BMW Manufacturing's 2011 Export Value Surges Past $7 Billion
March 1, 2012
Becomes Largest U.S. Automotive Exporter to the World.
SPARTANBURG, SC – March 1, 2012 – BMW ManufacturingCo. announced that the export value of its passenger vehiclesthrough the Port of Charleston in 2011 totaled $7.4 Billion, confirmingthe company’s South Carolina facility as the leading U.S. automotiveexporter. According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, thisaccomplishment represents a 68% increase over BMW’s 2010 value. In2011, over 192,000 vehicles were exported from its South Carolina plant.
Mr. Josef Kerscher, President of BMW Manufacturing, stated that “sincethe plant’s production grew 73% in 2011, the plant’s year-end exportvalue proves the company’s significant contribution to the U.S. balanceof trade and strengthens its position as the leading provider of premiumvehicles.”
The company currently produces more than 1,000 vehicles each day and isthe exclusive exporter of passenger vehicles through the Port ofCharleston to more than 130 global markets. In January, the plantannounced that its volume would increase to 300,000 for 2012 and theywould hire 300 new jobs. By the end of 2014, the South Carolina facilitywill add a new model, the BMW X4, and increase capacity to 350,000units.
Governor Nikki Haley applauded the economic success, saying “BMWcontinues to offer an economic boost for our State and the region.Today’s announcement validates that the U.S. automotive industry isthriving in South Carolina.”
“BMW vehicles manufactured in South Carolina continue to be a majorcontributor to the Port of Charleston’s overall success,” added JimNewsome, President & CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority.“Consistently strong global sales have driven BMW’s volume growth at theport, and we’ve completed significant improvements to Columbus StreetTerminal in anticipation of the ever-rising demand for their product.”
“This is an exciting achievement, not only for BMW, but for SouthCarolina as a whole. It’s been a great journey to witness therevitalization of the manufacturing sector in our State,” said BobbyHitt, South Carolina Secretary of Commerce.
The plant originally began vehicle production in 1994. In the last 17years, BMW has produced over two million vehicles and, today, exportsabout 70% of the BMW X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles as well as theX6 Sports Activity Coupe. In 2010, the plant’s export value was $4.4Billion.
Photo: In 2011, more than 192,000 BMW Sports Activity Vehicles built at BMWManufacturing in Spartanburg, SC, were exported from the Port ofCharleston.
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC is a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich, Germanyand is the global producer of the BMW X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehiclesand X6 Sports Activity Coupe. In addition to the South Carolinamanufacturing facility, BMW Group North American subsidiaries includesales, marketing and financial services operations in the United States,Canada and throughout Latin America; and a design firm and technologyoffice 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 since1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to includemarketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brandof motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and theRolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic designconsultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley andvarious other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co.,LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturingnetwork and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Groupsales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 339BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 139 BMWmotorcycle retailers, 111 MINI passenger car dealers, and 32 Rolls-RoyceMotor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s salesheadquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, NewJersey.
Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com.
