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      03-28-2014, 12:17 PM   #1
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Post Official: BMW X7 and $1B Spartanburg Investment Announced

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Official: BMW X7 and Spartanburg Expansion Confirmed
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BMW Group Expands its Commitment in the USA

Commits US $1 Billion investment by 2016; Extends X family with new BMW X7; Increases plant capacity 50% up to 450,000 vehicles; Creates 800 new jobs; Starts production of the new BMW X4; Celebrates 20 years of production in the USA.

Spartanburg, South Carolina – March 28, 2014 1:00pm EDT/10:00am PDT…Celebrating 20 years of production in the USA, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW Group, today announced plans to invest US$ 1 billion in the company’s South Carolina plant: “We will expand the plant’s annual production capacity by 50% up to 450,000 vehicles by the end of 2016. Today’s capacity is around 300,000 vehicles. This investment will also create an additional 800 jobs, increasing the total workforce to 8,800 on site.”

At the event held at the plant, Dr. Reithofer was joined by U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker; South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley; BMW Group Board member for Production, Harald Krüger; and President of BMW Manufacturing, Plant Spartanburg, Manfred Erlacher.

BMW X7 to be built at Plant Spartanburg

The additional investment will be used to increase capacity, which is necessary to meet strong global demand for BMW X models. “Plant Spartanburg was built to enhance and expand the BMW line-up, underscoring the BMW Group commitment to the United States” said Dr. Norbert Reithofer. “In addition to the X3, X5, X6, and the new X4, we are today announcing another all-new, larger X model to be manufactured exclusively at this plant for our world markets: the X7.”

Harald Krüger, Board of Management member for Production explained the important role of the US for the BMW Group production strategy: “The BMW Group strives for a good balance of growth among all markets and continents. The Spartanburg plant is an important building block in our international network of 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries today and makes a vital contribution to profitable, globally-balanced growth.”

He continued: “Our US plant is the best example of our successful strategy of ‘production follows the market’. The state of South Carolina has supported us as a valuable and reliable partner throughout our 20-year involvement in the region – making the United States our second home.”

BMW Group in Spartanburg: largest U.S. automobile exporter

Norbert Reithofer: “We are expanding BMW Plant Spartanburg as our center of competence for production of BMW X models and broadening our product portfolio. This expansion means Spartanburg will have the largest production capacity of any plant in our global production network. This plant already exports, on average, 70% of its annual production with a 2013 value of more than US$ 7.5 billion which, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, makes BMW the largest U.S. vehicle exporter to non-NAFTA countries.”

Since production began 20 years ago, in 1994, the Spartanburg plant has produced over 2.6 million vehicles for BMW customers around the world. Currently the BMW X3, X5, X5 M, X6 and X6 M are all produced at the plant. The event also celebrated the start of production of the all-new BMW X4. In the near future, a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X5 will also be produced here.

BMW Group economic impact on South Carolina

In addition to its large-scale capital investments, a new study just released by the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, reports that the BMW Group has a US$ 16.6 billion annual impact on the state economy. Its presence in South Carolina supports more than 30,000 jobs throughout the state.

The study found that for every job created at the BMW plant, an additional three jobs are created elsewhere in South Carolina through the economic multiplier effect.

“This is the fifth expansion since production began 20 years ago and represents another major investment,” said Manfred Erlacher, President and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “The increase in annual capacity, the number of models produced, and the number of jobs on site, reinforce the major role BMW is playing in the region’s economic vitality through technological innovation, environmental stewardship, and development of a highly skilled workforce.”

In 2013, a total of 297,326 vehicles were manufactured in Spartanburg, with 1,100 vehicles currently produced per working day. Total employment at the site reached 8,000 in March 2014.


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All New BMW X4

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      03-28-2014, 12:23 PM   #2
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Great news!
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      03-28-2014, 12:23 PM   #3
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Yes!!! X7!!!
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      03-28-2014, 12:24 PM   #4
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Very Cool Indeed
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      03-28-2014, 12:25 PM   #5
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Looking forward to adding an X7 to the family as long as there is a proper third row.
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      03-28-2014, 12:26 PM   #6
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Good for them that the Pontiac Aztek design is working so well for their sales. Yeesh.
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      03-28-2014, 12:28 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason View Post
". . . we are today announcing another all-new, larger X model to be manufactured exclusively at this plant for our world markets: the X7.”
It seems Dr. Reithofer forgot to mention when the X7 would be coming out and forgot to provide any pictures! Probably 2017/18?
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      03-28-2014, 12:30 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skiborsy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason View Post
". . . we are today announcing another all-new, larger X model to be manufactured exclusively at this plant for our world markets: the X7.
It seems Dr. Reithofer forgot to mention when the X7 would be coming out and forgot to provide any pictures! Probably 2017/18?
+1

Maybe it's too big to photograph
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      03-28-2014, 12:30 PM   #9
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Sweet!

