• Tradition meets the future: 104 years of history utilizing state-of-the-art technology.
• Series production of the new BMW i3 to start in August 2026, with more models to follow.
• Transformation to all BEV production from 2027.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 1, 2026… BMW Group Plant Munich is approaching the biggest milestone in the transformation process: series production of the BMW i3, the second model in the Neue Klasse range, begins here in August. This marks the start of the rollout of the Neue Klasse within the BMW Group’s global production network.

“We have been making rigorous preparations. With the BMW iFACTORY, we have devised a consistent, strategic framework for our production,” explains Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Production. “We have paved the way for the upcoming start-ups in all our plants and have invested heavily in technologies, digitilization, and AI.”

BMW Group Plant Munich has undergone extensive modernization in recent years. The result is a plant that now works even more efficiently, flexibly, and digitally, and is optimally positioned for the requirements of electric mobility and the Neue Klasse.

But that’s not all: as of 2027, the Munich plant will produce all-electric vehicles exclusively, and thereby achieve a further boost in efficiency. This is assisted by proactive planning, close collaboration with development teams and suppliers, as well as modern production technology in the new structures. “We have reduced production costs considerably over recent years. With the start of production of the BMW i3, we will reduce overall production costs at the Munich plant by a further 10 percent, bringing them below the level of the current vehicle generation,” says Peter Weber, Head of BMW Group Plant Munich. In addition to optimized production processes, and targeted automation and digitilization, the new vehicle architecture of the Neue Klasse also ensures efficiency.   

Plant Munich is investing around €650 million in its transformation into a fully electric production site.

Highly efficient production at an historic site.

Plant Munich has been reinventing itself consistently for more than 100 years – from a location outside the city to today’s site surrounded by it. The facility has undergone a fundamental process of redevelopment for the Neue Klasse – with production of up to 1,000 vehicles a day continuing during this period. A new body shop and state-of-the-art vehicle assembly including new logistics areas were set up on an area spanning around a third of the plant’s footprint. Extensive updates have also been made to existing technologies.  

Plant manager Peter Weber highlights what the workforce has achieved: “The people at the factory played an essential role in making this transformation a success. With their high level of expertise, enthusiasm, and tremendous dedication, our employees have shown that world-class industrial production is possible even under the toughest conditions. The BMW i3 is just the beginning – several Neue Klasse models will be manufactured in Munich in the future, including the BMW i3 Touring.”

A vision for all technologies: the BMW iFACTORY

The BMW iFACTORY focuses on the areas of efficiency, sustainability, and digitilization. Within this framework, the company’s plants around the world are implementing site-specific solutions and, in doing so, strengthening the company’s resilience as well as its ability to deliver reliably at any time and worldwide. This vision has now also been consistently implemented across all technologies at BMW Group Plant Munich.

“We have rethought the entire value stream from supplier to finished customer vehicle. We have looked at every single process in detail and made optimizations. Now our plant is even more efficient, more flexible, and even more digitized than ever before. We are thereby safeguarding the future viability of the plant,” adds Peter Weber.

In the press shop, steel and aluminium boards are turned into tens of thousands of components on highly automated press lines daily. Uniform press and tool standards across the global production network result in efficiencies on many levels: installation and integration of the systems are standardized, tools for the presses can be swapped within the network, and employees can work at various locations and help each other. An AI-assisted camera system supports quality control before an underground transport system moves the parts to the body shop. Output has increased significantly compared with previous structures. Cuts of steel and aluminium are collected, sorted, and then used to manufacture new steel or aluminium coils.

Plant Munich has set up a new body shop for the Neue Klasse featuring systems planned and realized using a virtual twin. A total of 800 new industrial robots take care of the joining processes here; decreasing the number of joining processes to five reduces process complexity. With an automation rate of around 98 percent, robots perform the majority of standardized processes. Automated surface inspection (ASI) assists with quality assurance. The energy-efficient building complies with the KfW 40 EE standard[i] and uses a photovoltaic system to generate its own electricity.

In the paint shop at Plant Munich, digital and AI-assisted systems control central quality processes. Automated surface inspection (ASI) uses cameras and artificial intelligence to detect even the most minor deviations on the surface and documents them digitally. Automated surface processing (ASP) works on the variations detected directly during the running process. To purify the exhaust air, the paint shop uses the energy-efficient, electrically powered eRTO process. This is complemented by heat and energy recovery as well as water-saving cycles.

What once was the home of engine manufacturing at BMW Group Plant Munich has become a new assembly area for the Neue Klasse. The assembly area is set up for end-to-end digital processes: vehicles, systems, and tools are interconnected and digital live tracking and automated inline quality checks support employees in the assembly line process. During assembly already, the BMW i3 digitally transmits the status of up to 20,000 features to the production system. Ergonomic workstations, height-adjustable systems, and simplified processes lighten the load for employees, while targeted training supports new digital fields.

Aspart of the transformation, logistics at BMW Group Plant Munich has focused squarely on efficiency and direct integration of production. The logistics department at the Munich plant moves around 2.5 million parts every day; in future around 70 percent of these parts will be delivered directly to the assembly workstations. This will reduce internal transport distances, save space and accelerate supply to the production lines. This is made possible by a multi-story building structure developed specially for the plant’s city location. Delivery is at ground level and then conveyor technology transports the parts to the right levels, where they are distributed directly to the assembly workstations. This enables the principle of direct delivery to be applied systematically even in a multi-story plant. At the same time, the level of automation in logistics has been significantly increased. Automated supply systems, smart transport robots, and driverless transport systems will handle around 60 percent of supply tasks in the future. A digital logistics control station manages all processes centrally, ensuring transparency and data-driven optimization.

Unique to Plant Munich is the in-house seat manufacturing facility. It is a “plant inside a plant” and takes on a central role for quality assurance and expert evaluation within the production network. The seats for all versions of the models produced in Munich are manufactured here and delivered to vehicle assembly directly and “just in sequence”. The in-house seat manufacturing facility is regarded as the benchmark for quality assurance across the BMW Group. Modern, largely automated processes ensure seamless quality control. This is complemented by fully automated end-of-line checks, including for safety-relevant components. The seat manufacturing facility also systematically strengthens the BMW Group’s in-house expertise. It serves as a competence center and innovation hub, tests new materials, technologies, and manufacturing concepts, and supports the evaluation of costs, quality and production processes – making an impact far beyond the Munich location.

Global network, regional value creation: high-voltage batteries and e-drive. 

With the new assembly plant for high-voltage batteries in Irlbach-Straßkirchen (Lower Bavaria, Germany) around 90 minutes away, the BMW Group is significantly boosting value creation in the Bavaria region. In keeping with the “local for local” approach, Irlbach-Straßkirchen will deliver high-voltage Gen6 batteries to the Munich plant as well as other German locations. Here, the batteries will be installed in the BMW i3. Manufacture of the high-voltage batteries combines a rigorous zero-defect approach with the latest production technologies, which were developed at Bavarian pilot plants. With seamless inline quality controls, digital twins and the systematic use of artificial intelligence, the BMW Group is setting new standards in battery production.

The Gen6 e-motor for the BMW i3 is produced at BMW Group Plant Steyr in Austria – a location that has been manufacturing drivetrains for over 40 years. With the first e-motor in the portfolio, the plant is developing its role as a prime example of technology openness. All core components of the highly integrated e-drive – from the rotor and stator to the inverter and transmission – are produced on-site. New production lines and state-of-the-art clean room environments have been set up for this. The aluminium foundry at BMW Group Plant Landshut supplies the e-motor housing for Plant Steyr.

BMW Group in the United States

BMW Group began operations in the U.S. over 50 years ago. In addition to the sales, marketing, and distribution of BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad vehicles, BMW Group’s business in the U.S. spans 30 locations in 12 states including BMW Group Financial Services, BMW Manufacturing, Designworks, BMW Technology Office USA, and BMW i Ventures. The company’s U.S. plant in South Carolina is the largest single BMW production facility in the world and the global center of competence for BMW Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented by a nationwide network of 355 BMW retailers, 147 BMW motorcycle retailers, 104 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. Taken together, BMW Group’s business activities in the U.S. provide and support over 120,000 jobs and contribute more than $43.3 billion to the U.S. economy annually. For more information about BMW Group’s business and products in the U.S., please visit: PressClub USA.

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• Export Value from South Carolina Plant is $9 Billion.
• Nearly 200,000 BMWs Exported to Nearly 120 Countries.
• From 2014 to 2025, BMW’s Export Value Totaled More Than $113 Billion.

Spartanburg, S.C. – March 5, 2026… BMW Manufacturing has confirmed that it led the nation in automotive exports by value during 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Last year, the South Carolina plant exported nearly 200,000 BMW X models with a total export value of $9 billion. Additionally, from 2014 – 2025, Plant Spartanburg exported nearly 3 million vehicles with an export value of $113 billion.

The BMWs assembled in Spartanburg, South Carolina, were primarily exported through the Port of Charleston, SC, and through four additional ports: Brunswick, GA; Jacksonville, FL; Everglades, FL; and Baltimore, MD. More than 14,000 BMWs were also exported via rail.

“Free trade and open markets enable growth and prosperity. Our plants — and above all the strong supplier networks in each respective region — benefit from this,” said Milan Nedeljković, Member

of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production.

“BMW Manufacturing is proud to be the largest automotive exporter by value in the United States, a distinction that underscores our commitment to both the state of South Carolina and the nation’s economic strength,” said Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “Our exports play a crucial role in supporting a favorable balance of trade, which is essential for sustained economic growth.

During 2025, associates assembled 412,799 BMW X models. This marks the third-highest total in the plant’s 32-year history and the seventh time the plant has exceeded 400,000 units.

Since 1992, the BMW Group has invested nearly $16 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. About 50 percent of its vehicles are shipped to nearly 120 global markets, making the BMW Group the largest automotive exporter by value in the United States for more than a decade. In 2025, more than 52 percent of BMW vehicles sold in the United States came from Plant Spartanburg. The model portfolio includes five top-selling BMW X models, three 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 has more than 12,000 jobs onsite. 

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BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC

BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC is a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich, Germany, and assembles the BMW X3, X5, X5 M, X7, and XM Sports Activity Vehicles and the BMW X6 and X6 M Sports Activity Coupes.  In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW Group North American subsidiaries include sales, marketing, and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and Latin America; a manufacturing plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico; and a design firm and technology office in California. For more information on BMW Manufacturing, visit www.bmwusfactory.com.

BMW Group in the United States.
BMW Group began operations in the U.S. over 50 years ago. In addition to the sales, marketing, and distribution of BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad vehicles, BMW Group’s business in the U.S. spans 30 locations in 12 states including BMW Group Financial Services, BMW Manufacturing, Designworks, BMW Technology Office USA, and BMW i Ventures. The company’s U.S. plant in South Carolina is the largest single BMW production facility in the world and the global center of competence for BMW Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented by a nationwide network of 355 BMW retailers, 147 BMW motorcycle retailers, 105 MINI passenger car dealers, and 37 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. Taken together, BMW Group’s business activities in the U.S. provide and support over 120,000 jobs and contribute more than $43.3 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

For more information about BMW Group’s business and products in the U.S., please visit: PressClub USA.

