Since the 2008 announcement, BMW has indicated it will increase its workforce by an additional 1,600 positions on site.
BMW’s investment in South Carolina is now $4.6 billion overall, and the company employs more than 7,000 at its South Carolina operations. According to a study by the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, BMW’s investment in the state just keeps accelerating. The study found that the total annual economic impact of BMW’s activities is more than $8.8 billion. One of the main attractions for foreign companies, such as BMW, to the state is the Port of Charleston. In 2004, BMW worked with the state Ports Authority to establish a 10-year agreement, resulting in a large increase in the number of vehicles shipped through the port. In the year prior to signing the agreement, BMW had shipped 115,000 vehicles through the port. At the time, company officials commented on the importance of the Port of Charleston to their operations. BMW’s efforts will certainly continue to pay dividends for years to come, not just for the company, but for the state as a whole. And in looking to the future, BMW expects to build on its past success with the new vehicles being produced at its Upstate plant.
“As we’re nearing two decades since BMW’s initial decision to put down roots in South Carolina, it’s clearer than ever that the company’s decision in 1992 wasn’t just a win for one part of the state or even one generation of South Carolinians — it was a transformational event in the history of our state,” Gov. Mark Sanford said. “Not only have we benefited directly from that initial investment, but it has brought a host of other spin-off investments from suppliers small and large — increasing South Carolina’s competitive advantage by several orders of magnitude.” “When we laid the foundations for this plant 17 years ago, we made a promise that BMW cars made in Spartanburg would excite and inspire people around the world,” said Frank Peter-Arndt, a member of BMW’s board of management. “I believe the X3 will open a new chapter in this plant’s already successful story.”
“The automotive industry is constantly evolving, so BMW always needs a well-educated pool from which to draw. South Carolina has shown an exceptional commitment to working with us on creating programs that provide the necessary skills for the best and brightest to succeed and grow with BMW,” says Robert Hitt, department manager, corporate affairs for BMW Manufacturing Co.
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