For the seventh consecutive year, BMW Manufacturing led the nation in automotive exports by value, according to data released by the US Department of Commerce.
BMW Manufacturing exported 218,820 vehicles during 2020 with an export value of US$8.9bn.
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The SUVs produced in Spartanburg, South Carolina, were exported through the Port of Charleston, SC (189,000 units), and through five other southeastern ports: Savannah and Brunswick in Georgia, plus Jacksonville, Miami and Everglades in Florida. Around 13,000 units were also exported via rail.
The top five export markets were China (23.3% of export volume), Germany (12.9%), South Korea (7.8%), Canada (6%), and Russia (5.3%).
Plant Spartanburg experienced production interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. After a five week, closure, workers returned for one shift on 4 May. With new health guidelines and procedures in place, production slowly ramped up as the supply chain stabilised and customers returned in the summer.
During the last six months of the year, the factory produced nearly 218,000 cars, a half year record. Total 2020 output was 361,365 vehicles.
PHEVs – 47,212 – accounted for 13% of plant production last year. Spartanburg has assembled batteries for electrified vehicles since 2015.
BMW Manufacturing currently produces about 1,500 vehicles each day, exporting more than two-thirds to 125 markets.
The factory has capacity for 450,000 units and employs 11,000 people.