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Hams Hall, UK. BMW Group’s Hams Hall plant, located in the UK, has reached a major milestone: For exactly 25 years, the plant near Birmingham has produced highly efficient internal combustion engines for a variety of BMW Group vehicle models. More than 7.6 million engines have shipped from Hams Hall since 2001. The facility supplies numerous production sites worldwide with highly efficient petrol engines for the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands, including drive trains for plug-in hybrid models – making the plant an integral part of the BMW Group’s technology-open approach. Today, Plant Hams Hall produces three and four-cylinder petrol engines to high performance V8 engines, powering vehicles across both BMW and MINI. Separately, the V12 engine is produced at Plant Hams Hall exclusively for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Its assembly follows a distinct, bespoke production process, carried out by specially trained engineers and technicians, before final delivery to the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood.

Plant Hams Hall – an integral part of the global production network

"This anniversary is a special milestone for our site," says Dirk Dreher, Head of the BMW Group's Hams Hall plant. "We are a competitive plant and there’s always been a real passion among our workforce to continually improve our manufacturing processes and site. Building on our strong foundation, we are looking forward to remaining a successful plant in the future."

“The Hams Hall plant is an integral part of our global production network,” explains Harald Gottsche, Head of Engine Production at BMW AG. “The site combines technological expertise with high flexibility. It reliably supplies our vehicle plants with efficient, powerful engines of premium quality. This includes the V12 engine – a masterpiece from Hams Hall!”

61% reduction in energy use per engine built since the start of full production

The British engine plant is systematically implementing the principles of the BMW iFACTORY. The strategic vision of the BMW iFACTORY focusses on sustainability, electrification, digitalisation and profitability. From the first concept of the plant to the present day, the Hams Hall team has made sustainability a key consideration. Since the first full year of production, the plant has made a 61% reduction in energy required per engine built, meaning the overall energy to operate the site has remained level even though there has been a considerable increase in production. The plant purchases 100% of its external electricity from renewable energy sources today. It has also worked to reduce its consumption of natural gas.

SpOTTO robotic dog scans and monitors manufacturing equipment

A four-legged autonomous robot named “SpOTTO” joined the Hams Hall team in 2024. The autonomous robotic dog scans the plant, supports maintenance and ensures production processes run smoothly. Equipped with visual, thermal and acoustic sensors, SpOTTO collects valuable data for the plant’s digital twin. It also serves as a watchdog, monitoring the maintenance of production facilities. SpOTTO was developed by Boston Dynamics under the product name “Spot”, an agile robot capable of climbing stairs and traversing rough terrain with ease. At Hams Hall, “Spot” was fondly renamed SpOTTO, paying tribute to the engine plant’s proud heritage: Gustav Otto, one of the founders of BMW, was the son of Nicolaus Otto, inventor of the four-stroke engine.

Fully connected digital twin: Big data on three levels

At the core of the Hams Hall plant’s digital transformation is the fully connected digital twin, which consists of three levels: On the first level, 3D representations of the entire plant are generated. The second level comprises a large data layer, continuously updated with all relevant information from the SpOTTO robotic dog, the plant’s manufacturing equipment and its IT systems. On the third level – the application level – dedicated programmes organise the collected data into comprehensible units. Using special apps, experts at Plant Hams Hall can leverage this information for tasks such as production planning and quality assurance.

A history of continuous growth

Over the past 25 years, BMW Group Plant Hams Hall has continuously evolved, establishing itself as a key pillar of the company’s production network. Relying on state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, it provides drive trains for numerous BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce models.

Selected historic milestones:

• 2001: Plant Hams Hall launches series production with new four-cylinder engines, using innovative Valvetronic technology in large-scale manufacturing for the first time.
• 2006: An additional engine family is introduced; Plant Hams Hall produces engines for the MINI brand for the first time.
• 2013: Plant Hams Hall becomes the exclusive manufacturer of the award-winning three-cylinder engine for the iconic BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. The plant also integrates additional production lines for three- and four-cylinder petrol engines. At the same time, the processing hall for crankshafts, crankcases and cylinder heads is expanded.
• 2022: The plant takes over production of V8 and V12 engines. With this step the plant generates even greater business value for the company.
• 2026: Plant Hams Hall celebrates 25 years of production.

The BMW Group’s drive train production network

The BMW Group’s engine production network comprises several plants alongside Hams Hall: Its largest engine facility is in Steyr, Austria, where diesel and petrol engines, as well as sixth-generation electric motors, are developed and produced. The fifth generation of electric motors is produced in Dingolfing. Plant Munich handles mechanical production of V8 and V12 engine components, while Plant Landshut manufactures special engines. The Chinese joint venture BMW Brilliance builds engines for the local market in Shenyang. Collectively, these locations support the BMW Group's technology-open powertrain strategy.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ/Steyr (Austria) – August 1, 2025… BMW Group Plant Steyr today began series production of the e-motor for the Neue Klasse. “Today, we are laying the foundations for the future of the BMW Group,” explained Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production. “As the first production site for the Gen6 electric motor, Plant Steyr is central to the Neue Klasse and the continued development of our global production network.” The electric motor for the sixth generation of BMW eDrive (Gen6) is the first fully-electric drivetrain to be produced at the Steyr location in Austria. From there, it will be shipped throughout the production network, providing the drivetrain for the Neue Klasse. “Three years ago, we announced that we would build this electric motor in Steyr. Today, we are proud to deliver it,” said Klaus von Moltke, SVP of Engine Production for BMW AG and plant director of the Steyr facility. “What we are launching here today is more than just a production ramp-up. It is a firm commitment to Europe, to technology and to the future.”

Technology openness: Plant Steyr as center of drivetrain expertise 

Between the project launch in 2022 and 2030, BMW is investing over a billion euros in expanding development and production expertise for e-drives at the Steyr location. This capacity expansion will ensure the plant remains the BMW Group's leading location for drivetrains. For over 40 years, the plant has developed and manufactured internal combustion engines for the BMW and MINI brands. This extensive experience and wealth of expertise in drivetrains make the engine plant the ideal facility to produce the Gen6 electric motors. The site will continue to manufacture diesel and gasoline engines in parallel. “Technology openness is our strength – it gives us the necessary flexibility to secure long-term jobs,” said von Moltke. Around 1,000 employees will work in the new electric motor assembly. Depending on global demand, half of the Steyr location’s total workforce could be employed in e-mobility by 2030. von Moltke: “Steyr will remain the heart of our drivetrain expertise – both for combustion engines and electromobility.”

Powertrain components produced in Steyr, aluminum housings from Landshut 

Rotor, stator, transmission and power converter – all core components of the innovative, highly integrated e-drive – will be manufactured at Plant Steyr. The housing for the electric motor will be cast at Plant Landshut's aluminum foundry and further processed in Steyr. The power converter will be produced in a new in-house clean-room environment, marking the Austrian engine manufacturer’s entry into the field of electrical motorering. E-drive components from Steyr will be assembled on two new lines. The overall production concept for the Gen6 e-drive follows the principle of a modular system, making it possible to produce different highly flexible electric drivetrain derivatives for the entire range of Neue Klasse models. The modular concept generates positive economies of scale and cost savings in both development and production. It also improves the scalability of production volumes. The modular approach keeps production, supply networks and procurement highly flexible.

Comprehensive improvements to electric motor 

The electric motor has undergone significant further development for Gen6: The rotor, stator and power converter have all been holistically designed for the Gen6 technology’s new 800-volt architecture, maximizing the performance capabilities and the efficiency of the drive system. Improvements in geometry and cooling, along with reduced friction, optimize the two-stage spur gearbox. Customer-friendly acoustics have also been further refined. In the e-drive's electric “brain” – the power converter – 800-volt technology and silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor technology are now being used to boost efficiency. Fully integrated into the electric motor housing, the power converter converts direct current (DC) from the high-voltage battery into alternating current (AC) for the electric motor. 

Lower weight, costs, and energy loss lead to greater vehicle efficiency 

Overall, the intelligent use of new technologies in the e-drive and systematic further development of existing systems produce remarkable results. Comparing one of the future models of the Neue Klasse with a Gen5 xDrive model shows the improvements in the electric motor: “Energy loss is reduced by 40 percent, costs by 20 percent, and weight by 10 percent. All this makes a significant contribution to the approximately 20-percent increase in overall vehicle efficiency”, explains Martin Kaufmann, SVP of global Powertrain Development at BMW AG., “The efficient design of the powertrain together with the high energy content of the

high-voltage battery, enable a range of up to 800 km (WLTP) in the BMW iX3, the first model of the Neue Klasse.”

BMW Group in America

BMW of North America, LLC was established 50 years ago to support the sales, marketing and distribution of BMW automobiles and motorcycles in the U.S. In 1993 BMW Group Financial Services NA, LLC was founded, and one year later BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC began assembling vehicles in South Carolina. In 2002 and 2003, BMW Group established MINI USA, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC relaunching two iconic brands and rounding out its product portfolio.

Today, the BMW Group has a nationwide corporate footprint in the U.S. which consists of nearly 30 locations in 12 different states. Beyond the National Sales Company and Financial Services headquarters in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, its manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and numerous other operational facilities, BMW Group in the U.S. also includes Designworks, a strategic design consultancy in Santa Monica, CA, BMW Group Technology Office USA, a technology research and development center in Silicon Valley, and BMW i Ventures, a venture capital fund, also in Silicon Valley.

BMW Group Plant Spartanburg is the largest single BMW production facility in the world, and the global center of competence for BMW Sports Activity Vehicles including the X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, and XM. The plant assembles more than 1,500 vehicles each day, and up to 450,000 annually. Since 1994, Plant Spartanburg has assembled over 7 million BMW vehicles in the U.S.

The BMW Group sales organization in the U.S. is represented through a network of 350 BMW retailers, 147 BMW motorcycle retailers, 104 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. The company’s activities provide and support over 120,000 jobs across the U.S. and contribute more than 43.3 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

Journalists note: Information about BMW Group and its products in the USA is available to journalists online at www.bmwusanews.com , www.miniusanews.com, and at www.press.bmwna.com

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• The BMW ALPINA XB7 Was Completed in April.
• The Seven Millionth BMW Will Become Part of the BMW Historic Collection.

Spartanburg, SC – April 30, 2025… BMW Manufacturing is celebrating a historic milestone this month as the seven millionth BMW rolled off the assembly line in Spartanburg, SC. To commemorate this special event, associates assembled a truly exceptional vehicle – a BMW ALPINA XB7 painted ALPINA Green Metallic and powered by a 4.4-liter BMW ALPINA Bi-Turbo V8, 32-valve engine, producing an impressive 631 horsepower. Due to its significance, this vehicle will remain at the factory and become part of the BMW historic collection.

"This beautiful BMW ALPINA XB7 is a testament to the great products we have, the quality of our supplier network, and the unwavering commitment and dedication of our valued associates,” said Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “For over 30 years, BMW has proudly invested in South Carolina and its people, creating a remarkable legacy. We are excited about our future as we prepare to assemble fully electric vehicles at this plant."

Associates finished assembling the seven millionth BMW at the end of March. However, special “white glove” modifications by Plant Spartanburg’s ALPINA team were made during the next week. This included a specially designed ALPINA front apron, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler; floormats with the ALPINA emblem; and the installation of an ALPINA commemorative badge.

