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The BMW campus in Greer gets $1 billion investment to produce electrical vehicles.
Oliver Zipse, BMW Group Chairman of the Board of Management, announced a $1.7 billion investment in its U.S. operations, including $1 billion to prepare for the production of electric vehicles at the company’s manufacturing facility in Greer, and about $700 million to build a new high-voltage battery assembly facility in Woodruff. Both locations are in Spartanburg County.
BMW also signed an agreement with Japan-based Envision AESC, which will build the battery cell plant in Woodruff.
By 2030 BMW is scheduled to build at least six fully electric models in the U.S.
“For decades, Plant Spartanburg has been a cornerstone of the global success of the BMW Group. It is he home of the BMW X models that are so popular all over the world,” Zipse said. “Going forward, it will also be a major driver for our electrification strategy, and we will produce at least six fully electric BMW X models here by 2030. That means: The ‘Home of the X’ is also becoming the ‘Home of the Battery Electric Vehicle’,” said Zipse.”
“In addition, we can showcase BMW Group’s ‘local for local’ principle: Our newly developed sixth generation battery cells, which were specifically designed for the next generation electric vehicles, will be sourced here in South Carolina – where X goes electric,” said Zipse.
Envision will produce newly developed round lithium-ion battery cells, which were specifically designed for the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology and will be used in the next generation electric vehicles. The annual capacity of the battery cell factory will be up to 30 GWh. Gigawatt hours, abbreviated as GWh, is a unit of energy representing one billion (1,000,000,000) watt hours and is equivalent to one million kilowatt hours.
The new facility will encompass over one million square feet and produce next generation batteries for fully electric vehicles, and 300 new jobs will be created on site, according to BMW.
The Greer plant produces lithium-ion battery modules for the two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles built at the plant, the BMW X3 xDrive30e and BMW X5 xDrive45e.
In 2021, nearly 70,000 electrified BMWs were built on site. .
“BMW’s sustained and impactful presence in South Carolina demonstrates the power of partnership and shared commitment to our state’s automotive industry success,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “With today’s announcement of a $1 billion expansion to Plant Spartanburg for manufacturing electric vehicles as well as $700 million for a new plant in Woodruff to assemble battery units, the road to the future is here. And I applaud BMW on helping lead the way.”
BMW was established 30 years ago, represents an investment of nearly $12 billion, employs more than 11,000, and has an annual capacity of up to 450,000 vehicles.
The Greer plant produces 11 models including the BMW X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles, four BMW M models and two plug-in hybrid electric models.
“This is a very important step for Plant Spartanburg as we continue our legacy of producing high-quality vehicles, and build on the success of the last 30 years,” said Robert Engelhorn, President and CEO, BMW Manufacturing Co. “With this latest investment, we future-proof our operations and prepare the plant for electrification and new technologies, ensuring both the long-term success of our company and our position as an attractive and viable employer in the state of South Carolina.”
BMW Manufacturing's Plant Spartanburg has produced 6 million BMW vehicles since it opened in 1994, invested $12 billion and generated 11,000 jobs. It has the capacity to manufacture 450,000 vehicles a year.