BMW Completes $1.7B U.S. Plant Investment, to Launch First Locally Built All-Electric iX5 by Year-End

BMW Group has completed a total investment of USD 1.7 billion in its manufacturing facility in South Carolina, USA, to support localized production of fully electric vehicles. The expansion of the Spartanburg main plant and the construction of the new Woodruff factory have both been finalized. By the end of this year, BMW will begin production of the all-electric iX5 SUV at this site—the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle to be manufactured locally in the United States. By 2030, BMW plans to assemble at least five fully electric models in the U.S. The Spartanburg plant is BMW’s largest global production facility for complete vehicles, with an annual output of approximately 400,000 units—about half of which are exported, primarily to Europe and other overseas markets. On June 16, the European Parliament passed a proposal to lower tariffs on several U.S. imported goods, a move expected to benefit exports of BMW vehicles produced in the U.S. to Europe. The iX5 is the all-electric variant of the X5, one of BMW’s best-selling models worldwide. In the U.S. market, the iX5 starts at slightly under USD 70,000 and offers a maximum range of up to 845 kilometers (WLTP). BMW also plans to launch a hydrogen fuel cell version of the X5, although demand for hydrogen-powered vehicles remains low in the U.S. market at present. BMW continues to pursue a multi-powertrain production strategy encompassing gasoline, diesel, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cell technologies. While some automakers have adjusted or scaled back their EV plans, BMW maintains a flexible approach.