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.

—Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW Group

The expansion will give Spartanburg the largest production capacity of any plant in the BMW Group 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. According to the US Department of Commerce, this makes BMW the largest US vehicle exporter to non-NAFTA countries, Reithofer said.

Since production began 20 years ago in 1994, the Spartanburg plant has produced more than 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.

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.