At a quiet moment in late March, a team of technicians at BMW’s Spartanburg plant tightened the final bolts on what became a landmark moment in American automotive manufacturing: the seven millionth BMW assembled in the United States. The vehicle in question, a BMW ALPINA XB7. This example is far from standard, as it has undergone extensive modifications, carried out by the Spartanburg facility’s ALPINA team in early April.
The exterior finished in ALPINA Green Metallic is complemented by ALPINA-specific 23-inch wheels, front apron, rear diffuser, spoiler, and a commemorative badge. The cabin features bespoke Tartufo Merino leather upholstery, nature black walnut trim, and stitched blue-green detailing on the steering and second-row captain’s chairs. Packing a 631 horsepower Bi-Turbo V8 under the hood, this car won’t leave the factory as it has been designated as part of BMW’s historic collection.
In the recent light of tariffs, BMW has a strategic edge over the competition, as it is one of the few luxury foreign automakers that has large manufacturing operations in the United States. The German automaker’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina began operations in 1994 and has grown from a regional facility into the largest BMW production site in the world.
Building over 1,500 units per day, it supplies vehicles to 120 global markets, making it the top U.S. automotive exporter by value for more than a decade. With an 11,000-strong workforce, the facility built 400,000 vehicles in 2024. Popular SUVs like the X3, X5, and X7, alongside four Motorsport X and two plug-in hybrid models, are assembled here. Nearly half of all BMWs sold in the United States last year came from this plant.
The Bavarian automaker will continue to expand as it is investing $1.7 billion in its U.S. operations, preparing for at least six upcoming all-electric models, all set to be manufactured at the Spartanburg facility by 2030. From its milestone one millionth vehicle, a Z4 M Roadster, completed in 2006, to today’s ALPINA XB7, each chapter in the Spartanburg facility’s expansion marks a pivotal moment for the brand, and it now serves as a key part in BMW’s global supply chain.
Source: BMW