Two Plants, One Network
The investment strategy for South Carolina was initially revealed in 2022, and Milan Nedeljković, Chairman of the Board of Management at BMW AG, reiterated this pledge during the Home of X event. “Today, we are fulfilling that pledge,” he remarked. “The completion of our investments in Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff illustrates our trust in the United States and strengthens South Carolina’s position at the core of BMW Group’s worldwide operations.”Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff are now functioning as a cohesive production network instead of independent units. Spartanburg continues to be recognized as the global center of expertise for BMW X models, a status it has maintained since its establishment in 1994. The new Woodruff facility specializes in electrification, specifically assisting in the production of fully electric X models alongside the current production lines in Spartanburg.The Numbers Behind Spartanburg
Spartanburg is BMW’s largest manufacturing site worldwide, having produced over 7.3 million vehicles since 1994. In 2025, the facility manufactured 412,799 X models, marking the seventh consecutive year it exceeded 400,000 units. Nearly half of the vehicles manufactured are sent to about 120 countries, reinforcing BMW's position as the top automotive exporter in the United States by value. Almost 3 million BMWs have been shipped from South Carolina, valued at over $113 billion.On a larger scale, BMW's footprint in the U.S. includes nearly 30 facilities across 12 states, more than 400 suppliers, and supports over 120,000 jobs nationwide, contributing more than $43.3 billion annually to the economy. With more than thirty years of automotive production in South Carolina, the “Home of X” initiative positions the U.S. not only as an export market but as the principal base for its X series.The iX5 Leads The Electric Push
The centerpiece of the production announcement is the iX5, which BMW has confirmed will be the first fully electric BMW produced in the United States, with production scheduled to start in late 2026. This timeline aligns with the launch of the new fifth-generation X5, which will provide five distinct drivetrain options, including the electric iX5. Spartanburg will be the first facility in BMW’s global network equipped to manufacture a single model featuring five different drivetrain technologies on one production line, showcasing exceptional manufacturing adaptability.Since its introduction in 1999, the X5 has sold over 3 million units globally, effectively defining the premium SUV category. Roughly one-third of those sales have originated in the U.S., making the choice to produce the next generation, including the electric model, in South Carolina a strategic decision to serve BMW’s largest X5 market while also highlighting the company's dedication to electrification.BMW Group has completed a $1.7 billion investment in its operations in South Carolina, finalizing the expansion of Plant Spartanburg and the creation of a new facility in Woodruff. The company commemorated this milestone with a “Home of X” event in Spartanburg, which also marked the global premiere of the fifth-generation BMW X5.
Two Plants, One Network
The investment strategy for South Carolina was initially revealed in 2022, and Milan Nedeljković, Chairman of the Board of Management at BMW AG, reiterated this pledge during the Home of X event. “Today, we are fulfilling that pledge,” he remarked. “The completion of our investments in Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff illustrates our trust in the United States and strengthens South Carolina’s position at the core of BMW Group’s worldwide operations.”
Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff are now functioning as a cohesive production network instead of independent units. Spartanburg continues to be recognized as the global center of expertise for BMW X models, a status it has maintained since its establishment in 1994. The new Woodruff facility specializes in electrification, specifically assisting in the production of fully electric X models alongside the current production lines in Spartanburg.
The Numbers Behind Spartanburg
Spartanburg is BMW’s largest manufacturing site worldwide, having produced over 7.3 million vehicles since 1994. In 2025, the facility manufactured 412,799 X models, marking the seventh consecutive year it exceeded 400,000 units. Nearly half of the vehicles manufactured are sent to about 120 countries, reinforcing BMW’s position as the top automotive exporter in the United States by value. Almost 3 million BMWs have been shipped from South Carolina, valued at over $113 billion.
On a larger scale, BMW’s footprint in the U.S. includes nearly 30 facilities across 12 states, more than 400 suppliers, and supports over 120,000 jobs nationwide, contributing more than $43.3 billion annually to the economy. With more than thirty years of automotive production in South Carolina, the “Home of X” initiative positions the U.S. not only as an export market but as the principal base for its X series.
The iX5 Leads The Electric Push
The centerpiece of the production announcement is the iX5, which BMW has confirmed will be the first fully electric BMW produced in the United States, with production scheduled to start in late 2026. This timeline aligns with the launch of the new fifth-generation X5, which will provide five distinct drivetrain options, including the electric iX5. Spartanburg will be the first facility in BMW’s global network equipped to manufacture a single model featuring five different drivetrain technologies on one production line, showcasing exceptional manufacturing adaptability.
Since its introduction in 1999, the X5 has sold over 3 million units globally, effectively defining the premium SUV category. Roughly one-third of those sales have originated in the U.S., making the choice to produce the next generation, including the electric model, in South Carolina a strategic decision to serve BMW’s largest X5 market while also highlighting the company’s dedication to electrification.
