[Jason]

BMW Manufacturing Continues as the Largest Automotive Exporter by Value in the U.S.

• Export Value in 2024 Totaled $10.1 Billion.
• From 2014-2024, BMW’s Export Value Totaled $104.1 Billion.
• Plant Preparing to Assemble Fully Electric BMWs in 2026.
• By 2030, the BMW Group Will Assemble At Least Six Fully Electric Vehicles in the U.S.

Spartanburg, S.C. – February 26, 2025... BMW Manufacturing has confirmed that it was the leading automotive exporter by value in the United States in 2024, according to data released this month by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Plant Spartanburg exported nearly 225,000 BMW Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes last year with an export value of more than $10 billion. Moreover, since 2014, the South Carolina plant has exported more than 2.7 million BMWs – about 63 percent of total production – with an export value of more than $104 billion.

The BMWs assembled at the South Carolina plant were exported primarily through the Port of Charleston, SC, as well as through four additional ports: Brunswick, GA; Jacksonville, FL; Everglades, FL; and Baltimore, MD. Nearly 15,000 BMWs were exported via rail. The top export markets from Plant Spartanburg were Germany, South Korea, China, Canada, and Great Britain.

“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.”

“When the first BMW rolled off the assembly line in 1994, it was the beginning of a great legacy for Plant Spartanburg in the United States. Our dedicated associates have assembled nearly seven million BMWs, and because of our export success, millions of customers around the world experience the innovative technology and premium quality of our X vehicles,” said Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “Our achievement as the country’s leading automotive exporter demonstrates BMW’s trusted partnership with this state and our continued commitment to the United States.”

Plant Highlights from 2024.
The team at 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, which made up more than 14 percent of the plant’s total volume. Nearly 50 percent of all BMWs sold in the U.S. were assembled at Plant Spartanburg. Other plant highlights from 2024 include:

• Associates successfully launched the fourth-generation BMW X3, boasting greater sporting appeal, visual impact, and versatility than ever. The X3 is 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. This assembly hall has increased by nearly 50 percent to more than 2.4 million square feet. 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 started at Plant Woodruff, BMW’s new $700 million high-voltage battery assembly plant. Tooling and equipment are 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 a 300,000-square-foot 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.

"South Carolina's position as a stronghold for the United States' automotive industry can be traced directly to BMW's success in our state. The BMW models assembled at Plant Spartanburg are in global demand — shipping to markets around the world,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “We are proud to have a company as committed to the prosperity of its community, the success of its employees, and the innovation of its industry right here in South Carolina. We look forward to celebrating many more milestones with BMW in the years ahead."

"Over the past decade, much of BMW's global success can be traced to the strength of Plant Spartanburg, where world-class advanced automotive manufacturing, employee upskilling, and research and development are happening in real-time,” said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III. “South Carolina is proud of its legacy companies, like BMW, and S.C. Commerce remains a steadfast champion for the success of all businesses, no matter where they fall in their legacy journey. We are proud to be home to one of the most dynamic automotive industries in the nation, thanks to leaders like BMW."

Since 1992, the BMW Group has invested more than $14.8 billion in its South Carolina operations. BMW Manufacturing is the largest BMW Group plant in the world, assembling more than 1,500 vehicles each day. The plant is an important part of BMW’s global production network and plays a critical role in meeting the high demand for BMW Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes in the U.S. and around the world. Nearly 57 percent of its vehicles are shipped to about 120 global markets, making BMW the largest automotive exporter by value in the United States for more than a decade. In 2024, nearly 50 percent of BMW vehicles sold in the U.S. came from Plant Spartanburg. The model portfolio includes six top-selling BMW X models, four Motorsport X models, and two plug-in hybrid electric vehicle X models. The factory has an annual production capacity of up to 450,000 vehicles and employs more than 11,000 people.

[kgelfen360]

It’s amazing that BMW builds cars in the USA and exports them back to Germany.

[PDSWFLA]

Anyone have information on this?

[ubercruise]

Originally Posted by PDSWFLA

Anyone have information on this?

Go to the future models thread instead of here, it has production dates.

[cfm56d7b]

BMW Spartanburg plant is a tremendous success story. There is no doubt the story will continue.

[jzy]

I think my wife's custom spec'd G45 is in that parking lot somewhere just waiting to get delivered to to us.

[Ibiza]

Originally Posted by jzy

I think my wife's custom spec'd G45 is in that parking lot somewhere just waiting to get delivered to to us.

That “lot” is the the Columbus Street Terminal located on the Charleston SC pensiulia—just drove by yesterday. Arther Ravenel bridge in the background over to Mount Pleasant SC. Finished cars are transportaed by train from Greer SC to the port. Cars don’t sit around that long before loaded onto a boat and exported.

[Lucian009]

I don't know if I'm the only one with mixed feelings about this. I'm happy for BMW to be successful and I know that cars are still engineered in Germany, but I fear that the mentality and brand characteristics get further diluted. Far cry from where this was 50 years ago. This plants the first seeds in my mind to start looking for a less globalist make.

By the way, just saw a 1940 movie with a gorgeous BMW roadster (shown in contrast with an equally gorgeous, opulent Benz). It looked like the same unmistakable mix of performance, luxury, and style, that carried through the times. Roundel was identical.

[Cortexiphan]

Statistically I believe X3 and X5 are the most reliable BMWs, and I see those are manufactured in the U.S. (At least a majority of them), which is a good sign.

[dancing__narwhal]

If Trump has his way we will soon find that most BMW models sold in the US are also produced in the US.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by Cortexiphan

Statistically I believe X3 and X5 are the most reliable BMWs

Do you have any independent data to substantiate this claim?

a

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by dancing__narwhal

If Trump has his way we will soon find that most BMW models sold in the US are also produced in the US.

