this BMW plant.”

$1 Billion investment
BMW Manufacturing will continue construction and installation of tooling around the plant site as it prepares for the future and adds a fifth model to the vehicle line-up – the all-new BMW X7. Construction projects include a new state-of-the-art body shop totaling more than 1.2 million square feet and an expansion of the X5/X6 Assembly hall by 200,000 square feet. Installation of special tooling and body shop robots will take place during 2017.

BMW began manufacturing vehicles in the United States in 1994 and has since produced more than 3.7 million vehicles for the world. BMW Group has invested more than $7.4 billion in the South Carolina plant. Currently, BMW Manufacturing produces more than 1,400 vehicles each day and exports 70 percent of its production to 140 countries around the world.

[JK479]

X models are awesome cars...

[KroLeXz]

I was there last June and I kept asking myself who the hell orders so many X series car. If their sitting on lots like I expect, why cant we retro fit SC to handle the m2!!!!

[Cuz5150]

Yep, ready and boasting when Trump comes to town

Now, when are they opening up the second plant in the USA!?!?!?

[SCOTT26]

The success of X cars are down to the US and global demand for SUVs.
In the US X models even in entry X1 eclipse larger concepts such as the 3er Touring. And equivalent models like the near 7 year old X3 to outclass even the volume core models. Something which will continue when the all new X3 arrives later this Summer.
By 2020 the entire BMW X models will be renewed,refreshed and expanded beginning with all new X3,X4,X5 and X6 models. An LCI X1 and the expansion of the sportier BMW X2 and luxurious BMW X7. All brought forward by continuos customer demand not just globally but particularly the US Market.

[BEMR]

Go out of your way to see Spartanburg Assembly plant, truly amazing and well worth going out of your way to see it and the area of North West South Carolina.

[palpatine_us]

One of these days I've got to make it down there for a track day and tour of the plant.
On my top 25 list.

[wdeerfield]

the past few years suv sales have been strong in the US due to low gas prices. in the coming years thats about to change and all these car companies are putting all their eggs in the SUV basket and gas will top $5 a gallon (premium fuel) and those suvs will sit. curious to see how that plays out.

[mkoesel]

So, recalling BMW SAV sales numbers in the states for 2016, just a little over 25% of Spartanburg production goes to the US. Although this hurt BMW's US market share, clearly they make more profit on these vehicles overseas. I suspect it was a very busy year not just for the folks building the products, but for those running the numbers to decide where to allocate them. Obviously you can't just starve the US market because you'll never win some of those lost sales back. At the same time, you have to tend to the global market. It's a high stakes game.

[Kiwi]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

the past few years suv sales have been strong in the US due to low gas prices. in the coming years thats about to change and all these car companies are putting all their eggs in the SUV basket and gas will top $5 a gallon (premium fuel) and those suvs will sit. curious to see how that plays out.

BMW has the 225xe and the X540e both are battery plugin cars.

[InsideMan]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

the past few years suv sales have been strong in the US due to low gas prices. in the coming years thats about to change and all these car companies are putting all their eggs in the SUV basket and gas will top $5 a gallon (premium fuel) and those suvs will sit. curious to see how that plays out.

Huh?

[raysspl]

Good stuff. Can't wait 'til I get an X5 for fun

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The success of X cars are down to the US and global demand for SUVs.
In the US X models even in entry X1 eclipse larger concepts such as the 3er Touring. And equivalent models like the near 7 year old X3 to outclass even the volume core models. Something which will continue when the all new X3 arrives later this Summer.
By 2020 the entire BMW X models will be renewed,refreshed and expanded beginning with all new X3,X4,X5 and X6 models. An LCI X1 and the expansion of the sportier BMW X2 and luxurious BMW X7. All brought forward by continuos customer demand not just globally but particularly the US Market.

I think that despite continuous customer demand not just globally but particularly the U.S market (where Chevrolet has sold a suburban since the 1980s) , an SUV with true third row seating like the x7 has not been brought forward by the manufacturer .... for far more than a decade now ..

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by InsideMan

Huh?

I agree with you , apparently someone hasn't figured out that the United States is a top oil and gas producer now and will be into the 2020s... that's before even opening up drilling.

While it's certainly *possible * that there will be another global fuel crisis in the next 20 years , the world will roll through it better prepared than the last 2 crises ... manufacturers are already making E vehicles and flex fuel vehicles like mad .. and .. many of them are SUVS

[ouengineer]

Very cool to see the SC plant doing so well!

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

the past few years suv sales have been strong in the US due to low gas prices. in the coming years thats about to change and all these car companies are putting all their eggs in the SUV basket and gas will top $5 a gallon (premium fuel) and those suvs will sit. curious to see how that plays out.

I highly doubt that gas goes up that much, but if it does I am well prepared for it. I think there is at least one last hurrah for the oil industry.

I doubt it dampers BMW SUV sales much. Anyone that can afford a new X3 or X5 is not going to be concerned about gas prices when they are still getting 20+ mpg. It will hurt the market for less expensive vehicles underneath 20mpg.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by KroLeXz

I was there last June and I kept asking myself who the hell orders so many X series car. If their sitting on lots like I expect, why cant we retro fit SC to handle the m2!!!!

BMW F30s are down 25% from 2015 in USA.

M2 is only model up.

This is true of Sedans/Coupes from Mercedes and Lexus as well.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1341577