BMW to add jobs, expand plant in South Carolina

BMW said Monday it will invest an additional $600 million to expand its South Carolina plant, creating 1,000 new jobs over the next four years.

CEO Harald Krueger’s announcement coincided with the German automaker’s celebration of 25 years of manufacturing in the state. BMW, which has already invested $8 billion in South Carolina, also unveiled its 2018 BMW X3, a compact sports vehicle expected to be available in November. It will be built at the plant in Greer alongside the BMW X4, X5 and X6.

The expansion will boost its workforce to more than 10,000 people. BMW will separately invest $200 million over five years on workforce training, Krueger said. The company touts the South Carolina plant as its largest worldwide, producing more than 411,000 X models last year. About 70 percent of BMWS made there are exported to more than 140 countries.

Last year, the plant reached a milestone with its 2 millionth exported BMW. The overwhelming majority of its exports leave through the Charleston port.

“BMW is the company that, in many ways, put South Carolina on the map when its leadership decided to build its first North American manufacturing facility” in the state a quarter century ago, said Gov. Henry Mcmaster. Others in attendance Monday included U.S.

Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina.