BMW's Spartanburg Plant in South Carolina Relaunches Production, Focusing on X3 Models and Electric Vehicles for Media Tours
BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina has unveiled a new state-of-the-art press shop for the production of the new BMW X3. This investment marks a significant step forward in the plant's commitment to strengthening the local manufacturing footprint in the US.
The press shop, which covers roughly 20,000 square metres, is equipped with advanced technology that enables it to run up to 18 strokes per minute, producing more than 10,000 components daily. The press shop will be responsible for producing the X3's outer skin, including the exterior body sides, doors, side panels, and tailgate.
The blank is fed into a five-phase press line, where it is formed into the final body components using advanced servo technology. The coil line in the press shop cuts the steel rolls into individual "blanks" at up to 70 strokes per minute. A 55-ton overhead crane is used to unload large steel or aluminium coils.
The press shop's quality control process uses special lighting that mimics natural daylight for inspection. Dozens of associates from Plant Spartanburg trained at the BMW Group press shops in Swindon, UK, and Leipzig, Germany to ensure the highest standards of quality are maintained.
The investment in the new press shop has led to the creation of over 200 new jobs in various fields, including tool and die technicians, and electrical and mechanical maintenance for automated machinery. The plant currently employs more than 11,000 people in the production of various models.
After quality control, the pressed parts are stacked into containers for delivery to the body shop for further processing. Plant Spartanburg has established a closed-loop material cycle for scrap metal from the press shop, recycling and reusing approximately 60 tons of scrap daily.
This year, Plant Spartanburg celebrates 30 years of production in South Carolina, having assembled over 6.7 million BMWs during that time. The new BMW X3 will be released onto the market in autumn 2024. After 30 years of production, the plant is further expanding its commitment, preparing for the launch of fully-electric Sports Activity Vehicles in late 2026.
Between now and 2030, at least six fully-electric models will ramp up at the US plant. The high-voltage batteries for the electric SUVs produced in Spartanburg from 2026 will be supplied by LG Energy Solution. The BMW Group is also setting up an assembly for sixth-generation batteries in nearby Woodruff.
The BMW Group has invested more than $200 million to construct the press shop, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the region and the production of high-quality vehicles. The innovative new press shop contributes to strengthening the local manufacturing footprint in the US, providing jobs and driving economic growth in the area.
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