- In 2024, BMW exported almost 225,000 SUVs from its South Carolina plant.
- Key models built in the US include the X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, and the flagship XM.
- The brand has invested more than $14.8B into its Spartanburg plant since 1992.
When you think of American car companies, names like Ford, GM, Stellantis and Tesla probably come to mind. Yet when it comes to the value of exported vehicles (not the sheer number of exports), none of these companies hold a candle to one foreign automaker. That title belongs to Germany’s BMW, thanks to its massive production facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce reveals that BMW’s South Carolina facility exported nearly 225,000 SUVs and crossovers last year, with a total value exceeding $10 billion to international markets. These vehicles are primarily shipped from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Maryland. But where exactly are they going?
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BMW says that the majority of the vehicles it exports from the US are sold in Germany, South Korea, China, Canada, and the UK, but they also ship to 115 other countries. Although BMW is a German brand, this South Carolina facility is its largest single plant in the world. Since its opening in 1994, it has assembled over 2.7 million vehicles, which makes up around 63% of BMW’s total production. In total, these exports are valued at more than $104 billion.
In 2024 alone, the Spartanburg plant built 396,117 vehicles, with nearly half of those sold domestically. Among the models rolling off the line are the BMW X3, X4, X4 M, X5, X5 M, X6, X6 M, X7, and XM SUVs. Since 1992, BMW has invested over $14.8 billion into the Spartanburg facility, and the results speak for themselves.
“When the first BMW rolled off the assembly line in 1994, it was the beginning of a great legacy for Plant Spartanburg in the United States. Our dedicated associates have assembled nearly seven million BMWs, and because of our export success, millions of customers around the world experience the innovative technology and premium quality of our X vehicles,” said Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “Our achievement as the country’s leading automotive exporter demonstrates BMW’s trusted partnership with this state and our continued commitment to the United States.”
