Page Overview: Economic Impact
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Economic impact.

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Economic impact.

BMW's economic Impact in the United States and South Carolina.

BMW is proud of its commitment and economic impact in the U.S. Since 1992, BMW has invested nearly $13.3 billion in construction, equipment and other capital expenditures, and the Spartanburg plant has gone through six major expansions. The seventh major expansion was announced on October 19, 2022- a $1.7 billion investment to prepare the plant for the assembly of electric vehicles and to build a high-voltage battery assembly plant in Woodruff, SC. Currently, the physical size of BMW Plant Spartanburg is approximately 8.0 million square feet with two body shops, two paint shops, two assembly halls, and several logistics centers. 

Approximately 70 percent of the steel and aluminum used in assembling BMW’s at the plant is produced in the United States. About 60 percent of the Spartanburg plant's vehicles are exported to 120 markets worldwide. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the BMW Group is one of the largest automotive exporters by value from the U.S. with a total export value of about $10.1 Billion in 2023. The number of BMWs exportd totaled 225,276.

In 2017, a study by the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School Of Business showed that the annual economic impact of BMW Manufacturing on the United States totaled $38.5 billion. This corresponds to approximately 103,921 U.S. jobs. The annual economic impact of BMW (marketing, sales, financial services, and the assembly plant) on the United States totaled $43.3 billion. This figure reflects the dollar value representing all final goods and services produced across the U.S. that can be attributed (either directly or indirectly) to BMW. This impact corresponds to 120,855 U.S. jobs that would not exist otherwise. 

While nearly 89 percent of BMW’s total impact on the U.S. comes from its South Carolina assembly plant, BMW also has several marketing, sales and financial service organizations that contribute to its national economic footprint. These include facilities located in Ohio, Utah, Illinois, California and the BMW of North America headquarters in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. 

Nowhere are the effects felt more strongly than in the Upstate of South Carolina where quality jobs, revenue generation, and investment are helping lay the foundation for an even brighter future. Originally projected to provide 2,000 jobs, BMW Manufacturing now has 11,000 jobs on site. 

In 2022, a study by the Universtiy of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business showed that BMW Manufacturing has an annual economic impact of $26.7 billion in the state, which reflects all goods and servcies produced directly and indirectly.  Plant Spartanburg supports, both directly and indirectly, 42,935 jobs across the state along with $3.1 billion in wages and salaries. The plant's direct employment base accounts for 4.8 percent of all manufacturing jobs across South Carolina. BMW Manufacturing regularly uses more than 500 South Carolina suppliers, 90 percent of which are in the Upstate. With the large-in-state supplier base, BMW has a uniquely high employment multiplier of 3.5. This means that for every 10 jobs created at Plant Spartanburg, another 25 are created elsewhere in the state, for a total of 35 jobs. 

 

Three Decades of Continued Growth.

Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. at press conference for BMW announcement of U.S. plant to be built in South Carolina.
1992 June 23, 1992:

BMW announces it will build a U.S. plant in Spartanburg – its first full assembly plant outside of Germany. $600 million investment to create 2,000 jobs and nine SC suppliers by year 2000.

First shovels of dirt and hand shake at the Plant Spartanburg groundbreaking.
1992 September 30, 1992:

Groundbreaking for Plant Spartanburg.

First BMW rolls off the line as associates gather around and celebrate by clapping.
1994 September 8, 1994:

First BMW assembled, a 318i.

Opening ceremony event with fireworks and associates on stage with first car produced.
1994 November 15, 1994:

Opening Ceremony for Spartanburg plant.

Press conference with state officials and plant president announcing the plant's first expansion.
1998 May 12, 1998:

BMW announces $600 million expansion to prepare for new BMW X5.

Press conference at the plant announcing additional investment and new jobs.
2002 September 26, 2002:

$400 million investment and 400 new jobs.

Groundbreaking for new assembly plant at press conference announcing additional invest and paint shop expansion. Associates gather around an X model as they watch with excitement.
2008 March 10, 2008:

BMW announces $750 million expansion to build a new assembly hall and expand the paint shop for the second-generation BMW X3.

Press Conference at Plant Spartanburg with governor, BMW Board Member responsible for the Global Production Network and plant president.
2012 January 12, 2012:

Announcement of another $900 million investment to expand assembly capacity to 350,000 units annually and add another model, the new BMW X4.

Press conference announcing all new vehicle, invest and increased production capacity.
2014 March 28, 2014:

BMW announces the single largest investment in Plant Spartanburg’s history – $1 Billion – an increase of assembly capacity to 450,000 units per year, an additional 800 jobs and a fifth model, the all-new BMW X7.

BMW Group Chairman of the Board of Management at press conference announcing additional invest and the addition of jobs.
2017 June 26, 2017:

Announcement of a $600 million investment to prepare the plant for the next-generation of X models and creation of 1,000 additional jobs through 2021.

Nighttime shot of BMW Zentrum Museum with X branding logo light up.
2022 October 19, 2022:

Announcement of $1.7 billion to prepare for the assembly of electric vehicles and to build a new high-voltage battery assembly facility in Woodruff, South Carolina.

  • 1992
  • 1992
  • 1994
  • 1994
  • 1998
  • 2002
  • 2008
  • 2012
  • 2014
  • 2017
  • 2022