BMW may consider engine production in the US to supply its car plant in South Carolina.
Production chief Frank-Peter Arndt said engine capacity is being increased at European factories in Germany and the UK and also by up to 400,000 units a year at the Chinese factory.
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He added: “Engine production has to be matched to vehicle production and, while we are increasing production in our existing facilities, we may have to consider an engine factory in the US at some point in the future. As our vehicle production continues to grow worldwide, this cannot be excluded.”
The first vehicle rolled off the line in South Carolina in September 1994. Since then, BMW has produced five different vehicles there: the 318i sedan, Z3 and Z4 roadsters, the X5 SUV and the X6 ‘sports activity coupe’.
The automaker has expanded the plant five times, including the current US$750m expansion to add 1.5m sq ft taking total area to 4m sq ft.
To date, BMW has spent $4.2bn in South Carolina and employs about 5,000 people, including contractors, at the plant.
