From left, Dr. Robert Englehorn, President and CEO of BMW Manufacturing, Senator Lindsey Graham, Governor Henry McMaster and Milan Nedeljković, CEO of BMW Group, gather during the Home of X event at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Spartanburg, S.C. (Jason Walle/AP Content Services for BMW of North America)
BMW Group has completed a $1.7 billion investment in its South Carolina operations, strengthening the company’s Spartanburg County manufacturing campus and preparing for the future of electric vehicle production.
The milestone was celebrated at the company’s “Home of X” event at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, where officials highlighted the completion of expansions at Plant Spartanburg and the construction of Plant Woodruff, a facility focused on high-voltage battery assembly.
The event also featured the world premiere of the fifth-generation BMW X5. BMW announced that the fully electric BMW iX5 will become the first battery-electric BMW assembled in the United States, with production scheduled to begin in late 2026.
“For more than three decades, BMW has been part of the Spartanburg County community, and this investment reinforces South Carolina’s role in our global operations,” said company officials.
Plant Spartanburg, BMW’s largest manufacturing facility worldwide, has produced more than 7.3 million vehicles since opening in 1994 and serves as the company’s global center for BMW X model production.
The new X5 will be produced with five drivetrain options, including gasoline, plug-in hybrid, diesel, battery electric and future hydrogen fuel cell technology. BMW said the plant will be the first in its global production network capable of building a single model with multiple drivetrain technologies on one assembly line.
The company also highlighted advances in digital manufacturing, including artificial intelligence, automation and virtual planning systems being implemented at both Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff.
BMW’s Upstate operations include more than 11,000 employees and support a network of suppliers across South Carolina and beyond.