Other special features of the BMW ALPINA XB7 include 23-inch ALPINA CLASSIC CS16 wheels, Tartufo Full Merino Leather upholstery, ALPINA Walnut Nature Black trim, Panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof, and second-row captain’s chairs. The leather steering wheel has blue and green stitching with an ALPINA badge in the center.

Associates at the South Carolina plant assembled nearly 400,000 BMWs in 2024 with nearly 225,000 of these vehicles exported to 120 countries around the world. Below are the milestone dates for BMW Manufacturing’s “millionth” vehicles:

• 1 Millionth BMW – February 28, 2006 – Z4 M Roadster
• 2 Millionth BMW – January 12, 2012 – BMW X3 xDrive35i
• 3 Millionth BMW – March 24, 2015 – BMW X5 M
• 4 Millionth BMW – September 8, 2017 – BMW X3 xDrive M40i
• 5 Millionth BMW – June 4, 2020 – BMW X5 M Competition
• 6 Millionth BMW – September 2, 2022 – BMW X6 M
• 7 Millionth BMW – April 30, 2025 – BMW ALPINA XB7

The BMW Group is investing more than $1.7 billion in its U.S. operations, including $1 billion to prepare Plant Spartanburg for the assembly of electric vehicles and $700 million for Plant Woodruff, a new high-voltage battery assembly plant in nearby Woodruff, S.C. By 2030, Plant Spartanburg will assemble at least six fully electric vehicles along with internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the same site.

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 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. 

BMW Group in the United States.

BMW of North America, LLC was established 50 years ago to support the sales, marketing and distribution of BMW automobiles in the U.S. BMW Motorrad was brought into the fold in 1980. In 1993 BMW Group Financial Services NA, LLC was founded, and one year later BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC began assembling vehicles in South Carolina. In 2002 and 2003, BMW Group established MINI USA, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC relaunching two iconic brands and rounding out its product portfolio.

Today, the BMW Group has a nationwide corporate footprint in the U.S. which consists of nearly 30 locations in 12 different states. Beyond the National Sales Company and Financial Services headquarters in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, its manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and numerous other operational facilities, BMW Group in the U.S. also includes Designworks, a strategic design consultancy in Santa Monica, CA, BMW Group Technology Office USA, a technology research and development center in Silicon Valley, and BMW i Ventures, a venture capital fund, also in Silicon Valley.

BMW Group Plant Spartanburg is the largest single BMW production facility in the world, and the global center of competence for BMW Sports Activity Vehicles including the X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, and XM. The plant assembles more than 1,500 vehicles each day, and up to 450,000 annually. Since 1994, Plant Spartanburg has assembled nearly 7 million BMW vehicles in the U.S.

The BMW Group sales organization in the U.S. is represented through a network of 350 BMW retailers, 144 BMW motorcycle retailers, 105 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. The company’s activities provide and support over 120,000 jobs across the U.S. and contribute more than 43.3 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

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Journalist note: Information about BMW Group and its products in the USA is available to journalists on-line at www.bmwusanews.com www.miniusanews.com and www.press.bmwna.com

Munich/Spartanburg, USA. The BMW Group is exploring the use of humanoid robots in production for the first time. During a trial run lasting several weeks at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, the latest humanoid robot Figure 02 from California company Figure successfully inserted sheet metal parts into specific fixtures, which were then assembled as part of the chassis. The robot must be particularly dexterous to complete this production step.

At the same time, using a robot can save employees from having to perform ergonomically awkward and tiring tasks. Together with Figure, the BMW Group is currently testing and evaluating how humanoid robots can be used safely in automobile production. This video shows the trial run in the body shop at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg: https://b.mw/Figure_02

“The developments in the field of robotics are very promising. With an early test operation, we are now determining possible applications for humanoid robots in production. We want to accompany this technology from development to industrialization,” says Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management for Production at BMW AG.

With the BMW iFACTORY, the vision for the production of the future, the BMW Group is always on the lookout for new technologies. Efficiency, digitalisation and sustainability are central to this vision to realisation. During the trial run, the BMW Group gained valuable knowledge of what requirements must be met in order to be able to integrate so-called multi-purpose robots in an existing production system. This includes how humanoid robots communicate with the system under real conditions. After the first use in automobile production, the experts at the BMW Group and Figure are collaborating to prepare Figure for future applications in production and continuing to develop the robots, based on the findings.

Figure 02 embodies the latest technological advances in robotics 

“We are excited to unveil Figure 02, our second-generation humanoid robot, which recently completed successful testing at the BMW Group Plant Spartanburg. Figure 02 has significant technical advancements, which enable the robot to perform a wide range of complex tasks fully autonomously,” says Brett Adcock, Founder and CEO of Figure.

According to the California company, Figure 02 is the world’s most advanced humanoid robot currently available on the market. The combination of two-legged mobility and advanced dexterity means that the Figure 02 is ideally suited for use in areas with physically demanding, unsafe, or repetitive processes, thereby improving ergonomics and safety for associates. Figure 02 boasts three times the processing power of its predecessor, improved voice communication, better cameras, microphones, and sensors, a high-performance battery, and fourth-generation human-scale hands with 16 degrees of freedom per hand and human-equivalent strength.

The robot is capable of fully autonomous execution of human-like and two-handed tasks requiring varied and dynamic manipulation, complex grasping, and coordination of both hands in unison. It is able place various complex parts with accuracy measured in millimetres and can walk dynamically leveraging efficienties of the robot’s design.

Currently, there are no Figure AI robots at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, and there is no definite timetable established for bringing Figure robots to the plant. BMW Group will continue to work with Figure for data capturing and training capabilities for the Figure02 robots.

Spartanburg, S.C. – Celebrating its 30th anniversary of assembling BMWs for the world, BMW Manufacturing today opened its state-of-the-art press shop as it prepares to assemble the new BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle at the Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant. The press shop will stamp sheet metal parts for the new BMW X3, which made its North American debut during the ceremony. These components include hang-on parts such as the vehicle’s four doors, fenders, lift gate, and exterior body sides.

Dr. Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production, emphasized the BMW Group's commitment in the United States: “After 30 years of successful operations, we are further expanding our commitment. At the end of 2026, assembly of all-electric Sports Activity Vehicles will start here in Spartanburg. This is a further step towards strengthening our global resilience.”

By 2030, the BMW Group will assemble at least six fully electric models in the U.S. The high-voltage batteries for the future BEVs from Spartanburg will come from nearby Woodruff, where the BMW Group is currently building an assembly plant for sixth-generation batteries. The opening of the press shop also contributes to strengthening the U.S. footprint.

“The advanced stamping processes on our new press line will ensure the highest quality, efficiency, and consistency in body shop parts for our customers,” said Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “Having this press shop onsite fits the BMW Group’s local-for-local strategy where we produce major parts at the location where we need them.”

The BMW Group invested more than $200 million to construct the 219,000-square-foot press shop. It took 24 months from site work preparation to stamping the first part on the press line. The investment also included more than 200 new jobs in careers such as tool and die technicians as well as electrical and mechanical maintenance for automated machinery. Dozens of Plant Spartanburg associates trained at BMW Group press shops in Swindon in the UK and Leipzig in Germany.

“Since establishing roots in South Carolina 30 years ago, BMW has transformed our state into an automotive powerhouse,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “Today, we proudly celebrate yet another milestone with the opening of BMW's first North American press shop, and we look forward to their continued success in the years to come.”

During the ceremony, Dr. Robert Engelhorn and Randy Watson, regional vice president of the Southern Region for BMW of North America, introduced the fourth-generation BMW X3 to the audience. The BMW X3 is one of the company’s best-selling vehicles in the United States and worldwide. Plant Spartanburg associates have assembled more than 1.7 million BMW X3s since the model joined the plant’s lineup in 2010. The new BMW X3 will go on sale in the fall of 2024.

Also making its debut was the Silver Anniversary Edition of the BMW X5. This special adventure-themed Sports Activity Vehicle will be assembled in limited quantities for the U.S market exclusively with sales beginning this fall. This edition celebrates 25 years since the very first BMW X5 was assembled at Plant Spartanburg in 1999. This model created the segment of Sports Activity Vehicles and laid the foundation for a tremendous global success with nearly three million BMW X5 vehicles assembled since then.

Inside the New High-Tech Press Shop

The press shop marks the beginning of the automotive production process. Large steel coils are unloaded from trucks using a large overhead crane inside the shop. The steel coils are then fed into the Coil Line, where the steel is cut into individual “blanks” (rectangular cutoffs or special shapes) at up to 70 strokes per minute. These blanks are then ready to be fed into the Press Line.

The Press Line consists of five press (stamping) stations. The line is equipped with servo technology, which enables BMW to significantly increase the output performance of the presses.  An overhead crane moves the correct press tool (die) into each station. The blank is fed into the first press station and transferred from one station to the next by a robot-like automation technology, referred to as the “crossbar feeder,” for additional forming and trimming operations. The line can run up to 18 strokes per minute, which means up to 10,000 parts can be stamped each day, depending on the size of each part.

After the parts are stamped, they go to quality control for inspection; quality inspectors use special lighting that mimics natural daylight. Parts are then stacked into racks ready for delivery to the body shop production line.

Underneath both the press and coil lines are areas that collect the scrap metal gathered after the parts are stamped. As much as 50 tons of scrap are accumulated each day at full volume; a long conveyor moves the scrap, and it is loaded onto 53-foot trailers. All this material is taken off-site to be recycled.

This year, BMW Manufacturing celebrates 30 years of assembling BMWs in South Carolina, with more than 6.7 million BMWs assembled during the three decades. The Spartanburg factory employs more than 11,000 people to assemble the X3, X5, X7 and XM Sports Activity Vehicles and the X4 and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The 1,150-acre, 8-million-square-foot campus includes three body shops with more than 2,600 robots, two paint shops, and two assembly halls. The plant generates about 20 percent of its own power from methane gas and uses hydrogen fuel cell technology to power about 800 pieces of material handling equipment. The BMW Group announced in 2022 that it would invest $1.7 billion in its U.S. operations, including $1 billion to prepare the Spartanburg plant to assemble fully electric vehicles and $700 million to build a new high-voltage battery assembly plant in Woodruff. When completed in 2026, Plant Woodruff will assemble the sixth-generation batteries to supply fully electric vehicles at BMW Manufacturing. By 2030, the BMW Group will assemble at least six fully electric models in the U.S.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Nathalie Bauters, Head of Communications, BMW Manufacturing

Telephone:  864-794-0842   |   Email:  Nathalie.Bauters@bmwgroup.com 

Steve Wilson, Media Communications Specialist, BMW Manufacturing

Telephone:  864-451-3571   |   Email:  steve.wilson@bmwmc.com

BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC

BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC is a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich, Germany, and assembles the BMW X3, X3 M, X5, X5 M and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles; the BMW X4, X4 M, X6 and X6 M Sports Activity Coupes; and the all-new BMW XM.  In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW Group North American subsidiaries include sales, marketing, and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America; a manufacturing plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico; and a design firm and technology office in California. For more information on BMW Manufacturing, visit www.bmwusfactory.com.

BMW Group in America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975.  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003.  The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy based in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country.  BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center of competence for BMW X models and manufactures the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles as well as the new BMW XM. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 350 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 146 BMW motorcycle retailers, 105 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers.  BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Journalist note: Information about BMW Group and its products in the USA is available to journalists on-line at www.bmwgroupusanews.com and www.press.bmwna.com.

