Thirty-two years after the first BMW produced in South Carolina rolled off the assembly line, the automaker introduced the next generation of its X5 at an event on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at its Upstate plant.
The new vehicle, which BMW Group CEO Milan Nedeljkovic called a "pure driver's car," will be available in five drive options: gasoline, diesel, full electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen.
The X5, classified as a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), was introduced in 1999. Production on the new model is set to begin next month.
The unveiling event featured state and local officials, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and Gov. Henry McMaster, both of whom praised the economic benefits that the automaker has brought to the state.
"Thank you to BMW for choosing us 30 years ago," Graham said. "This is one the best partnerships in the history of South Carolina. ... What you saw in us, we did not see in ourselves 30 years ago."
Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing, praised the workers who produce the vehicles, the state of South Carolina, and the Greenville-Spartanburg community in particular for the company's accomplishments since locating here in the 1990s.
"Our success is inseparable from this region," Engelhorn said.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here