Photo: BMW
BMW announced on Friday that the US-based Spartanburg plant will become the company’s biggest, raising its estimated output by 50% from 300,000 units per year to 450,000, overtaking the Dingolfing one in Germany by nearly 100,000 units.
However, according to a BMW spokesman speaking for Automotive News, the powertrains will still be built in Germany and then shipped out to the US.
"The long-rumored engine plant for Spartanburg remains just that, a rumor. Engines are the heart and soul of our company and our cars. After all, engines are our middle name - Bayerische Motoren Werke,” said the BMW spokesperson.
Such a decision shows, once again, that BMW will never cut back on its powertrain quality, the one thing that made them who they are today. According to IHS Automotive analyst, Joe Langley, that’s what makes the difference between the Germans and their Asian rivals in the US:
"[The Germans] are keeping the core of the brand -- powertrains -- homegrown in Germany and in the surrounding area in Europe. Mercedes, too. They haven't been so keen on building an engine facility in North America,” he said.
Furthermore, by keeping the status quo, the German giant will also keep providing a huge amount of jobs to the nearby areas in Bavaria alongside creating even more, to keep up with the increased production levels. However, with a projected plan of 450,000 units per year, the Spartanburg plant will be the biggest of its kind in the US without its own engine production line.
"The long-rumored engine plant for Spartanburg remains just that, a rumor. Engines are the heart and soul of our company and our cars. After all, engines are our middle name - Bayerische Motoren Werke,” said the BMW spokesperson.
Such a decision shows, once again, that BMW will never cut back on its powertrain quality, the one thing that made them who they are today. According to IHS Automotive analyst, Joe Langley, that’s what makes the difference between the Germans and their Asian rivals in the US:
"[The Germans] are keeping the core of the brand -- powertrains -- homegrown in Germany and in the surrounding area in Europe. Mercedes, too. They haven't been so keen on building an engine facility in North America,” he said.
Furthermore, by keeping the status quo, the German giant will also keep providing a huge amount of jobs to the nearby areas in Bavaria alongside creating even more, to keep up with the increased production levels. However, with a projected plan of 450,000 units per year, the Spartanburg plant will be the biggest of its kind in the US without its own engine production line.
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