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Leipzig. The production launch of the MINI Countryman marks a number of debuts and milestones: as the first MINI model to be made in Germany, the new MINI Countryman will roll off one and the same manufacturing line as the BMW 1 Series and 2 Series. Thanks to its flexible assembly structures, Plant Leipzig is in a position to produce two brands with three different drives – combustion, plug-in-hybrid and fully electric – all on the same production line.

Big Love is the motto of not just the MINI brand but also of the plant: Leipzig loves MINI and MINI loves Leipzig. Celebrating the production launch of the MINI Countryman today at a special event in the assembly hall were the BMW AG Board Member for Production, Milan Nedeljković; the Minister President of the state of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer; the head of the MINI brand, Stefanie Wurst; Mayor and Alderman for Business, Work and Digital Affairs, Clemens Schülke; various guests from politics and the media, and plant employees. To make sure everyone in the plant could experience the live broadcast of the celebration, the production lines stood still for almost 45 minutes.

Production of the largest MINI model to date marks an important step into the future of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Since 2018 the company has invested some €700 million in the Saxony site to increase capacity and enable production of the MINI Countryman. In addition, this third generation of the vehicle will also be available with a fully electric drive. “Leipzig remains electrified,” said Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel.

“When it comes to the transformation,” Nedeljković emphasised, “skill and flexibility are crucial.” He added that the BMW Group had been quick to introduce and advance change: “Plant Leipzig plays a fundamental role in this regard. It was here that we launched production of the BMW i3 exactly ten years ago. We have since built on that, rolling the latest generation of electric cars out across our network.”

Nedeljković explained that all BMW Group plants are set up to produce different models with different drives – from combustion-powered to plug-in hybrid and fully electric – all on a single production line. But what’s special about Plant Leipzig, he added, is that its flexible production system is now being used for multiple brands for the very first time.

Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony, emphasised the importance of the BMW Group plant in Leipzig for the region and the federal state: “The BMW site in Leipzig is a success story of modern industrial production. Continued investments in the site and the launch of the MINI Countryman reaffirm the company’s commitment to ‘Autoland’ Saxony – and provide a boost for the entire regional economy, benefiting service providers and suppliers across the area.”

Clemens Schülke, Mayor and Alderman for Business, Work and Digital Affairs of the city of Leipzig was visibly pleased about the ‘new Leipziger’: “In my view, BMW Leipzig is an absolute success story. That’s why I am really looking forward to the next chapter: the first German MINI will be a genuine ‘Leipziger’. This model demonstrates the power and flexibility of our strong automotive cluster.”

Stefanie Wurst, head of MINI, detailed the characteristics of the new MINI Countryman: “The first MINI made in Germany stands for superior environmental credentials, not just as a product but equally in terms of its production. Its versatility and powerful, efficient drives make it the perfect companion for the city – but also for adventures beyond.”

Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel emphasised the importance of the MINI Countryman for the future of Plant Leipzig: “Today is a historical day for our site. As the plant develops and production of the MINI Countryman gets underway, our headcount will increase by over 1,000 by the end of 2024.”

“Today, we can see once again just how important our plant here in Leipzig is for the production network as a whole,” pointed out Works Council Chairman Jens Köhler as he thanked the BMW Group for their trust.

Hosting the event was the radio and television presenter Roman Knoblauch. But in addition to the MINI Countryman in Smokey Green with a contrast roof in Energy Silver, there was a secret star of the show: Spike, MINI’s digital friend. As the Intelligent Personal Assistant, Spike will support drivers of the new MINI model family and make the cars even more fun to use.

• Ceremonial Beam Signing Celebrates First Steel Beam Erected Onsite.
• Plant Woodruff Will Supply Sixth Generation Batteries for Plant Spartanburg.
• By 2030, the BMW Group Will Build At Least Six Fully Electric Vehicles in the United States.

Woodruff, S.C. – Construction of BMW’s high-voltage battery assembly plant in Woodruff, South Carolina, has started. BMW management joined representatives from the city of Woodruff, Spartanburg County, and Evans Construction on
October 5 for a ceremonial beam signing celebrating the first steel to be erected at the site. After the signing, workers immediately installed the first beam and started construction of the state-of-the-art facility.

“Today, we literally begin to build our legacy as we start the construction of Plant Woodruff,” said Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “This BMW plant will play an important role for the future of electric mobility at Plant Spartanburg and in the United States.”

The BMW Group announced one year ago that it would invest $1.7 billion in its U.S. operations, including $1 billion to prepare the Spartanburg plant for the production of fully electric vehicles and $700 million to build a new high-voltage battery assembly plant in Woodruff. By 2030, the BMW Group will build at least six fully electric models in the U.S.

When completed in 2026, Plant Woodruff will produce the sixth-generation batteries to supply fully electric vehicles at nearby BMW Manufacturing. The Woodruff facility, located on 315 acres near the city, will be more than one million square feet in size and includes construction of a technology building and support buildings such as a cafeteria, fire department, and energy center.  It will be state-of-the-art in terms of sustainability, flexibility, and digitalization. More than 300 jobs will be created onsite with the opportunity to grow.

As part of the BMW Group’s “local for local” approach, the company will purchase battery cells for its electric vehicles from partner AESC, which is building a new 30 GWh battery cell factory in Florence, South Carolina, with BMW as its first customer. AESC broke ground for its new plant on June 7. They will produce newly developed round lithium-ion battery cells, specifically designed for the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology. Battery cells produced at the AESC facility in Florence will be shipped to Plant Woodruff, where the cells will be used to manufacture batteries for fully electric BMW X models at Plant Spartanburg.

Since 1992, the BMW Group has invested nearly $12.4 billion in its South Carolina operations. BMW Manufacturing is the largest BMW Group plant in the world, producing 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 60 percent of its vehicles are shipped to about 120 global markets, making BMW the largest automotive exporter by value in the United States for nine consecutive years. In 2022, approximately 60 percent of BMW vehicles sold in the U.S. came from Plant Spartanburg.  The model portfolio includes six top-selling BMW X models, five Motorsport X models, and three 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.  

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Nathalie Bauters, Head of Communications, BMW Manufacturing

Telephone:  864-794-0842   |   Email:  Nathalie.Bauters@bmwgroup.com 

Steve Wilson, Media Communications Specialist, BMW Manufacturing

Telephone:  864-451-3571   |   Email:  steve.wilson@bmwmc.com

BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC

BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC is a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich, Germany, and is the global producer of the BMW X3, X3 M, X5, X5 M and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles; the BMW X4, X4 M, X6 and X6 M Sports Activity Coupes; and the all-new BMW XM.  In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW Group North American subsidiaries include sales, marketing, and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America; a manufacturing plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico; and a design firm and technology office in California. For more information on BMW Manufacturing, visit www.bmwusfactory.com.

BMW Group in America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975.  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003.  The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy based in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country.  BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center of competence for BMW X models and manufactures the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles as well as the new BMW XM. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 349 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 146 BMW motorcycle retailers, 104 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers.  BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Journalist note: Information about BMW Group and its products in the USA is available to journalists on-line at www.bmwgroupusanews.com and www.press.bmwna.com.

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• More Than 2,300 Will Attend One of the Largest Supplier Diversity Events in America.

Spartanburg, S.C.  BMW Manufacturing and BMW Purchasing and Supplier Network Americas will host one of the nation’s largest supplier diversity events on August 30, 2023, at the Greenville Convention Center. Renamed the Supplier Diversity Xchange, the 11th annual event is an opportunity for women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses to participate in a day of professional development and to network with BMW’s Tier 1 suppliers. 

 “In a highly competitive market, creating a workplace that values and respects diversity adds value throughout the organization, sparks innovation, and improves productivity,” said Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “For more than a decade, our Supplier Diversity Xchange has been opening doors for minority-owned businesses across the country. Cultivating a more diverse and inclusive workplace brings the richness of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives necessary to grow a sustainable and innovative organization.” 

 This year’s event includes 240 exhibitors and more than 2,300 registered attendees. Throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions on professional development topics and drive BMWs at the BMW Performance Center. Registration for this year’s event is closed. 

 This year’s special guest is Mervant Vera, a magician and musician from Philadelphia who finished as a top semi-finalist on America’s Got TalentTM and is a headline act for the AGT Superstars in Las Vegas. Mervant will share his message of diversity as he performs magic with Dr. Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Purchasing and Supplier Network; Oliver Haase, senior vice president of Purchasing and Supplier Network Americas; and several members in the audience.

 “It is important to ensure that BMW and our Tier 1 suppliers include diverse businesses in the competitive bidding process,” said Oliver Haase, senior vice president of Purchasing and Supplier Network Americas. “The BMW Supplier Diversity Xchange is a great opportunity for each participant to meet many of BMW’s suppliers and showcase their abilities. Many of these businesses have been awarded national and global contracts with our suppliers.”

 For the 2,300 attendees, networking at the Supplier Diversity Xchange is the day’s primary purpose. This is when women-, minority- and veteran-owned businesses can meet BMW Tier 1 suppliers and discuss their skills. Media are invited to attend this networking event and interview participants from 1 to 5 p.m.

 “This conference affords me so many incredible networking opportunities and resources,” said Donna Brin, founder and CEO of bFIVE40 in Little River, SC. “Each and every year I walk away with these golden nuggets, these opportunities I wouldn’t have had unless I went. It’s a wonderful platform for small business.”  

 “This is the one event that I block off on my calendar a year in advance,” said Darby Smith, director of business development for Roylco Industrial in Anderson, SC. “It’s so important for us because I can talk to between 70 and 100 perspective customers within a matter of hours. Normally, it would take me years to do that.”

• BMW Group continues to expand manufacturing capacity at the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing
• E-drive trains for 500,000 electrified vehicles per year from 2022
• Extensive in-house drive train expertise: Start of production for fifth-generation high-voltage batteries in Germany
• Successful transformation to e-drive train production

Munich/Dingolfing. Production of fifth-generation high-voltage batteries and battery modules for use in the BMW iX* and BMW i4 is now underway at the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing. At the same time, the company is also increasing production capacity for its fifth-generation electric motor, which has been built in Dingolfing for the BMW iX3* since 2020 and will also power the BMW iX* and BMW i4. “We expect at least 50 percent of the vehicles we deliver to our customers worldwide to be electrified by 2030. To achieve this, we are relying on our extensive in-house drive train expertise: We are increasing capacity at existing drive train production locations – like here in Dingolfing – and developing capabilities at others – like recently in Regensburg and Leipzig,” explained Dr Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice President, Production Engines and E-Drives, BMW Group.

The BMW Group is investing more than 500 million euros in expanding production capacity for e-drives at its Dingolfing location alone between 2020 and 2022. From 2022, it will produce e-drives for more than half a million electrified vehicles. The BMW Group will invest a total of around 790 million euros in expanding capacity for electric powertrain components at its Dingolfing, Leipzig, Regensburg and Steyr locations between 2020 and 2022.

Standard production of the BMW iX* will soon get underway at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, followed by production of the BMW i4 at Plant Munich in the autumn. The highly integrated e-drives and high-voltage batteries for these vehicles will all be manufactured at the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing. The BMW Group already began producing battery components at Plants Regensburg and Leipzig in April and May 2021. In line with growing demand for e-drives, BMW Group Plants Landshut and Steyr are also stepping up production of e-drive housings.