That X4 profile looks amazing
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      03-28-2014, 12:31 PM   #10
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AWESOME - finally the X7!
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      03-28-2014, 12:32 PM   #11
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Another X series SUV? Meh..
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      03-28-2014, 12:35 PM   #12
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Pretty darn cool. Couldn't care less about the X7, but at least they're investing here in the States. We sure need it. Thank you BMW
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      03-28-2014, 12:39 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spuntyb View Post
Good for them that the Pontiac Aztek design is working so well for their sales. Yeesh.
Aztek comments never get old do they

X4 looks good, not practical, but looks good and those buying it will give the same statement to the world as X6 buyers, a big F YOU, I like it and will buy what I damn well please.
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      03-28-2014, 12:40 PM   #14
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X7 price start will be $70K lol

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      03-28-2014, 12:42 PM   #15
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awesome news
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      03-28-2014, 12:43 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bear From Jax
Pretty darn cool. Couldn't care less about the X7, but at least they're investing here in the States. We sure need it. Thank you BMW
+10000000
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      03-28-2014, 12:50 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mako View Post
... those buying it will give the same statement to the world as X6 buyers, a big F YOU, I like it and will buy what I damn well please.
As a two time X6 buyer, I resemble that statement!!!



Excellent news. 8800 jobs is seriously awesome for the state of South Carolina. Hopefully by that time I'll do another PCD and tour the factory again, and see them make an X7. That would be awesome.

And yes, I am sure it will have a proper third row. I also have (well my wife does, I just pay for it, hehe) a GL550 and if the X7 is designed to compete with the GL and LX, it will have a proper third row with space behind the third row for suitcases. That's how much room the GL has, it's huge.

I fully expect the X7 to out handle the GL, though.

The X4 looks great. It's a bit freaky how the side profile looks identical to the X6. The first picture of the white X4, I thought, "hey cool it's an X6" and then when I saw it from the back realized it's an X4. Great looking vehicle!

BMW FTW!!!


Last edited by ddk632; 03-28-2014 at 01:18 PM.. Reason: Added quote for clarity due to posts in between
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      03-28-2014, 12:54 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ad78 View Post
X7 price start will be $70K lol

pass!
The MB GL starts in the low $60's and goes up to the low $100's for the new GL63 AMG. This will be priced in that range. Even the Toyota Landcruiser is $80k, not even a Lexus (same to me, btw). These are the highest end SUV's you can buy. They are priced accordingly.
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      03-28-2014, 12:55 PM   #19
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So I read somewhere that the X7 will compete with an upcoming Audi Q9. Funny considering that Audi cannot even successfully deliver on a redesigned Q7 which is going on to 8 or 9 years in this generation. You know you have a problem when you have to cancel a car's design for being too ugly. Then again its the VW group. They also cancelled the earlier Bentley SUV design for being too ugly.

"Perhaps more intriguing, this is the second delay for the Q7 that’s been attributed to dissatisfaction with the SUV’s design. The Q7 was previously pushed back to accommodate changes requested by Audi’s former chief designer Wolfgang Egger. But Egger is gone, and Hackenberg and his new chief designer Marc Lichte have sent the designers back to the drawing board. They are working to take some of the aggressiveness out of the vehicle, which, according to an insider, “catered mainly to Russian tastes.”"
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      03-28-2014, 01:02 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bear From Jax
Pretty darn cool. Couldn't care less about the X7, but at least they're investing here in the States. We sure need it. Thank you BMW
Agreed.
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      03-28-2014, 01:06 PM   #21
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Information of excellence.
Welcome X7.

I just watched the video very interesting words of Dr. Reithofer .

By the way Gov. Nikki Haley is very attractive and sexy.
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      03-28-2014, 01:10 PM   #22
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Can't wait for the X7 M
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