BMW's Spartanburg Plant Will Begin Producing Two New Models in April: Twenty-five years after the first BMW's went into production at the German auto giant's Spartanburg plant, the Upstate powerhouse continues to be a driving economic force across the state, thanks to the jobs it creates at its plant, the ones it indirectly creates through its suppliers, and those it helps support at the Inland Port of Greer and the Port of Charleston.

With an eye on continuing BMW's successful run as one of the, if not the top U.S. automotive exporter, yesterday BMW announced the addition of two new models to its Spartanburg line-up: the BMW X3 M sports activity vehicle and the BMW X4 M sports activity coupe.

“The addition of these two all-new models, plus the first-ever BMW X7, which began production last December, is a testament to the performance, passion, and pride of the more than 11,000 people working at Plant Spartanburg and serves to further underscore BMW’s commitment in the U.S.,” said Knudt Flor, President & CEO, BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in a company statement. “Since the BMW X5 was first introduced, creating the premium SAV segment in 1999, Plant Spartanburg has been BMW’s global center of competence for X models and continues to be so today.”

On the same day as the X3 M and X4 M announcement, Bernhard Kuhnt, CEO of BMW North America expressed concern about the Trump administration's threats to place tariffs on imported vehicles. In the past, President Donald J. Trump has singled out German automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz as tariff targets.

"If tariffs go up, it's not good for the consumer it's not good for our dealer network it is not good for the economy in total," said Bernhard Kuhnt, CEO of BMW North America, told CNBC on Wednesday.
"I'm not at politician, but we'll deal with the consequences," he added.

According to CNBC, the "Commerce Department is expected to deliver a report within days that many industry experts say could deem auto imports into the United States a threat to national security and seek tariffs as high as 25 percent on all vehicles imported into the U.S. The tariffs for most light vehicles is now at 2.5 percent, and there is a long-standing 25 percent tariff on imported pickup trucks."

CNBC also notes that BMW "expects to hit a near-record level of production this year of more than 400,000 vehicles."

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