BMW chose to use the NAIAS at Detroit – where it unveiled its X2 and i8 coupe models for the first time – to highlight its contribution to the US economy as a vehicle manufacturer.
President Trump has questioned the investment strategies of several vehicle manufacturers and last year made remarks suggesting that German carmakers should make more vehicles in the US.
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BMW’s finance director Dr Nicolas Peter pointed out at the NAIAS that the company is strongly committed to manufacturing in high volume via its US, Spartanburg, plant which makes over 400,000 vehicles a year and is the global sourcing centre for its X models.
“We are proud to call the United States our second home and to be responsible for more than 70,000 jobs in this great country,” he said.
Peter also pointed out that Spartanburg is BMW’s largest production site in the world. He said BMW has invested close to USD9bn there and builds 1,400 vehicles every day. Further investments of USD600m are planned for Spartanburg by 2021 for future generations of BMW X models and Peter said there would be a further USD200m in training and education as well as another 1,000 jobs created.
Spartanburg currently makes the BMW X3, X4, X5 and X6. Maximum production capacity is 450,000 vehicles per year and the plant currently employs over 9,000 people.
Spartanburg is currently preparing for production of the BMW X7, which is due for market launch in 2018. Peter also told journalists that 30% of Spartanburg production is exported making BMW the biggest exporter – by value – of American-made vehicles.
With X range sales accounting for a third of BMW worldwide sales, Peter said 2018 will be the ‘year of the X’. This year will also see the addition of an X4 to the line-up
Peter also said that he is looking forward to a full-year of sales of the X3.