Production of fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology

The output and energy content of drive units and high-voltage batteries with fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology can be flexibly scaled. This means they can be optimally adjusted to suit different model variants.

Each vehicle uses up to two highly integrated e-drives, which combine the electric motor, power electronics and transmission in a single housing. Based on the design principle of a current-excited rotor, the fifth-generation e-drive does not require any materials classified as rare-earth metals.

BMW eDrive technology also comprises a high-voltage battery with state-of-the-art battery cell technology. The BMW Group agreed with its suppliers that they will only use renewable green power for producing fifth-generation battery cells. The entire high-voltage battery boasts outstanding qualities in the areas of performance, charging and discharging characteristics, durability and safety. The technically standardised production process for battery modules has been further developed in such a way that different module variants can be produced on the same production line – in line with the growing range of electrified vehicle models and performance levels. The production systems are highly flexible and scalable. Battery modules are produced from supplied prismatic battery cells at the respective BMW Group production location. A modular system developed in-house allows model-specific high-voltage batteries to be manufactured from these modules in a flexible arrangement.

The company has outstanding expertise and experience, both in the field of battery cell technology and in production of model-specific high-voltage batteries. The BMW Group conducts basic research in the fields of cell chemistry and cell design at its own Battery Cell Competence Centre. The BMW Group also produces battery cell prototypes itself. These battery cell prototypes are used in tests to validate the development maturity of battery cells and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the production processes. In addition, the prototype production of the battery cells serves the identification of process potentials as well as the optimization of the production processes. In this way, the BMW Group gains a thorough understanding of the entire battery cell value chain and the decisive competitive advantages its chemical and technical properties offer. This enables battery cells to be manufactured to precise specifications that are geared towards each vehicle’s individual requirements.

Competence Centre for E-Drive Production

Following extensive expansion, the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production now provides a usable area of 125,000 sq. m. This is where the company manufactures electric motors and the components needed for them, as well as high-voltage batteries and battery modules. A paint coating is also applied to the battery cells at this location. The coating increases mechanical robustness and thermal conductivity, thereby improving insulation and cooling of the even more powerful fifth-generation battery cells.

Plant Dingolfing has been manufacturing standard high-voltage batteries and battery modules since 2013, when the BMW Group's first all-electric vehicle, the BMW i3*, went into production. The first production lines for electric motors and high-voltage batteries for plug-in hybrids went on-stream there in 2014. The Competence Centre for E-Drive Production has been steadily growing ever since. The plant has also been producing high-voltage batteries for the fully electric MINI Cooper SE* since 2019 and, since 2020, also the highly integrated fifth-generation e-drive used for the first time in the BMW iX3*. Production of the even more powerful high-voltage batteries for the BMW iX* and BMW i4 is now getting underway. E-drives for future models can also be produced on the flexible production lines.

Qualification for long-term, sustainable jobs

With the BMW Group systematically pursuing progress in electromobility, the demands on employees and their areas of responsibility are also constantly evolving. “We are growing our staff for e-drive production almost exclusively through personnel restructuring. We are actively shaping the transformation process and leveraging our employees’ skills so we can develop long-term sustainable jobs,” explains Nikolaides.

The Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing currently has almost 1,400 employees. By the end of 2021, around 1,900 employees are expected to work in e-drive production in Dingolfing.

Production employees receive further training at the in-house learning centre, which uses innovative vocational training and further education methods to provide employees with intensive preparation for their new tasks. Employees’ knowledge and skills are being expanded specifically to include new electromobility technologies, with a training concept that is constantly updated. The training sessions are held in the classroom, at practice workstations and directly on the production lines. Digital methods and augmented reality play a bigger role here than ever before. Thanks to these methods, the training courses were also able to continue safely during the coronavirus pandemic, in compliance with health and safety measures.

“The learning centre takes a holistic approach that supports employees throughout their professional development and further education, from their first day in production,” reports Dr Sven Jochmann, head of Production E-Drives Dingolfing, Landshut, Regensburg, Leipzig. “As well as trainers and managers, new colleagues are also supported by trained mentors who help them quickly find their way around their new working environment,” adds Jochmann.

Transformation of the Dingolfing location

The Dingolfing location is a prime example of the successful transformation of the BMW Group plants towards e-mobility and digitalisation. E-drive production, including electric motors and high-voltage batteries, is located in an existing, roughly 50-year-old building at the site, rather than using new space. The infrastructure was adapted to the new requirements and expanded accordingly. A modern staff restaurant seats 300 and there is also a new parking deck with space for 800 vehicles. The structural measures are rounded out by a 25,000 sq. m. logistics hall, new office spaces and social rooms close to the production area, as well as an additional plant gate in the south for improved logistics flows.

On the issue of sustainability, the BMW Group takes a holistic approach to reducing CO₂ emissions and minimising resource consumption that covers the entire value chain, including in-house production, the supply chain and use phase. In Dingolfing, as at all BMW Group locations, production uses only green power. In addition, all BMW Group locations have been net carbon neutral since this year, through corresponding offsets and certificates. The company is also using many other levers: from building technology to energy-efficient installations to increased use of renewable energies. Electric trucks will be used for intra-company goods transport at the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production from the autumn.

2030: At least 50 percent of global BMW Group sales will be fully electric

The BMW Group continues its massive electromobility ramp-up: The company will offer five fully-electric models by the end of this year: the BMW i3*, the MINI Cooper SE* and the BMW iX3*, as well as the two main innovation flagships, the BMW iX* and BMW i4.

Between now and 2025, the BMW Group will increase its sales of fully-electric models by an average of well over 50 percent per year – more than ten times the number of units sold in 2020. Based on its current market forecast, the company also expects at least 50 percent of its global sales to come from fully-electric vehicles in 2030. In total, over the next ten years or so, the BMW Group will be releasing about ten million fully-electric vehicles onto the roads.

Global e-drive production network with a focus in Germany

The high-voltage batteries and battery components needed for all BMW and MINI electrified vehicles come from the company’s own battery factories in Dingolfing, Leipzig and Regensburg in Germany, as well as from Spartanburg (USA) and Shenyang (China). The BMW Group has also localised production of high-voltage batteries in Thailand, at its Rayong plant, and is working with the Dräxlmaier Group for this. Munich is home to the e-drive pilot plant and the Battery Cell Competence Centre, where the BMW Group is conducting a full analysis of battery cell value creation processes and advancing technology for its production processes.

The company produces electric motors at the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing and at BMW Group Plant Landshut. BMW Group Plant Steyr builds the housing for the highly integrated fifth-generation e-drive.

• New classes and experiences at The BMW Performance Center West in Thermal, CA.
• Your opportunity to experience the M4 GT4 customer race car on track.
• Begin your pro racing career with the new SCCA-certified racing school.
• BMW M4 GT4 and M2 CS Racing ready for 2021 racing season.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – Dec. 1, 2020…Today, The BMW Performance Center Driving Schools are proud to announce the newest additions to their course curriculum – The BMW M and M4 GT4 Experience, the M4 GT4 Private Coaching with Data and Video Session and the Race Licensing School.

The new courses allow BMW enthusiasts to experience the customer racing BMW M4 GT4 first-hand as well as receive one-on-one race driving instruction and begin their journey towards being a professional race driver through the new SCCA-certified licensing school.

Schedules and descriptions for the new M4 GT4 experiences, for the new Licensing School and for all BMW driving and motorcycle-riding classes may be found at https://bmwperformancecenter.com. Courses can be booked online or by calling 1-888-345-4BMW.

BMW M and M4 GT4 Experience - $2,795

A full-day program includes driving various BMW M cars and the M4 GT4 race car. Students start with a classroom session that reviews proper driving technique. After an overview of the car, they are outfitted with a racing suit and helmet. Then it’s time to experience this amazing machine on one of the Thermal Club’s world class racetracks. Students run guided laps behind a BMW instructor to experience the M4 GT4 at speeds up to 140 mph. This is the exact customer racecar offered by BMW Motorsport.

Based on the 2020 BMW M4 coupe, the M4 GT4 is built to compete in racing series around the world in the GT4 category. The 3.0 liter inline 6-cylinder TwinPower turbocharged engine can produce more than 430 horsepower (depending on the Balance of Performance) and the rear wing, front splitter and Continental racing tires make this car stick like glue through the corners. In addition, the class includes:

• VBOX data and video system in the M4 GT4 to record the session.
• Access to professional instructors, trackside crew and support.
• All driving gear for the duration of the class – racing suit, helmet, gloves and shoes.
• Lunch at the BMW Performance Center café.
• Insurance, with a $2,500 deductible for vehicle or property damage.

The BMW M and M4 GT4 Experience can be reserved on an individual basis, or as a group. Group Events for this specific program have a maximum participation of 15 people and can be reserved by completing the form at https://bmwperformancecenter.com/groupevents.

M4 GT4 Private Coaching with Data & Video - $4,995

125 MILES OF LAPPING

This half-day program includes 125 miles of track driving in the M4 GT4 race car. Students start with a classroom session that reviews proper driving technique before being fitted out for their M4 GT4 session. The class includes:

• VBOX data and video system in the M4 GT4 to record the session.
• Time in the BMW M4 GT4 race car, one professional instructor and trackside support.
• All driving gear for the duration of the class – racing suit, helmet, gloves and shoes.
• Lunch at the BMW Performance Center café.
• Insurance, with a $2,500 deductible for vehicle or property damage.
• More miles can be purchased on the day of training. The program is designed for one driver. However, two drivers sharing a car can be arranged upon request.
• The schedule is flexible. Please call 888-345-2269, and one of the BMW Performance Center driving instructors will reply to answer any questions and schedule the coaching session. Discounts are not allowed for this program

M4 GT4 Private Coaching with Data & Video - $9,995
250 MILES OF LAPPING

A full-day program includes 250 miles of track driving in the M4 GT4 race car. Students start with a classroom session that reviews proper driving technique before being fitted out for their M4 GT4. The class includes:

• VBOX data and video system in the M4 GT4 to record the session.
• Time in the BMW M4 GT4 race car, one professional instructor and trackside support.
• All driving gear for the duration of the class – racing suit, helmet, gloves and shoes.
• Lunch at our BMW Performance Center café.
• Insurance, with a $2,500 deductible for vehicle or property damage.
• More miles can be purchased on the day of training. The program is designed for one driver. However, two drivers sharing a car can be arranged upon request.
• The schedule is flexible. Please call 888-345-2269, and one of the BMW Performance Center driving instructors will reply to answer any questions and schedule the coaching session. Discounts are not allowed for this program.

Race License School: The Path to Professional - $2495

For those who desire more training after the Advanced M School or Two-Day M School, the BMW Performance Center now offers a SCCA-certified school to take the first steps to becoming a pro driver. Students can even add this one-day school to an Advanced M School or Two-Day M School session and get qualified all at once.

What will be learned:

• Learn the colors. Green. Yellow. Red - No there aren’t any traffic lights on the track. But there are flags, and you’ll learn what each represents while you’re out there to maintain safety.
• Passing. Don’t let off. - Start off with you in a BMW, behind your instructor in theirs. They will coach you through the art of passing under both braking and acceleration. Then, we’ll bring on a classmate and coach you both as you battle for first place.
• Keep Rollin’. Practice race starts - In racing, how you start can impact how you finish, and we’ll show you how to get started right in a grid set up, as well as rolling starts. Learn how to navigate with other cars on track while setting up for that first turn.

