Bmw Group Has Opened Electric Vehicle And Battery Manufacturing Facilities In South Carolina

BMW Group has opened expanded vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in Spartanburg and Woodruff, South Carolina. The company, which assembles BMW vehicles and produces BMW X models, invested $1.7 billion in its South Carolina operations and said its business activities in the U.S. support more than 120,000 jobs nationwide.

The investment included the expansion of Plant Spartanburg and the construction of Plant Woodruff, creating the foundation for assembling fully electric BMW vehicles in South Carolina. BMW confirmed that the BMW iX5 will be the first fully electric BMW assembled in the United States, with production scheduled to begin at Plant Spartanburg before the end of 2026.

Plant Spartanburg assembled 412,799 BMW X models in 2025, marking the seventh time the facility exceeded 400,000 units of annual production. Since 1994, the plant has assembled more than 7.3 million BMW vehicles, with approximately half of its current production exported to nearly 120 countries.

The new BMW X5 assembled at Plant Spartanburg will become the first vehicle offered with five drivetrain technologies, including internal combustion, battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, diesel, and soon, fuel cell electric powered by hydrogen. Plant Spartanburg will also become the first facility in BMW Group’s global production network capable of assembling a single vehicle with five different drivetrain technologies on one assembly line.

BMW said the facilities implement the principles of its BMW iFACTORY production concept through smart automation, end-to-end data integration and virtual planning. The plants use digital twins and 3D virtual simulations to optimize processes, while artificial intelligence supports self-correcting robotics, vision-based quality controls, and the AIQX platform, which uses sensors and camera systems to automate quality processes and provide real-time feedback to employees.

Plant Spartanburg is also deploying humanoid robots from Figure AI to support workers in physically demanding and repetitive tasks. At Plant Woodruff, the company is implementing a “Cell-to-Pack” manufacturing approach that assembles battery cells directly into housings without cell coating and cell module production processes.

In a recent quote, Milan Nedeljković, chairman of the board of management, BMW AG, said, “When we announced our investment plans for South Carolina in 2022, we made a clear commitment to the future of the BMW Group in the United States. Today, we are delivering on that commitment. The completion of our investments in Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff demonstrates our confidence in the United States and reinforces South Carolina’s role at the center of BMW Group’s global operations.”

In a recent quote, Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president & CEO, BMW Manufacturing Co., said, “From highly efficient combustion engines and plug-in hybrid systems to battery-electric and future hydrogen-powered vehicles, Plant Spartanburg will be able to assemble a broad range of drivetrain technologies for customers in the U.S. and around the world.”

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235 new clean energy factories opened in 5 years as a US manufacturing boom powers through policy headwinds

America’s clean energy manufacturing boom is still gaining speed — even as tariffs and broader policy uncertainty hang over the sector.

According to SolarQuarter, a new industry report said the United States added more than 235 clean energy factories in just five years, with domestic production emerging as a major force in both the economy and the energy transition.

What’s happening?

The American Clean Power Association’s second annual State of Clean Energy Manufacturing said the sector has grown rapidly.

In addition to the new clean energy manufacturing facilities, the report found that U.S. production capacity is sufficient to meet domestic demand for solar modules, battery modules, wind towers, and wind nacelles. That marks a major shift for an industry that has long depended on overseas supply chains.

Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, said the surge is especially important amid rising energy demand, per SolarQuarter. But he also cautioned that sustaining the momentum will require clear, targeted, and consistent trade policy, along with realistic timelines for tariff compliance and greater regulatory certainty.

Why does it matter?

More domestic clean energy manufacturing can help make the electrical grid more reliable, reduce dependence on foreign supply chains, and support the faster deployment of renewable power sources (such as wind and solar) that can lower energy costs over time.

The report also found that each clean energy manufacturing job supports four additional jobs across the broader economy — one linked to suppliers and three tied to household spending.

As U.S. manufacturing expands, technologies like solar panels and batteries may become more accessible.

What are people saying?

Grumet said that as energy demand rises, the U.S. needs more clean power systems built at home.

The ACPA report points to factory growth, domestic manufacturing strength, and the sector’s ripple effects on jobs and local economies.

Even with policy headwinds, clean energy manufacturing can become a cornerstone of American industry.

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