BMW Photo
BMW Manufacturing Co. in Greer's production of the X3 helped steer BMW Group in U.S. to a record sales year in 2012. Seventy percent of the Greer-produced BMW units are shipped overseas through the Charleston Port.
BMW Group reported December sales of 43,855 vehicles, an increase of 34.8 percent from the 32,545 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago.
The X3 sales increased 26.6 percent to 35,173 units in 2012. Other best performing vehicles for 2012 included the 5 Series, up 10.3 percent to 56,798 units and the 6 Series, up 110.3 percent to 8,208 units.
“To turn months of critically short supply into the best year ever for the BMW Group in the U.S. is a monumental achievement, emphasizing what a customer-oriented dealer network with an agile logistics team can do,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “The post-recession sales momentum that started in 2010 reached an unprecedented level in December, making us strongly confident and optimistic as we enter 2013.”
Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 39.4 percent in December for a total of 37,399 compared to 26,834 vehicles sold in December 2011. For the year, BMW brand sales were up 13.5 percent to 281,460 vehicles compared to 247,907 sold 2011.
Last January BMW Manufacturing Co. announced a $900 million investment, and revealed the production of the new X4 that would will create 300 jobs. The X4's design is scheduled to be announced this year.