The M4 GT4 customer race car

Introduced for the 2018 racing season, the BMW M4 GT4 is a proven winner. This past season alone, it won three GS Class IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge races, nine SRO Pirelli GT4 SprintX races across the Pro-Am and Silver classes and the SRO Intercontinental GT Indianapolis 8 Hour, GT4 Class.

The BMW M4 GT4 is powered by the same 3.0-liter S55 inline 6-cylinder engine that is found in the BMW M4 streetcar and that delivers more than 430 hp, depending on class regulations and on the power stick used. A 7-speed dual clutch transmission with motorsport software transfers power to the 18-inch wheels via a mechanical limited-slip differential with cooling. The chassis is reinforced with a DMSB-certified BMW M Motorsport welded safety roll cage (compliant with FIA regulations). The roof, hood, doors, front splitter and rear wing are all made from CFRP. Three-stage adjustable motorsport anti-roll bars and specially-valved motorsport Ohlins shock absorbers are complemented by optional springs in three different rates for front and rear. Six-piston fixed front and four-piston fixed rear AP brakes are controlled by a cockpit adjustable AP racing pedal box and manually adjustable brake bias.

The BMW M4 GT4 customer race car is available for $210,000 plus $995 Destination.

More information on the M4 GT4 customer race car can be found here.

    M2 CS Racing customer race car

BMW’s Customer Racing program saw the unveil of its latest car, the BMW M2 CS racing in early 2020. The newest customer race car replaces the very successful BMW M235i Racing and M240i Racing models in North American 2021 season competition.

The BMW M2 CS Racing offers the best setup for successful entry into motorsport. The new customer racing car is powered by a BMW M TwinPower turbocharged S55 3.0-liter six-cylinder in-line engine delivering between 280 hp and 365 hp, depending on the Balance of Performance. The maximum torque of 406 lb.-ft. is transmitted by a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, upgraded with special motorsport software. Another highlight of the BMW M2 CS Racing is its engine management. As with the BMW M4 GT4, power/torque can be adjusted via power sticks which enable various performance levels to be programmed. Another variant of the BMW M2 CS Racing delivering 450 hp is also available for North American club racing.

The BMW M2 CS Racing is available for $120,000 plus $995 Destination for the 365 hp variant and $145,000 plus $995 Destination for the 450 hp variant.

More information on the M2 CS Racing customer race car can be found here.

BMW Group in America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975.  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003.  The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy based in California; technology offices in Silicon Valley and Chicago, and various other operations throughout the country.  BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center of competence for BMW X models and manufactures the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 349 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 145 BMW motorcycle retailers, 117 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers.  BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Journalist note: Information about BMW Group and its products in the USA is available to journalists on-line at www.bmwusanews.com, www.miniusanews.com and https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en.

Spartanburg, SC – July 24 2019… BMW Group Plant Spartanburg has more than doubled its capacity for battery assembly prior to the debuts of the plug-in hybrid electric variants of two of its most popular models.  The new, higher performing, fourth-generation batteries will be assembled on-site for the BMW X5 and BMW X3 plug-in hybrid electric variants.  The 2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e Sports Activity Vehicle will begin production in Spartanburg, SC, on August 1. Production of the BMW X3 xDrive30e will begin in December.    

With the expansion of the battery facility at Plant Spartanburg in the U.S., the BMW Group is following the principle of local value creation. “We have invested approximately $10 million USD to install a new battery assembly line and expanded the area to 86,000 square feet. This means we could double the number of batteries produced if needed to meet market demand,” explains Michael Nikolaides, senior vice president engines and electrified drivetrains, BMW Group. 

In addition, BMW Group has invested a further $10 million USD to support the production of the new PHEV models. 

More than 120 employees were specially trained to work the new line, having completed an extensive program in battery production, robotics and electrical inline quality inspection along with end-of-line testing.  An additional 225 vehicle assembly workers received training in the production of electrified vehicles, adding to the Plant’s already skilled staff.

 “We have assembled batteries on site at Plant Spartanburg since 2015, making BMW Group a pioneer of electromobility in the U.S.,” said Knudt Flor, president and CEO, BMW Manufacturing, Co, LLC. “The BMW X5 and X3 are currently among the best-selling BMW models in the U.S. and we anticipate that their PHEV variants will also be well-received by BMW customers.”

From 2015 – 2018, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg produced the X5 xDrive40e, the first plug-in hybrid production car from the BMW core brand.  All totaled, the plant’s battery assembly team assembled more than 45,000 batteries during this four-year period.

BMW Group Plant Spartanburg is the global center of competence for BMW Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes and produces BMW X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 models and their variants.  Since starting production 25 years ago, the plant has built more than 4.6 million BMW vehicles for the U.S. market and the world.  In 2018, data from the U.S. Department of Commerce confirmed that BMW Manufacturing was the largest automotive exporter by value for the fifth consecutive year.   

# # #

BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC is a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich, Germany, and is the global producer of the BMW X3, X3 M, X5, X5 M and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles and X4, X4 M, X6 and X6 M Sports Activity Coupes. In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW Group North American subsidiaries include sales, marketing and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America; and a design firm and technology office in California. For more information on BMW Manufacturing, visit www.bmwusfactory.com.

BMW Group in America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy based in California; technology offices in Silicon Valley and Chicago, and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center of competence for BMW X models and manufactures the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 348 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 123 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

# # #

Journalist note: BMW Plant Spartanburg information is available at www.bmwusfactory.com.  Information about BMW Group and its products in the USA is available at www.press.bmwna.com  and www.bmwusanews.com.

# # #

If you have any questions, please contact Corporate Communications:

Sky Foster, Department Manager, Corporate Communications, BMW Manufacturing Co.

Telephone: +1 864-802-5546, sky.foster@bmwmc.com

Steve Wilson, Media Communications Specialist, Corporate Communications, BMW Manufacturing Co.

Telephone: +1 864-802-5346, steve.wilson@bmwmc.com

Munich / Spartanburg. Production of the first pre-production models of the new BMW X7 Sports Activity Vehicle has commenced at the BMW Group Spartanburg plant, USA. So the countdown has started for the final twelve months leading up to the presentation of the production car at the end of 2018. Prior to this, the vehicle will undergo various tests under partially extreme conditions.

Knudt Flor, head of the BMW Group Spartanburg plant: “We are proud to produce the BMW X7 here in Spartanburg, the home of our X models. This is a very special vehicle and our employees are looking forward to yet a further member of the X family. Together with the BMW X7, a total of five BMW X models will be exported from Spartanburg to all four corners of the globe.”

Camouflage wrap conceals final look.
At the plant, the production of pre-series models serves to secure and optimise future series production. Consequently, BMW X7 pre-production models already use the same assembly line as the BMW X5 and BMW X6 production models. An especially trained team realises the series production process for new vehicle models at the plant and qualifies employees for future series production. 

The pre-production models built at the BMW Group Spartanburg plant are handed over to development department specialists, who require them for homologation, registration as well as for diverse testing purposes such as endurance tests and test drives under extreme conditions in the desert regions of Death Valley or on the ice and snow covered slopes of Scandinavia.

The pre-production model is fitted with its camouflage wrap while still at the plant. The conspicuous striped patterns are designed to help conceal the new SAV’s final look as far as possible.

Fifth series from the BMW Group Spartanburg plant.
In Spartanburg, the BMW Group produces BMW X models for the USA and the global market.
With record production figures of more than 411,000 units in 2016, Spartanburg is currently the BMW Group’s largest plant worldwide. Around 70 percent of the vehicles produced in Spartanburg are exported to 140 countries throughout the world. According to the US Ministry of Trade, the BMW Group is therefore the largest vehicle exporter in the USA measured in export value. Maximum annual production capacity stands at around 450,000 vehicles.

The BMW Group Spartanburg plant employs more than 9,000 people; a further 1,000 jobs are to be added by the year 2021. Each day, 1,400 BMW X3, X4, X5 and X6 models come off the assembly line at the Spartanburg plant; these will be complemented by a fifth series, the BMW X7, for which the Spartanburg plant is currently preparing.

To date, the BMW Group has invested eight billion US dollars in the production location and has built around 3.9 million vehicles since being taken into operation on 8 September 1994.

*Due to the pre-series vehicle status, technical details like fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, etc. will be communicated later next year.

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Christophe Koenig, Media Relations Manager BMW X Models

Phone: +49-89-382-56097, Fax: +49-89-382-20626

E-Mail: Christophe.Koenig@bmw.de

Sandra Schillmoeller, Communications BMW Group Production Network

Phone: +49-89-382-12225, Fax: +49-89-382-25878

E-Mail: Sandra.Schillmoeller@bmw.de

Internet: www.press.bmw.de

E-Mail: presse@bmw.de

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and 145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.co

Munich/Spartanburg. The BMW Group has been a committed “local player” in the US market for a quarter-century: On 23 June 1992, the BMW Group announced its decision to build its US plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Continuous expansion of the plant with extensive additions and the decision to build the successful BMW X models in Spartanburg have made the plant the largest manufacturing facility in the BMW Group production network within the space of 25 years. During the ceremony to mark the anniversary, the all-new BMW X3 rolled off the production line in Spartanburg. More than 1.5 million BMW X3 vehicles have been delivered to customers worldwide since it was first launched at the end of 2003. The new BMW X3 will be launched in fall 2017.

Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, stated at the ceremony: “The BMW Group’s success story in the US would not have been possible without the open arms and warm hearts of the people and elected officials in the great state of South Carolina and the surrounding region. Our relationship with South Carolina has been built upon decades of professionalism, mutual trust and respect – and goes far beyond just building great cars.”

The BMW Group has invested eight billion US dollars in the production location to date and produced around 3.9 million vehicles since going online on 8 September 1994. “From 2018 to 2021 we will invest further 600 million US dollars in manufacturing infrastructure for future generations of the BMW X models,” said Harald Krüger. At present, the plant is getting ready for production of the all-new BMW X7, which will be launched onto the market in late 2018.

The BMW Group produces BMW X models in Spartanburg for the US and global markets. With record production of more than 411,000 units in 2016, Spartanburg is the largest BMW Group plant worldwide. Around 1,400 BMW X3, X4, X5, and X6 vehicles come off the assembly line every working day. Maximum production capacity is 450,000 vehicles per year.

Around 70 percent of the vehicles produced in Spartanburg are exported to more than 140 countries worldwide. According to the US Department of Commerce, the BMW Group is the largest vehicle exporter from the US in terms of monetary value. In 2016, 287,700 BMW vehicles with a total value of more than 10 billion US dollars were exported from Spartanburg: 86 percent were shipped from the Port of Charleston, with the remaining 14 percent dispatched from five other ports in the Southeastern United States.

The BMW Group has 235 local suppliers in the US. In 2016, 80 percent of the BMW Group’s purchasing volume in the NAFTA area originated in the US. The US is the company’s second-largest purchasing market, after Germany, and accounts for 5.2 billion euros.

