From last Friday, BMW has started producing the all new BMW X4 alongside the production of the entire BMW 'X' SUV range at its U.S plant in Spartanburg.
In addition, Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, also announced a further expansion to the X model family - the BMW X7 - although no further details were revealed.
Norbert cited that the X7 is a larger X model which will be manufactured at the U.S. plant for world markets.
Also, a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X5 will be produced in the same plant.
Furthermore, Norbert added BMW will invest a total of US$1 billion (S$1.26 billion) by 2016 to meet strong global demand for BMW X models. The investment is deemed to increase annual production capacity by 50 percent - to 450,000 units from the current 300,000 units. Also, the number of employees would be increased, as expansion at the site will create 800 new jobs - bringing the total workforce to 8,800 - from the current 8,000.
Since the start of production in 1994, Spartanburg has built more than 2.6 million vehicles for BMW customers around the world. A total of 297,326 vehicles were manufactured in Spartanburg in 2013, with around 1,100 vehicles currently produced per working day.
According to a study released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the annual export volume of BMW's Spartanburg plant totals $7.5 billion (S$9.46 billion) - the largest vehicle exporter in the United States. Approximately 70 percent of Spartanburg's production is exported to BMW markets around the world.
In addition, Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, also announced a further expansion to the X model family - the BMW X7 - although no further details were revealed.
Norbert cited that the X7 is a larger X model which will be manufactured at the U.S. plant for world markets.
Also, a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X5 will be produced in the same plant.
Furthermore, Norbert added BMW will invest a total of US$1 billion (S$1.26 billion) by 2016 to meet strong global demand for BMW X models. The investment is deemed to increase annual production capacity by 50 percent - to 450,000 units from the current 300,000 units. Also, the number of employees would be increased, as expansion at the site will create 800 new jobs - bringing the total workforce to 8,800 - from the current 8,000.
Since the start of production in 1994, Spartanburg has built more than 2.6 million vehicles for BMW customers around the world. A total of 297,326 vehicles were manufactured in Spartanburg in 2013, with around 1,100 vehicles currently produced per working day.
According to a study released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the annual export volume of BMW's Spartanburg plant totals $7.5 billion (S$9.46 billion) - the largest vehicle exporter in the United States. Approximately 70 percent of Spartanburg's production is exported to BMW markets around the world.
