Thread: BMW adding 300 jobs to plant in South Carolina

Jan 12, 2012

BMW adding 300 jobs to plant in South Carolina

By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY Updated 9m ago

The largest BMW plant in the world isn't in Germany. It's going to be in South Carolina.

In a big economic boost, BMW announced today that the company will invest nearly $900 million and add 300 new jobs in 2012 in its Spartanburg plant. The announcement came at a ceremony to note that the plant has built 2 million vehicles since it opened in 1994.

The plant makes BMW's line of crossover, which is going to be expanded starting with an X4 sandwiched between the X3 and X5.

"With this investment, we will be able to produce 350,000 units here in the mid-term," said Frank-Peter Arndt, BMW's production chief. "This is one reaction to the rising global demand for our BMW X Models."

With the addition of the new jobs this year the plant will raise production capacities up to 300,000 vehicles a year. It will employ nearly 7,500 people by the end of the year. BMW says it has invested nearly $6 billion in the state to date.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, speaking at the ceremony, said, "BMW has once again provided tremendous evidence that South Carolina is a blueprint for significant economic development success. The partnership between this company and our State is an enduring example of how to attract, retain and grow business to stimulate perpetual job creation."

Last year, the plant produced 276,065 vehicles for over 130 markets around the world representing a 73% increase versus 2010. Seventy percent of the vehicles produced were exported making BMW the largest automotive exporter to the non-NAFTA countries.

The 2 millionth vehicle to roll off the line in Spartanburg was a Vermillion Red Metallic X3 xDrive35i driven by BMW Associate Terry Gardner, a 16-year BMW veteran. The vehicle featured Oyster Nevada interior and an M Sport Package.

BMW adding 300 jobs to plant in South Carolina

Well, finally-some GOOD news for Americans concerning jobs being shipped overseas...TO, and not FROM America for a change!!