Harald Krüger: “Free trade has made this success story in the US possible. I firmly believe in free trade and open markets. It is essential for global businesses and economies around the world to flourish. We will keep investing in our people and in our business in the US. Therefore, I remain confident that our footprint and commitment will continue to grow not only in the great state of South Carolina, but also in the United States in the years to come.”

The Spartanburg plant employs more than 9,000 people. “By 2021we will create further 1,000 jobs,” stated Harald Krüger. “Training and qualifying our associates is key to our future success.” Training at the plant is based on the German dual apprenticeship training system that combines classroom learning with practical experience. In the past ten years, the BMW Group has invested more than 220 million US dollars in vocational and continued training at its Spartanburg facility, with another 200 million US dollars planned over the next five years. The training programs are run in cooperation with local colleges. The “BMW Scholars” apprenticeship program launched in 2011 is currently preparing around 100 apprentices for their careers within the plant.

According to an independent study of University of South Carolina (Moore School of Business), the nationwide economic impact of BMW Group Plant Spartanburg is 38.5 billion US dollars annually.

US sales market

In the first five months of 2017, the BMW Group delivered 137,916 BMW and MINI vehicles to customers in the US (-4.8%). Sales of Sports Activity Vehicles rose 13.8% and accounted for 46.8% of total US sales in the year to the end of May (56,233 vehicles). 37.1% of the vehicles sold in the US over the same period were produced at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg. The BMW Group retail network in the USA comprises 657 dealerships. In total, the company supports approximately 70,000 direct and indirect jobs in the US. According to an independent study of University of South Carolina (Moore School of Business), the multiplier effect results in even more than 120,000 jobs, if further 50,000 jobs outside the automotive industry are also taken into account.

Current photo material from the ceremony to mark the “BMW Group Plant Spartanburg 25^th anniversary” can be found under http://www.spartanburg.bmwpictures.de/.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Saskia Eßbauer, Business and Finance Communications, Saskia.Essbauer@bmw.de

Telephone: +49 89 382-18364

Glenn Schmidt, Head of Business and Finance Communications, glenn.schmidt@bmwgroup.com

Telephone: +49 89 382-24544

Sandra Schillmöller, Communications Production Network, Sandra.Schillmoeller@bmw.de

Telephone: +49 89 382-12225

Frank Wienstroth, Head of Communications Production Network, Frank.Wienstroth@bmw.de

Telephone: +49 89 382-54459

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

Email: presse@bmw.de

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and 145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview

Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Dr. Norbert Reithofer

Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG

Secretary Pritzker, Governor Haley, Honored guests,

The Ultimate Driving Machine drove onto the American market back in

1954 with a BMW 502. Roughly 20 years later, we opened our own Sales

Company here. At that time we sold around 18.500 cars in the US market per

year.

At the BMW Group, we have a golden rule: Production follows the market. So, it

was a very natural step for us to open our own plant here in 1994 – 20 years

after establishing our sales office. At that time, our dealers were selling 84,000

BMWs per year. Last year, the BMW Group sold more than 375,000 cars here in

the U.S.

So, for me there is no doubt at all: Our decision to come to South Carolina was

the right one. Why did we choose the Great State of South Carolina? In the

Spartanburg area, we find hard-working people, who are dedicated and highly

motivated, and who have the same driving passion that we do to make the

Ultimate Driving Machine. And here we were received by extremely open and

reliable partners at federal, regional, and state level.

It is individuals such as yourselves who have supported and encouraged us over

the years. It’s thanks to people like you that not only South Carolina, but also the

United States has become the second home of the BMW Group. It is an honor

to have you both here with us today.

We appreciate that you have both continued the tradition of building strong ties

between the States of Bavaria and South Carolina as well as between both of our countries: Germany and the USA. I am certain you agree with me: The bonds of this partnership are stronger than ever.

We are all here today to celebrate 20 years of our first full production plant

outside of Germany. But more importantly, we are here today to begin a new

chapter: to build upon a solid foundation towards a bright future. Secretary

Pritzker, it was your commitment that encouraged us in our decision to expand

our plant operations here in the United States.

In particular, I would also like to thank you for your leadership in promoting the

development of manufacturing excellence and open trade not only in the

U.S. but also in Europe and Asia. We need more free-trade advocates as yourself who fully understand the benefits that open borders offer businesses to flourish and how they in turn benefit society as a whole.

Governor Haley, the government of South Carolina welcomed us here

20 years ago. Today, I want to thank you for your continued efforts in promoting

this partnership as many former governors before you have done. Your personal

commitment to the plant has truly been appreciated. Although the Honorable

Senator Lindsey Graham could not join us today, I would like to personally

express my thanks for his strong commitment to the BMW Group here in South Carolina.

With such partners, we have become part of the fabric of this great community.

This shows exactly what can be achieved when federal, state and local

government work hand in hand with business. Look around you today: The

results of this joint effort are the plant Spartanburg, its motivated associates and

the growing communities around this site. We all are here today to open the next

chapter to our successful partnership. Spartanburg has a special place within the BMW family.

And for this very reason, I am pleased to announce that between 2014 and 2016

we are going to invest one billion dollars in this facility. This will allow

Spartanburg to increase its capacity to 450,000 cars per year.

This means 50 percent more than today and these 150,000 additional cars is

equal to a whole new plant. More importantly, Spartanburg will become the

largest plant in our global production network. A new milestone in the history of

the BMW Group. This expansion will also create 800 new jobs at Plant

Spartanburg. By the end of 2016, we plan to have 8,800 associates working

here. This will also open up new job opportunities for suppliers and continue to

benefit the whole community around Spartanburg.

I’m certain you would all agree with me that this underscores the BMW Group’s

strong commitment to the US, to South Carolina, and to our associates here at

this location. And I look to the future with confidence knowing that the BMW

Group will continue to contribute to the economy of South Carolina and play a

positive role in the future development of the region.

Today, BMW’s total contribution is valued at 16.6 billion dollars. According to a

new study from the University of South Carolina: every job held at this plant

creates 3 others somewhere else in the region. This corresponds to more than

30,000 jobs and 1.8 billion dollars in labor income for South Carolina that would

not exist otherwise.

Governor Haley, we look forward to further strengthening our partnership with

you and I am certain you will continue to support our efforts. Starting today,

Spartanburg will be building another member of the X family – cementing its role

as Center of Competence of X vehicles. Allow me to present: the all-new BMW

X4!

I firmly believe that: The new BMW X4 will enhance the tremendous success of

the X family in the premium mid-range segment. In April, we will unveil this new

X4 to the public for the first time at the New York Motor Show.

Mr. Erlacher, I know I can count on you to master the ramp-up in premium style,

ensuring the new X4 can be delivered to customers around the world from July

on. And in the near future, a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X5 will also be

produced here. This vehicle will be high-tech with maximum fuel efficiency,

setting another benchmark in the premium SAV segment. For us, that is Efficient

Dynamics 2.0.

I have been asked many times: Why don’t you offer a BMW X model beyond the 

BMW X5? And today, I’m happy to provide the answer to that question. We have

decided to develop and build a totally new X model – the new BMW X7. I

promise this SAV will also be highly fuel efficient while offering outstanding

driving performance. It will be a true BMW. And of course, this being the Center

of Competence for X models, the X7 will be produced here in Spartanburg.

At the BMW Group, just like our cars, we are never at a standstill. We are always

looking far down the road ahead. It’s this unrelenting passion that drives us. Here

in the US, we started our journey with our core brand – the Ultimate Driving

Machine.

For us, the USA is much more today:

• It is the second largest market for the BMW Group worldwide;
• It is the largest market for our brand MINI and
• It is the largest market for our brand Rolls-Royce.
• It is the second home of our Financial Services.
• It is one of the key markets for BMW Motorrad.
• It is home to 493 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce dealers. Together with

them and our direct suppliers, we employ nearly 70,000 people across

this country.

• It is the largest market for our BMW M cars.
• And it will be a major market for our BMW i cars, if not the leading one.

On a personal note, I was proud to manage this plant for several years. I always

look back with much fondest of my stay here. Through the Plant Spartanburg

and the Great State of South Carolina, I learnt a lot about this great country and

got to personally know a lot of terrific people. And it’s thanks to these people and

to you that I feel very much at home here in Spartanburg.

And I’m certain that my German colleagues who have worked in or passed

through this plant feel the same. We have all learnt to appreciate America and its

people. 20 years after opening this plant, I’m proud to say that: We at the BMW

Group feel as if we are a real part of America. I think the most appropriate

expression to convey my optimism about the future of Plant Spartanburg is to

quote the State Motto of South Carolina: While I breathe, I hope. And may that

hope for a brighter future for this region continue beyond our joint efforts today.

Harald Krueger, Member of the Board of Management, BMW Group,

Production.

Madam Secretary, Governor Haley, Distinguished guests,

The film we just saw, “World Class Production”, highlights what makes BMW

Spartanburg so special: People, Performance, Passion and Pride!

What stands out most for me is: people. It is the people who work here, every

day, who bring this plant to life.

And many of you in this room have also contributed by supporting our presence

here in the Great State of South Carolina. We are delighted to have you here

today as our guests!

Madam Secretary, last November you traveled to Munich – I have very fond

memories of your visit with us. In fact, your visit was an absolute highlight for all

of us, including our trainees.

And without a doubt: Your arrival in a BMW i8 prototype is definitely the most

spectacular entrance we have ever had at our vocational training center!

Training and qualifying our associates is key to our success. We are delighted,

Madame Secretary, that you share our belief in education. Together with the

great educational establishments here in the U.S. we have shown what learning

can achieve.

Governor Haley, your ongoing support is not only appreciated but has made a

considerable contribution to the BMW Group’s success here. We are really

proud to be part of this great state and look forward to further strengthen our

relationship in the future. Another key to our success is: performance.

In 1992 the BMW Group made the decision to start production here. Since then,

the BMW Group has invested over US$ 6.3 billion here, establishing Plant

Spartanburg as the company’s Center of Competence of X vehicles. This truly

underscores the key role the U.S. market continues to have in our overall

business development.

It also demonstrates the strength of the trust that we have built together over the

years. This trust and the commitment the state of South Carolina has shown to

us have made a tremendous contribution towards establishing BMW as the

best-selling premium car brand in the world. South Carolina has proven to be a

vital partner in our company’s continued growth and success.

What does this success look like in numbers? Since 1994, more than 2.6 million

vehicles have rolled off the assembly lines here. And the plant currently produces around 1,100 vehicles a day. Just last year, here in Spartanburg we built nearly 300,000 vehicles, making it the second largest production plant in our network.

A record year, underlying the commitment and dedication of our associates here.

Today, over 70% of Spartanburg’s total production is shipped to more than 140

countries worldwide. And we are really proud that this plant annually exports

vehicles valuing over US$ 7.5 billion – which, according to the U.S. Department

of Commerce, makes BMW the largest U.S. vehicle exporter by value to non

NAFTA countries. “Freude am Fahren” – made in America!

The associates here can be proud of what they have achieved. Of course this

level of export success can only be achieved if the right logistics infrastructure is

in place. The opening of the new inland port in Greer is a recent example of this

critical infrastructure. We are grateful that we can rely on the great support of

Secretary Bobby Hitt, South Carolina Department of Commerce.

A few weeks ago, the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ)

honored BMW Manufacturing with the 2013 Exporter of the Year Award. This is

by no means the last chapter of our success story. Plant Spartanburg has a

bright future within our global production network.