Let’s be accurate. If Trump has his way Germany will open their market to U.S. manufacturers in the same way our market is open to their manufacturers.

That does raise a kind of interesting question. I wonder if Germany imposes tariffs on vehicles imported from the United States that were manufactured by BMW and other German manufacturers.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Lucian009

I don't know if I'm the only one with mixed feelings about this. I'm happy for BMW to be successful and I know that cars are still engineered in Germany, but I fear that the mentality and brand characteristics get further diluted. Far cry from where this was 50 years ago. This plants the first seeds in my mind to start looking for a less globalist make.

By the way, just saw a 1940 movie with a gorgeous BMW roadster (shown in contrast with an equally gorgeous, opulent Benz). It looked like the same unmistakable mix of performance, luxury, and style, that carried through the times. Roundel was identical.

You can’t make a case that supports your fears. BMW has been producing vehicles in South Carolina for thirty years now, since 1995. In the early days they produced the E36 3er and 100% of Z3s were produced in Greer. About half of the pre-G20 3ers in the United States were produced in Rosslyn, South Africa and overall the Rosslyn plant achieved higher levels of quality production than the German plants. Rosslyn has been in operation since 1972 and produced five generations of the 3er. Magna Steyr in Austria has produced various BMWs, including all of the E83 X3s, the G30 5er, and currently all of the G29 Z4s. Building cars outside of Germany isn’t what is screwing up BMW today. They are managing to do that just fine right there in Germany.

[lonestar22]

Originally Posted by Lucian009

I don't know if I'm the only one with mixed feelings about this. I'm happy for BMW to be successful and I know that cars are still engineered in Germany, but I fear that the mentality and brand characteristics get further diluted. Far cry from where this was 50 years ago. This plants the first seeds in my mind to start looking for a less globalist make.

By the way, just saw a 1940 movie with a gorgeous BMW roadster (shown in contrast with an equally gorgeous, opulent Benz). It looked like the same unmistakable mix of performance, luxury, and style, that carried through the times. Roundel was identical.

You're acting as if this is something new. It's been going on since the early 2000s.. where do you think all the bmw suvs come from.

[tturedraider]

I wrote a long post that got eaten by the forum website problems the other day. Not counting exports from the U.S. to Canada I feel like BMW is probably the largest exporter of vehicles from the United States to the rest of the world in raw numbers as well as in value. Anyone know of a manufacturer that exports a larger volume of vehicles all around the world?

[ewoody]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Let’s be accurate. If Trump has his way Germany will open their market to U.S. manufacturers in the same way our market is open to their manufacturers.

That does raise a kind of interesting question. I wonder if Germany imposes tariffs on vehicles imported from the United States that were manufactured by BMW and other German manufacturers.

The European Market is open for US Cars. There is no tariff for those. But unfortunatly US Cars are not very popular in Europe. So US manufacturers are not exporting much to Europe. Only a very few models are avaiable.

[Tejas1836]

Yeah, not called a tariff
Importing vehicle to Europe "10% for customs duty, excise duty from 3.1% to 18.7% of the car's value, and VAT will be 19% in the case of a standard car and 8% for a vintage car."

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by ewoody

The European Market is open for US Cars. There is no tariff for those. But unfortunatly US Cars are not very popular in Europe. So US manufacturers are not exporting much to Europe. Only a very few models are avaiable.

See the post directly below your original post

[Mr. Jonathan]

Suprised no one mentioned S.C. Is a right to work state. Might have something to due with BMWs willingness/success manufacturing in the U.S.

[msej449]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Let’s be accurate. If Trump has his way Germany will open their market to U.S. manufacturers in the same way our market is open to their manufacturers.

That does raise a kind of interesting question. I wonder if Germany imposes tariffs on vehicles imported from the United States that were manufactured by BMW and other German manufacturers.

If the current Administration puts tariffs on EU-manufactured goods imported to the USA, then the EU will put equivalent tariffs on US-manufactured goods imported into the EU. It’s how tariff conflicts escalate. And BMWs manufactured in Spartanburg will be more expensive back in the EU. And likely fewer will be bought, which will likely reduce their export.

Tariffs work both ways, and generally they increase inflation in the country imposing them. But the net effect is very uncertain even if in the short term, they protect local manufacturing.

Personally, I doubt that BMW will shift production of all its other models to the USA simply to avoid tariffs. One possible scenario is that Spartanburg exports to the EU dry up, while the price of imported models goes up. So you get a loss of export revenues plus inflation. There are other scenarios, but this is the risk.

In a simplistic world view, tariffs encourage foreign manufacturers to set up factories inside a country. But we’ve spent the last 30 years setting up a globalised free trade market, often with supply chains, sourcing and assembly spread across many countries. That complex fabric can’t always be re-woven quickly or easily, if at all.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by msej449

If the current Administration puts tariffs on EU-manufactured goods imported to the USA, then the EU will put equivalent tariffs on US-manufactured goods imported into the EU.

You didn’t read all of the posts, huh? However, this thread isn’t intended to be a political discussion and Bimmerpost closed their political forum because of the way those discussions tend to go.

Originally Posted by Tejas1836

Yeah, not called a tariff
Importing vehicle to Europe "10% for customs duty, excise duty from 3.1% to 18.7% of the car's value, and VAT will be 19% in the case of a standard car and 8% for a vintage car."

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I wrote a long post that got eaten by the forum website problems the other day. Not counting exports from the U.S. to Canada I feel like BMW is probably the largest exporter of vehicles from the United States to the rest of the world in raw numbers as well as in value. Anyone know of a manufacturer that exports a larger volume of vehicles all around the world?

Still curious. Can anyone think of a manufacturer that exports more vehicles by volume than BMW? Again, excluding to Canada.