BMW Plant Spartanburg has marked its thirtieth anniversary with the opening of a state-of-the-art press store, simply in time for the upcoming launch of the new BMW X3. This new facility will deal with the manufacturing of the X3’s outer pores and skin, together with its exterior physique sides, doorways, facet panels, and tailgate.
Throughout a ceremony in Spartanburg, Milan Nedeljković, BMW AG Board of Administration member liable for Manufacturing, emphasised the plant’s pivotal position within the firm and the promising future forward. “After 30 years of profitable manufacturing, we’re additional increasing our dedication. In late 2026, manufacturing of fully-electric Sports activities Exercise Automobiles will get underway right here in Spartanburg – an extra step in the direction of strengthening our world resilience,” stated Nedeljković.
BMW has invested over $200 million in establishing the 20,000-square-meter press store, which took beneath two years from preparation to stamping the primary components. This funding has created greater than 200 new jobs in numerous fields, together with software and die technicians, and electrical and mechanical upkeep for automated equipment. Dozens of associates from Plant Spartanburg educated at BMW Group press outlets within the UK and Germany to arrange for this launch.
By 2030, at the least six fully-electric fashions will probably be produced on the US plant. Excessive-voltage batteries for these autos will probably be equipped from a brand new meeting facility in close by Woodruff, the place BMW is establishing a unit for sixth-generation batteries.
Excessive-Tech Press Store Produces As much as 10,000 Components Every day
The press store begins the automotive manufacturing course of, dealing with giant metal or aluminum coils unloaded from vans utilizing a 55-ton overhead crane. These coils are minimize into blanks, that are then fed right into a five-phase press line for forming into last physique elements.
Geared up with cutting-edge servo know-how, the press line ensures excessive effectivity and precision. An overhead crane strikes the proper press software into every station, and robot-like automation know-how, generally known as the “crossbar feeder,” transfers blanks between stations. Able to working as much as 18 strokes per minute, the road can produce over 10,000 elements day by day.
As soon as stamped, components endure high quality management inspection utilizing particular lighting that mimics pure daylight, earlier than being stacked into containers for supply to the physique store. The plant additionally has a closed-loop materials cycle for scrap metallic, gathering as much as 60 tons of scrap day by day for recycling and reuse.
Almost Seven Million BMWs in 30 Years
Since its inception, Plant Spartanburg has assembled greater than 6.7 million BMWs. The plant employs over 11,000 folks and manufactures greater than 1,500 autos day by day, making it considered one of BMW Group’s largest services globally. The campus options three physique outlets, two paint outlets, and two meeting halls, and generates about 20% of its energy from recycled methane fuel and makes use of hydrogen gas cell know-how for logistics autos.