I personally have some great memories of my time in Spartanburg. And I’m not

just talking about the terrific steaks and warm hospitality I enjoyed here during

the early days!

I was here, in this plant, on September 8, 1994, when the first American-made

BMW, a 318i, rolled off the line. It is a moment I’ll never forget. It made me so

proud to work for such a great company and to have the privilege of working with such a great team here in America.

Back then, who would have thought that today, 20 years later, five different

models made in Spartanburg would be exported around the world? In those days

we were a small team, just a few hundred. Today that team has grown to around

8,000 talented people. Plant Spartanburg has contributed to strengthening the

BMW Group’s presence in the United States.

Of course a picture is worth a thousand words – here’s a film to remind us of a

few highlights long the journey so far. Showing Spartanburg’s history in pictures,

ends with new 20th anniversary branding logo – this video will projected on the

screen behind you. When we look around us today, we have achieved a great

deal together in the last 20 years!

In honor of this special moment it gives me great pleasure to present our slogan:

“20 years of driving performance”. The anniversary logo will be projected on the

screen behind and beside you when you reach this point in the speech. You

don’t need to do anything, just keep on talking and point to the new logo.

We are proud – of the people who work here. It is their passion for excellence,

which ensures that BMW cars from the United States excite and inspire

customers all over the world. It is thanks to our associates that Plant Spartanburg

is a role model within the worldwide BMW Group production network. We are

honored to have so many friends here and immensely proud to call South

Carolina our home away from home.

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More than 1.3 million X5’s made exclusively at South Carolina plant.

Spartanburg, S.C. – August 1, 2013…Production of the third-generation BMW X5 officially began today with the manufacture of dealer vehicles designed to generate excitement and sales in their region. The first, new BMW X5 is a Mineral White M50d (six-cylinder inline diesel engine with M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology). It features Exclusive Nappa Mocha leather interior and will be exported to a dealer in Eastern Europe.

“Since 1999, the X5 has been a significant contributor to the Spartanburg plant’s global success,” said BMW Manufacturing President, Josef Kerscher. “Our team will continue to build the next-generation X5 with the superior quality that our customers around the world have come to expect from South Carolina.”

The third-generation BMW X5, creator of the Sports Activity Vehicle segment and global market leader in its class, sets new standards in powerful design, luxurious spaciousness, cutting-edge versatility and efficient driving pleasure.

The new BMW X5 offers noticeable advances over its predecessor:

• Three engine variants at launch: BMW X5 xDrive50i with a new generation of the V8 petrol engine (330 kW/450 hp), BMW X5 xDrive30d with revised six-cylinder in-line diesel unit (190 kW/258 hp) and the BMW X5 M50d M Performance Automobile with tri-turbo six-cylinder in-line diesel (280 kW/381 hp). In December 2013, the BMW X5 xDrive40d, BMW X5 xDrive35i, BMW X5 xDrive25d and BMW X5 sDrive25d (with CO2 emissions of just 149 g/km) will be added to the range.

• The design proportions of the third-generation Sports Activity Vehicle are defined by a characteristic, evolutionary development of body design from the predecessor model. The front-end features a powerful, alert look, with twin circular headlight units extending into the BMW kidney grill. The new X5 reveals an elegantly stretched silhouette, eye-catching swag line over the athletically molded wheel arches, horizontal lines and taut surfaces at the rear. The vehicle’s aerodynamic properties integrate harmoniously into its overall design language, including Air Curtains, Air Breathers and Aero Blades for the rear window. Finally, the bumper’s X-shaped contour lines clearly designate it as a member of the BMW X model family.

• The new vehicle is engineered with a commitment to reducing fuel consumption and emissions through weight minimization, optimized air guidance, engine technology and the standard-fitted – and extremely efficient – eight-speed automatic gearbox with additional BMW EfficientDynamics technology. It features Auto Start Stop function, ECO PRO mode including coasting function and Proactive Driving Assistant. All models have the EU6 rating.

• The new X5 is the only vehicle in its segment available with Active Steering, a technology developed by BMW, and AdaptiveDrive, a combination of Active Roll Stabilization and Electronic Damping Control, which offers greater handling capability and ride quality. It is also the first SAV fitted with run-flat tires as standard equipment.

The final second-generation X5 Sports Activity Vehicle was produced at BMW’s South Carolina plant on Friday, June 28. The Titanium Silver Metallic 4.4-liter, 400-hp V8 engine BMW X5 xDrive50i with Sand Beige Perforated Nevada Leather and M Sport Package will become part of the permanent BMW historic car collection. Between September 2006 and June 2013, the plant in Spartanburg produced 728,107 second-generation X5 models, making this model series the best-selling in the history of the plant. 

Since 1999, more than 1.3 million X5’s have been produced for global customers. The X5 Sports Activity Vehicle is produced exclusively at BMW Manufacturing Co. for distribution to more than 140 worldwide markets.

BMW Manufacturing Co.

BMW Manufacturing Co. is a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich, Germany and is the global producer of the BMW X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupe. In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW North American subsidiaries include sales, marketing and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America; and a design firm and technology office in California. For more information on BMW Manufacturing, visit www.bmwusfactory.com.

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BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975.  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003.  The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country.  BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes.  The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 139 BMW motorcycle retailers, 119 MINI passenger car dealers, and 34 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers.  BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

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Journalist note: Information about BMW Group and its products in the USA is available to journalists on-line at www.bmwusanews.com and www.press.bmwna.com.

Spartanburg, S.C. – June 8, 2010… BMW's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina recorded another milestone in their 15 year history as the 1 millionth BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle® rolled off the production line today at BMW Manufacturing Co.  The Black Sapphire X5 xDrive 35i with Cinnamon Brown Nevada Leather interior is bound for a customer in China.

This is a significant achievement for the BMW Group’s only U.S. manufacturing facility at a time when the manufacturer is just months away from completing a $750 million expansion to prepare for production of the next generation BMW X3.

The BMW X5, which was originally launched in Spartanburg in 1999 as the first vehicle in the Sports Activity segment, has laid the cornerstone for BMW as the most successful premium vehicle manufacturer in the SAV/SUV segment during its 11-year history. This commitment to continuous improvement has resulted in numerous accolades for the vehicle's design, quality and safety. In 2000, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) declared the BMW X5 to be the safest vehicle ever to be crash-tested. In 2007, the BMW X5 received a gold award in the J.D. Power customer satisfaction study in North America. In 2007 and 2008, the X5 received the "Top Safety Pick Award" for outstanding crash test results from the IIHS. During this timeframe, approximately 60% of all X5’s produced at the Spartanburg facility have been exported to over 120 markets around the world. 

“The success of the X5 is directly attributable to the designers of the vehicle, our parts suppliers and the many dedicated and hard working associates who continue to come together and create such a special vehicle," said Mr. Josef Kerscher, President of BMW Manufacturing during a brief ceremony at the end of the production line.  The 1 millionth X5 coming off the assembly line today was ordered by a customer in China and will soon be shipped to the Port of Charleston to begin its journey overseas.
 
Joining Mr. Kerscher at today’s event were Secretary of Commerce Joseph E. Taylor and South Carolina State Ports Authority boardmember Richard Hagins. Unable to join the event, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham praised BMW’s commitment to America by growing its presence in South Carolina and exporting South Carolina-made BMW’s throughout the world. “It tells me, and should tell all South Carolinians, that world-class manufacturing in our state is not only doable, but that it can lead our economic recovery efforts,” said Senator Graham.  “This is a day of great pride for all South Carolinians and the BMW family.  It is a testament to the quality of the SC workforce, the supply chain, and to BMW, one of the greatest automobile manufacturers in the world.  Now, one million X5s later, BMW is one of the great business success stories in the history of South Carolina.  This milestone gives us hope for the future and is a positive sign that through world-class manufacturing our state will prosper will in the years ahead.”

BMW Manufacturing began production in 1994 as the first European manufacturer to successfully build and operate a plant in the U.S. The factory celebrated its 15th anniversary in South Carolina last September and has produced approximately 1.6 million vehicles since that time. Recently, plant officials, also acknowledged that it has exported over 1 million vehicles from its Greer campus during this time span.

BMW Manufacturing Co.
BMW Manufacturing Co. is a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich, Germany and is the global producer of the BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle and X6 Sports Activity Coupe. In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW North American subsidiaries include sales, marketing and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America; and a design firm and technology office in California. For more information on BMW Manufacturing, visit www.bmwusfactory.com.

The BMW Group
With its three brands – BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce – the BMW Group is one of the world’s most successful premium manufacturers of cars and motorcycles. It operates internationally with 24 production sites in 13 countries and a global sales network with representation in more than 140 countries. During the financial year 2009, the BMW Group sold approximately 1.29 million cars and more than 87,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for 2009 was euro 413 million, revenues totalled euro 50.68 billion. At 31.December 2009, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 96,000 employees.

Long-term thinking and responsible action have long been the foundation of the BMW Group’s success. Striving for ecological and social sustainability along the entire value-added chain, taking full responsibility for our products and giving an unequivocal commitment to preserving resources are prime objectives firmly embedded in our corporate strategies. For these reasons, the BMW Group has been sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the last five years.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:  www.bmwgroupna.com

Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address: www.press.bmwna.com.  Additional information, images and video may be found at www.bmwusanews.com.  Broadcast quality video footage is available via The NewsMarket at www.thenewsmarket.com.
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1. Source of innovation. 25 years of BMW (Forschung und) Technik GmbH. (summary version)

2. Making the force of innovation tangible. The concept vehicles of BMW Technik GmbH.

BMW Z1:  First project becomes an immediate legend.

BMW Z1 Coupé: The base for the platform concept.

BMW E1: premiere in the sphere of electric vehicles.

BMW Z13: an interior concept that breaks the mould of convention.

BMW Z18: The first off-road roadster.

BMW Z21: fascinating driving fun Just 4/2.

BMW Z22: a masterpiece in mechatronic design.

BMW Z29: driving machine made from Formula 1 materials.

3. The future of sheer driving pleasure. Efficient Dynamics – from research to road.

Fuel-cell hybrid technology for emission-free mobility in city traffic.

BMW has been developing fuel-cell technology since 1997.

APU supplies the on-board power – and also provides drive energy for the first time.

Reformer technology: fewer emissions during cold start.

Synthesis gas obtained from liquid fuel is free of residues.

Hybrid concepts: More efficiency, more driving pleasure – right from the start.

Development of hybrid technology since the 1990s.

Option for the future, available now owing to intensive research: hydrogen as fuel.

4. More driving pleasure, comfort and safety through smart networking. Connected Drive – a dynamic concept with fascinating perspectives.

Strategic support in demanding driving situations: the narrow-passage assistant.

Automated driving in hazard situations: the emergency stop assistant.

Optimised vehicle localisation: with the TrackTrainer on the North Loop of the Nürburgring.

Independent manoeuvring in very tight spaces: the garage parker.

Networking is the future: vehicle-to-vehicle communication for enhanced safety and efficiency.

Research project for innovative control systems: Drive Stick.

From sailing to vehicle: optimised head-up display technology.

Identification and integration of new technologies as a recipe for success: BMW ConnectedDrive Services with unique, world-class functionality.

Innovative services for alternative drive concepts.

BMW Key: Additional functions through networking.