German Car Zone

South Carolina recently celebrated the one millionth BMW shipped through the Port of Charleston, demonstrating the strength of a relationship that began in 1992 when the automaker broke ground in the state on its first U.S. production facility.


The millionth BMW was a right-hand drive Titanium Silver X5 sports activity vehicle destined for Great Britain.

“This milestone symbolizes the strategic partnership between BMW and the Port of Charleston,” said Bob Nitto, Vice President for Corporate Affairs at BMW Manufacturing Co.

BMW first began shipping cars through Charleston in June 1994, when 65 imports crossed the docks. The first exports began in March 1995 with 11 cars. Presently, on an average day, BMW ships more than 400 vehicles through the port.

BMW exports South Carolina-assembled X5 sports activity vehicles and Z4 Roadsters to more than 120 worldwide markets through the Port of Charleston. The company also imports 3, 5, 6, and 7 Series vehicles and MINIs for distribution to 22 states in the south and central United States. For this year, 112,000 vehicles will be imported and 75,000 will be exported.

BMW has invested $2.3 billion in its South Carolina operations and has 4,500 employees. Locating the factory in the United States has led to the creation of a North American supplier network encompassing 140 companies. Forty key suppliers are located in South Carolina, including 31 who chose to place new North American operations in the state to partner with BMW.

Source: GCF

Man that boat comes to out harbor here in gothenburg sometimes.. its large as hell..

PS
Congrats to BMW..

Spartanburg only makes Z4 and X5 yet they are going strong. Hope to work there this summer or next, especially now that there's going to be the Z4 Coupe and the new X5.

Spartanburg sound german for me, is there german-americans there ??

Spartanburg is the name of a city in South Carolina, America, where the BMW plant is situated

That ship really does look like a wall, its crazy, nice X5 too...

1 Millionth huh... just keep them coming, we'll sell them!

That X5 looks really, really good too!

Yep... I've seen these vehicle-transport ships, ..and they are simply huge.
They're literally like a floating city-building because they're so cubic in their shape unlike cruise-liners which are more curvioso.
When I saw one... I simply stood there and watched it move...and it was freaky when it moved passed and blocked the sunlight for a few moments.... I was like "damn.. this thing is HUGE!"

As for BMW and that Spartanburg Plant.... damn, must be really really busy factory producing vehicles to feed the never-ending demand for the X5.

Looks like a 4.8 nice. Now that car is sick. 4.8is is a damn fine X5. I would take that over a Cayenne turbo and an ML63 any day.

Nah, that isn't the 4.8iS, .. just a 'normal' X5, but I think it's got the 4.8iS wheels, or very similar ones any way.

And i totally agree with you Matt about picking the X5 over the Cayenne Turbo or ML63 ..... but, I'm still having a hard time deciding between the X5 4.8iS and the Range Rover Sports.

I cant see the exhaust so maybe there is no way to tell. Yea the X5 is an awsome SUV, probably a little underated too. The Range Rover Sport is a nice car too, but I've never driven it. Ive driven an HSE and I thought the X5 was a nicer car to drive.