In
1992, BMW made the crucial decision to build its first U.S.-based
factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina. This was a wise choice: Since
then, BMW Manufacturing Co. has become the largest automotive exporter
from the U.S. to non-NAFTA countries. BMW
invested another $1 billion in the U.S. between 2008 and 2010,
including $750 million for expanding the Spartanburg facility in
preparation for building the all-new X3. This expansion will increase
manufacturing capacity by 50 percent, creating about 1,600 new jobs. This
is great news for X3, X5, and X6 customers. The plant is designed for
flexibility in customization, with each vehicle built to new owners'
specifications. The all-new X3 alone has more than 10 million available
configurations; in as little as a few weeks from ordering, it's ready
for delivery. Those custom-ordering a new X3 can also watch footage of
it being built via an online video portal, as seven cameras track the X3
through various stages of assembly. Investing in America: It's an important part of BMW's corporate, civic, and customer responsibility.