The German automaker will produce six fully electric models in the US by 2030, with local battery production starting in South Carolina.
BMW has completed a $1.7bn expansion of its South Carolina operations, including upgrades to plant Spartanburg and the new plant Woodruff. The investment will enable production of the BMW iX5, the company’s first fully electric vehicle built in the US, starting before the end of 2026.
Plant Spartanburg, BMW’s global hub for X models, will introduce five drivetrain options for the redesigned X5, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell power. The site has produced over 7.3 million vehicles since 1994, exporting nearly three million units worth $113bn to date.
The expansion supports BMW’s goal of building at least six fully electric models in the US by 2030, with high-voltage batteries produced locally at plant Woodruff. The company’s US footprint spans 30 sites across 12 states, employing over 120,000 workers.