BMW XM Rises in Spartanburg Factory

BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina plant kicked off the production of the pioneering XM model in December 2022. The plant, a global giant since 1994, has been the birthplace of the X series. Now home to the X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7, it welcomes the XM to the family. This powerhouse facility boasts an annual output of 450,000 cars and provides jobs for approximately 11,000 employees.

In 2021, for the eighth consecutive year, BMW Manufacturing topped the auto export charts, sending out 257,876 vehicles valued at over $10.1 billion from Plant Spartanburg. Last year, BMW announced a $200 million investment to erect a 219,000-square-foot press shop at the factory site. Set to begin production in the summer of 2024, construction of this facility is progressing rapidly.

BMW XM sales might be trailing expectations. By September 2023, the company had delivered 4,450 units. Only the discontinued i3 hatchback sold fewer, at 686 units. Yet, the XM lineup is diverse: a standard V8, the high-power Label Red with 738 hp, and the 50e inline-six in select markets. Most XM sales are predicted to come from China (23%) and the USA (26%). The Middle East stands as the third-largest market (8%), with Germany and South Korea each contributing 7%.

The BMW XM sets a new precedent as the brand’s initial electrified performance vehicle. It harnesses a 4.4-litre V8 engine paired with a rear electric motor. This duo connects to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a sophisticated all-wheel drive system. The XM boasts a top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph) and a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of just 3.8 seconds.

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